Making Decorative Arts from Everyday Objects: Chappaqua Business Spotlight

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special. Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.

Our spotlight today is on Melissa Levine.

Business: Masha Dasha Designs LLC
Owners: Melissa Levine
Website: www.mashadashadesigns.com
Address: Art Studio by appointment only @ 19 Deer Ridge, Millwood NY 10546

How did you come up with the name?
Masha and Dasha are my daughters’ Russian Names. We adopted them when they were 15 months old from an orphanage in Russia. They are the reason I began designing and crafting and I knew I wanted their names to play a prominent role in my business name.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
I am working out of my art studio in my home. The studio is only open by appointment but I am attending and showing at many of the local craft fairs and town events in Chappaqua such at the Children’s Book Festival and the Bell Craft Fair.

Briefly, what business are you in?
Custom one of a kind handmade art monograms and wall art. created using crayons, pencils, buttons and wine corks in a variety of unique ways.

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
Balancing a home/work schedule. As I work from home, it is very difficult to stop working and focus on the kids and home. The opposite is true as well. I also work on my own, and as an artist I just want to create. but when you have business finances, accounting, marketing, packaging etc, all have to find a way into your daily schedule as well. My challenge is that there are not enough hours in the day!

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
Of course! I wasn’t sure how I would be received at all when I began. I was hoping people would like my pieces, that they would see the quality and craftsmanship of the art and not just think of it as kids crafts.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
I am coming up on my one year anniversary. I am just so proud at how well received I have been. My proudest moment thus far was when an amazing amount of orders that came in for end of school teacher gifts. It was unexpected and wonderful. Even better were all of the glowing notes and letters from the gift givers and recipients.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
Customers ask for new things all the time and it keeps me on my toes. I truly enjoy bringing artistic ideas to life. I create monograms out of everyday objects such as buttons and crayons. I’ve been asked “can you do it out of golf tees?” “Can you make it out of legos?” Sure I can! What ever they can dream up I will try to create.

How do you deal with difficult customers?
Kill them with kindness is my motto for difficult customers. The more difficult a customer, the nicer I try to be. I had a tough situation over the holiday season and as long as I kept the line of communications open and did my best to get the pieces to my customer on time I was happy with the outcome. I think the customer was thrilled in the end, and has even placed another order since then.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
I’ve only been up and running for a year but I participate in all local events such as the Chappaqua Children’s book festival and the Famers Market and always try to have a kids craft corner at my fair booths. I’m hoping that once some profits start coming in I can donate part of my profits to a local cause such as the Great Chappaqua Bake Sale, and most importantly to me, though not local, I really want to be able to send money back to my daughters orphanage in Russia. They are the reason I have my wonderful family and started crafting.