Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen McDermott.
Hi Colleen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born and raised in Houston, TX, my life took on many meanings as I explored different avenues of creativity. My passion for acting led me to Austin in 2012 to pursue a dream. Life got in the way, and I moved back home to Houston four years later. I lost my way throughout the following two years, succumbed to numerous rock bottoms, and was labeled a lost cause. The feeling of hopelessness and lack of meaning engulfed my perception of reality. I have always dreamed of inspiring others through my performative or visual art. And yet I was stuck in the hamster wheel of my mind, and addiction took its hold with a firm grip of escapism. I recently celebrated three years of sobriety in August, and one of the gifts I received was a passion for baking and culinary arts. Being in the kitchen became my active meditation—a way to get out of my head and to create something everyone can enjoy passively. To keep my mind busy, I also started drawing ink illustrations, doing street photography, relearning my love for life, and capturing the beauty within. A friend reached out and offered me the opportunity to do some popups with her. I created Colleen’s Creations from there, and the business took off. Along with countless hours of hard work and constant education to improve my craft, I enjoy every day when I get to share a piece of myself with others. To remind anyone struggling with addictions and mental illness that there is a way out, and while some days are not easy, they are always rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with all new adventures, there are ups and downs. Feelings of being on cloud 9 and episodes of wanting to throw in the towel with self-criticism taking over. The biggest struggle for any one-person home business is getting the word of mouth success. Putting yourself out there at popups and markets, social media representation, creating menus, marketing, and knowledge to keep going in down periods. Take the opportunities to focus on why this is your passion, and try something new and challenging to reconnect with the craft. I recently lost my dog, best friend, and a recovery/PTSD support animal. Grief like that nearly took me out of the game. I paused for a moment to feel and reached out to others with similar experiences. It is easy to isolate and stop doing what makes you happy. But as I’ve alluded to, my creative outlets have saved my life from myself. The greatest challenge is one’s mental turmoil. I’ve questioned my sanity numerous times, wondering whether or not to quit and return to office jobs. However, what they say is true: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I say with complete confidence that I wouldn’t return and redo anything. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here with the knowledge and gratitude I have today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a baker, popup chef, seamstress, and ink illustrator. I always need to be doing something with my hands. I have dived more into pastry chef recently and create pies, treats, truffles, and cakes for any occasion. As a popup chef, I cook outside dive bars in a one-woman kitchen. The thrill and excitement of it all keep me going. I love to do fashion construction and sewing alterations. On my ink illustration side, it’s a way to get dark out of my mind—main anatomy and the macabre, as the level of detail, keeps me focused. I’m proud of creating an at-home bakery out of nothing and on my own. I had support along the way, especially from my friends in recovery. While hoping to remain humble, I’d say that what sets me apart from others is my willingness to go to any length to create anything and everything—not limiting myself to being a one-trick pony. I have this one life to live. I am always driven by passion and connection.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Without getting too dark, many memories from my childhood are lost through trauma. But there is one happiness I cling to, as unbelievable as it may sound. I always remember playing outside in the creek bed near our home and letting my imagination go wild as I created new worlds. Part of what led me to my first love, acting, was the ability to escape reality for a moment and be anything I wanted. I cherish that feeling and always work on bringing that childlike tenacity and curiosity into my projects today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Colleens_Creations88
- Facebook: ColleensCreationsHTX
