Life & Work with Patricia McDonald of Durham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Efunsade Osundara.

 Hi Efunsade, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As far back as I can remember, my curious, creative spirit kept me drawing, writing, reciting poetry, painting, reading, singing at the top of my voice in church, or making a Papier-mâché of Strawberry Shortcake & her friends in the 6th grade. Art was my favorite class of the day, and paper has always been my preferred medium. I credit this to a lesson in faith that my father, a preacher, would use to demonstrate his testimony using a single sheet of paper.

After losing two sisters (one in 2015 and another in 2019), I started my creative business in 2019 after God and I took a five-month unplanned road trip and drove over 9,000 miles in 146 days along the coastal country spaces of North Carolina and the rolling hills of Oklahoma. As a multi-passionate creative soul woman-owned business, it is my mission to create JOY in every design through the art + creativity of handcrafted notecards, stationery + invitations, graphic layout and design of our JOY journals, mixed media paper art, and all other things created with beautiful and funky paper.

We recently partnered with The Jolly Ol’ Market Shoppe in Durham, NC, to sell our handcrafted products.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While life has a lot of twists and turns, the road to my creative journey has been adventurous. Once I decided to focus on paper handcrafted/handmade items, everything seemed to fall into place.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
While I have a professional career as an Executive Administrative Assistant (33 years + counting), I love to wake up knowing I get the opportunity to create designs that bring people joy. I specialize in using paper to make handmade cards, art prints, journal covers, and abstract art. With my background in graphic design, I create greeting cards and custom journal designs and layouts. My future ambitious goal is to expand into the fashion of dresses and interior design for the home (cause it’s on our manifestation board). I have always been known for my attention to detail and for keeping everyone in balance.

What sets me apart?

I have an entrepreneurial spirit, am a lifelong learner, love to read weird and exciting books, meet new people, watch Disney movies, listen to funny & enlightening podcasts, and blast music that awakens my funky yet bold creative side. When I’m not working in the office, you can find me most days spending time with family, hanging out at the local coffee shop, reading multiple books at a time, walking barefoot in nature, listening to the tower bells of old churches, taking a scenic road trip through the mountains, being crafty with paper, and learning how to sew, crochet, take photos on my cell phone, and design jewelry.

I am a unique child of the Universe, a daughter, a sister, a mom to two creative + brilliant entrepreneur sons (Business Operations guru + Music Producer and Songwriter), a Meemaw to three wide-eyed wonders, an initiated priestess to Obatala in the Yoruba Lukumí tradition, a friend who listens, a DOPE creative soul, a Diva who believes in the power of LOVE, an ordained minister, one who believes that Spirit qualifies the called, that our gifts and talents should be shared with the world. There is a time and purpose for everything in this thing called Life.

I continue to create the Life of my dreams, walk the path of self-mastery, question everything, and explore with curiosity so I can live as I have imagined.

So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
I am living as my most authentic creative, happy, full of joy self. It took 38 years to begin my healing journey to love and freedom. At the age of eight, I was molested by a family member I should have felt safe with every day of my Life. I can now speak my truth without fear of what others think about me. I got tired of living behind different masks depending on who I was hanging around at a particular moment. Being authentic allows me to be honest with myself and others and walk the path the Universe has for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ayodara.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayodara88/

Image Credits
Patricia McDonald Efunsade Osundara