voyage tampa magazine stephanie rodriguez

I've been published in Voyage Tampa magazine

I am honored to have been published in Voyage Tampa magazine this morning. My story along with more insight about who I am just went live this morning on VoyageTampa.com . Feel free to read the story here

Read a bit of my story as published in VoyageTampa.com

I am from the Czech Republic and I have lived in the USA for about 22 years now. I spent my entire childhood in Europe and I’ve lived in the USA as an adult.

I came to the United States because I wanted to see the world. I wanted to travel, I wanted to meet people, and I wanted to experience new things. When I came to the United States, I’ve never been on a plane before, so the day I traveled to US was the first time ever for me.

I was born close to Prague in a small spa city in the Czech Republic. Prague is a beautiful city. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe if you don’t count Italy and Paris. It is one of the cities that didn’t get bombarded during the wars so it’s absolutely gorgeous. I love the history, I love the romanticism, and I love going back there. It is a land filled with rich country, history, and romanticism, a place where things are handcrafted, one-of-a-kind art, heirloom antiques are created and celebrated.

Living in Europe makes you more aware of your history and where you come from. It makes you realize that the life before you is just as important as the life you are creating now, and the life that’s coming ahead. So it is what made me the artist that I am today…

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The biggest struggle I had to overcome was to get outside of my own way. As with most people, we are our own biggest critics, and I had to learn the value of who I am, what I do, and how important is it to others that they are professionally photographed and celebrated. What I do changes lives and I had to learn the value of that in order to be successful.

About VoyageTampa.com

VoyageTampa.com is an online magazine that tells stories of those who inspire the community, The Change-makers that inspire. I am so honored to have my story be published.

A little about VoyageTampa.com: “We started in Los Angeles, with our flagship publication VoyageLA . After generating our first million page views in LA we knew our content was resonating with the community.

We’ve since grown to a handful of other amazing cities with the help of an amazing network of friends, associates, local insiders and influencers, PR firms, local bloggers, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and other professionals.”

Voyage is currently being published in several US major cities:

VOYAGETAMPA

Voyagephoenix, voyagehouston, voyagedallas, voyagechicago, bostonvoyager.

My Recent Interview with Voyage Tampa Magazine December 03 2020

voyage tampa magazine stephanie rodriguez

Where does my story begin?

VoyageTampa: Local Stories Meet Zhanna Thomas

Recently, I had a chance to share my incredible story with Voyage Tampa Magazine! It was a wonderful experience to recall my artistic path and reflect upon past, present and future. As a result, the interview is really intimate and personal, where I talk about the experience that shaped and inspired me to create art. I certainly encourage you all to check it out!

Meet Zhanna Thomas - Fairly "Smooth" Road

The interview uncovered some of the struggles and challenges I face on my path of becoming who I am today. Including the time during and after the fall of Soviet Union. And uncovering the experience of the first generation of immigrants in the United states.

"We had to build our business from the ground up navigating the murky waters of crumbling economy, financial instability, and widespread corruption following the fall of the Soviet Union. Although those times will be forever remembered by me as most challenging, I truly believe that it is due to these hardships that I have grown to be an individual and an artist that I am today. " (Local Stories, 2021)

Zhanna Thomas Local Stories Voyage Tampa

Meet Zhanna Thomas - Exploring 3D Art

While, exploring the 3D art, I was literally tearing apart canvases as breaking through the dimensions of the universe looking for new shapes to express my emotions. As a result, I created my collection in 3D format Don't Be Flat that implies the use of multiple canvases.

"No matter how long I paint or create art, I will always feel I am a student of Art; the more I know, the more I feel that I do not know. I like it this way and know that my passion and energy for art come from being dissatisfied and bored with creating something I have already done before. This is probably why I am always seeking new ways and mediums to express myself." (Local Stories, 2021)

Meet Zhanna Thomas Local Stories VoyageTampa Gallery Dont Be Flat

Hopefully, my story will inspire others on becoming who they want to be and rediscover themself! Art absolutely helps in re-imagining yourself and obtaining the necessary energy to overcome the obstacles and challenges in everyone's life. In four years, I created 40 paintings different techniques

3D Acrylic on canvas 750-3400$
Acrylic Mix Media 310-2500$
Abstract on the wood 80’x33 1500-3800$
Oil&Wax 150-450$
Art Moss 250$

Full story you can read VoyageTampa: Local Stories Rising Stars: Meet Zhanna Thomas - VoyageTampa

Local Stories, (2021, September 29). Rising stars: Meet Zhanna Thomas . VoyageTampa. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from http://voyagetampa.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-zhanna-thomas-of-st-petersburg-fl/. My Artwork is an available online store Follow me on Instagram and Facebook

The art for me is imbued with radiant and boundless energy which spills over into canvas with every beat of the artist’s heart.

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Daily inspiration: meet stephanie rodriguez.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Rodriguez.

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? Sweet Popping started back in June 29th, 2020. I’ve always had a passion for creating/crafting but if I’m being honest postpartum depression gave me the push I needed to start my small business. I had my son February 2020, shortly after the pandemic started and those months were the absolute hardest. I needed an outlet without leaving my house, something to distract me. I had started making cake pops for friends and family but in specific, I have a friend who really inspired me to start my business (Crystal). She was my first customer. She convinced me that it was time to put myself out there.

I brought the idea to my husband, Omar and since day one he has been my biggest supporter. We are a team and often times you will see my husband at pop-ups or deliveries. We have big dreams for Sweet Popping that we’re working on day by day. If it weren’t for him constantly encouraging me and his support, Sweet Popping wouldn’t be what it is today.

I often get asked how the name “Sweet Popping” came about and my true answer is that God really put it together for me. I started off with cake pops and now I also offer caramel apples, cakes, party treats and much more.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? Oh boy, where do I begin?

Back to when I first started cake pops, geez! It was tough. My cake pops were constantly falling off the stick. After so much trial and error, tears (literally), and patience I figured out a method that works for me. It hasn’t been an easy road to say the least but I’m so proud of the growth and the improvement.

Some call me crazy but I run my business from home with three children ages 1, 3, and 8. It has not been easy but I truly love what I do so I keep pushing. More than anything it’s juggling the kids and making my orders. My oldest is such an amazing helper and I wouldn’t be able to pull through without her.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do? I feel like I’m known for my cake pops and my cakes. I am most definitely proud of the growth. To see where I started to now is amazing to me. There was a lot, a lot of trial and error to get to where we are now. There’s always room for improvement and I’m always here for it. One thing that starting my own business through a pandemic has taught me is my favorite “Life is too short”. If you vision it, dream it, and want it… go get it. Life is too fragile to wish later on you would’ve done it.

Contact Info:

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetpopping/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetpopping/

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