Today we’d like to introduce you to Geraldine Lapid.
Geraldine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Dolldine Designs with a passion for all things creative. I spent countless hours in various stationery stores which fulfilled my crave to design. My experience with personal projects crafted with paper to preserve photos in scrapbooks and the marriage of a family member is when my first invitation came to life. When other family and friends witnessed the creation, requests started to come in. As the ball continued to roll, the idea to create full-time was sparked and Dolldine Designs was born in 2007. Fun Fact: the name is originated by my nickname “Dolly” and my real name “Geraldine”.
To this day, I am still designing custom invitations for all occasions. Wedding invitations are the biggest compilation in my portfolio, from coordination pieces such as place cards, menu cards, programs, banners and everything in between. I also design personalized stationery and cards as well. Dolldine Designs gains most if its exposure through referrals, returning clients and through word of mouth which has contributed to the success.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the biggest challenges of owning a business is knowing that I’m only one person and can’t do everything on my own. At the same time, I learned as I went so it was hard to rely on others. I took Dolldine Designs full-time when I had my daughter in 2012, so I could be at home with her and still continue doing what I love. It’s a balancing act juggling two parts. Managing the business and prioritizing motherhood is a challenging role I still face, but being confident in my work to provide high quality is what keeps me grounded and focused.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dolldine Designs story. Tell us more about the business.
When working with paper, options are endless. We specialize in custom invitations and tailor it to fit your style. I like to compare it to fashion; you can be trendy, yet laid back with jeans and a stylish t-shirt or you can be a chic, fashionista with a power suit blazer and the bling accessories. There’s no wrong way, its whatever fits you. With our invitations, everything is customizable the way you want. You can have everything look great and stick to the basics or you can go over the top with all the bells and whistles to make it stand out! We work with many different clients who have different styles, but what makes us who we are, is we have the same design aesthetic. I believe there is no wrong or right way in designing your paper stationery because it represents who you are. It deserves to be beautiful and it should shine!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I definitely wouldn’t call it luck, but with a lot of hard work and perseverance, you will succeed. Everyone’s meaning of success will be different, so that shouldn’t get in the way. There will be times it won’t be perfect, but learning from the flaws will make it better. There are times of struggle, but as long as you remain focused, you’ll overcome. They say errors are the mastery of perfection and I couldn’t agree more. Learning from mistakes and making improvements is part of the puzzle. I’ve certainly had my fair share, both in life and business, so I’m thankful for those lessons.
Contact Info:
- Website: dolldinedesigns.com
- Phone: 858.880.2346
- Email: info@dolldinedesigns.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dolldine
- Facebook: facebook.com/dolldinedesigns
- Other: etsy.com/shop/dolldinedesigns
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