Meet Denise Chavez | Owner & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Denise Chavez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Denise, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I always thought I knew what work life balance meant, but overtime I realized that I was ignoring the fundamental meaning of the word “balance” itself. I am the type of person who is always giving 110% in every aspect of my life, whether it is at work, gym, home, etc. It is how I have always operated; by giving everything a heightened sense of importance. However, the truth is not everything is equally important and understanding the latter has given me a better quality of life. My work life balance has improved by being able to understand my limits, both physically and mentally, along with the ability to say “no.” I see balance as a critical part of functioning as a human being. We are not machines who are programmed to have optimal performance everyday. It is ok to have bad moments, because it is a “moment” which is temporary; better moments along with better days will come. Now, I focus on the simple things like making sure I get enough sleep, eating foods that make me feel good, and spending time outside and with my family.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m excited to share that Tiny Rat Creations is expanding into new product categories. We still primarily focus on baby onesies, as that is our largest category; it is our “bread and butter.” However, over the past few months we added products that compliment the baby onesies. One of the products is a baby birth announcement. These are handmade wooden plaques with the baby’s name, weight, length, and date of birth. Just like our baby onesies, we offer the announcements in English and Spanish. You often see new parents sharing a picture of their new baby along with the wooden plaque. We have also added wooden magnets to display kids art. The magnets are personalized with the kid’s name. We are also expanding into the pet market. We have personalized wooden dog tags and we are working on bandanas as well. A lot of our new products come to fruition after an important life milestone, so it is only natural that our product offering grows as we celebrate life’s moments. Lastly, I am working on a new business venture that is separate from Tiny Rat Creations and it is called Greater Heights Handmade Jewelry. Jewelry has always been a passion for me and I have finally decided to put it into action. It hasn’t been easy to start from the beginning again, but having Tiny Rat Creations already established has taught me alot of things that will help me with the launch of Greater Heights.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would definitely need to go to Truth BBQ. It is the best BBQ place in Texas and the long line is not an obstacle! We would also go to the POST. I love going there and trying new foods, plus the sky lawn is the perfect place for a photo op. EADO would be another stop. I am a huge soccer fan so Pitch 25 would be the perfect place to catch some soccer and a beer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this to my family, who has always given me endless support and unconditional love. They are the ones who help me recognize my talents, when I’m often blinded by insecurities. They are the ones who remind me that I am a bright light and that I should never let anyone dull my shine.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TinyRatCreations

Instagram: @tinyratcreations @greaterheights_jewelry

Facebook: @tinyratcreations

Other: infotinyratcreations@gmail.com