I create 4x4 coasters with marble by embedding any picture into the stone, seal it with industrial strength marble sealer to protect the picture from fading, and place felt pads on the bottom so they will not scratch any surfaces. I mainly have iconic pictures of our New Orleans landmarks of today and yesteryears which take our customers down memory lane as they remember times gone by just by look
ing at my creations. Your imagination is the only limit of what we can put into the stones. Secondly, I can put my coasters in frames made from wood from homes that are being refurbished in New Orleans area to give it that NOLA taste. Finally, I create unique wedding gifts by taking the wedding invitation and embed into a 12x12 marble tile. It makes a unique gift for the special couple who you didn’t know what to buy them. I am currently selling my creations in 12 local retail stores, businesses are using me as a promotional avenue, and I attended over 30 local markets a year. Past commercial customers of mine include creating 2000 keepsake coasters for the US Marine Corps' Birthday Ball in November 2011, 1000 keepsake gifts were created for the Mardi Gras celebration of The Caliph of Cairo Krewe, and the KIPP Charter Schools of New Orleans ordered over 300 coasters for their faculty and board members of all 13 schools. NOLA Beer has used my coasters as an advertising avenue since 2008 selling my coasters at their brewery, Archbishop Rummel High School is selling my work in their Raider Pride Store, and WWL TV used us to commemorate the celebration of their Grand Re-opening of their Rampart Street Studio. A little bit about me and my wife…. We started the business in 2007 as an avenue to create additional income to help pay our medical bills. We are both on fixed incomes due to disabilities. My wife has suffered from kidney failure most of her life but was given a gift of a kidney transplant from a friend in 2008 and due to her weaken immune system, she contracted endocarditis which caused her to have a heart valve replacement in 2009. Before her illnesses, Colleen worked as an elderly investigator for the State of Louisiana. Since 2005, I have battled severed back issues due to spinal stenosis throughout my spine. I attained Social Security in 2007 and received a federal grant from Social Security and the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services as a catalyst of growth for Stone Creations by Colleen. I participated in a business plan writing program thru the Excellent Entrepreneur of Louisiana program administrated by UNO in 2007. I give back to the program as a speaker to give the participants a hands on view of running a business. I was a retail manager in the New Orleans are for 15 years at local big box retailers before I became disabled. We have been married since 2008 and have three daughters. I was hoping to have to opportunity to participate this year. Please advise my next step in the process. Thank you for your time and I appreciate it.
