Behind the Design: Baby Honu (Sea Turtles)

I will always have a special place in my heart for honu (sea turtles). It all started when I was a little kid growing up in Hawaii. Going to Sea Life Park I would see those big honu in their pool gracefully swimming bobbing their heads up and down. Sometimes I would see them grazing the sea shore. They are just so magnificent to watch. I had many books about honu in my childhood collection. So, learning about them was always a fascinating thing for me. There was never a time while growing up that when I would spot a honu that I would just pass them by.

When my son Keanu was born I filled his room with all sorts of animals. Although the Giant Panda was his main nursery room theme, I also could not resist buying various honu plush animals and figurines. One turtle in particular stood out for him and it became his "tur-tur" for quite some time. Coincidentally, it was a turtle that looked like a real honu. He carried that honu around everywhere. He even had to take it to daycare on occasion. He has it to this very day although he doesn't carry it around as much he will occasionally see it and get sentimental about "tur-tur".

So, one day I wanted to design something universal - a design that appealed to all ages, all genders and add to the awareness of their endangerment. I saw my son's "tur-tur" laying on the living room floor and it came to me! I picked it up and put it next to my computer and I started designing. Never did I imagine that this design would be as popular as it is. I first started with blankets and they sold almost instantly to the store I was selling to in Austin. Then, they sold almost instantly on my Etsy Site. It has been my top seller and my most requested design for custom work to this very day. I guess there is something about honu that appeal to so many people. It brings me joy to have people across the country and around the world enjoy my honu design and share my love for them.