Meet Teresa Abboud of Teresa Afternoon in Dekalb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Abboud.

Teresa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started one day when I wanted to do a personal project, something that will touch me and have a meaning to me. I am an illustrator, and I usually illustrate books for publication houses and companies. I have been in Atlanta and in the USA five years now, coming from Lebanon; and I wanted to do something that relates me to “HOME”. And Coffee came as a subject. Why coffee, because what I miss most from my country besides my family and friends, is the gatherings and chat around coffee, the spontaneous get-together around coffee, and all what comes with it. Coffee in Lebanon is not just a substance that wakes you up but an important social element for all occasions (happy or sad), in funerals, in weddings, in meetings… we drink coffee.

What comes with coffee is reading the future in the coffee cups, which is fun since you can believe or not what can be your destiny. I miss mostly the coffee with my mom in the morning. And the more I started working on that subject, the more I got inspired. Wherever we come from we all drink coffee, whether we’re rich poor, black or white, Italian or German, Christian or Muslim…. we all drink coffee our time, our way and our signature. And I see that this project makes me connect with “Everyone”(ethnicity and nationality), and makes me feel closer to the Atlantan and HOME; I called this project “Coffee Time”. Drinking coffee is part of living the moment and having a good time.

Has it been a smooth road?
I can say that it has been a smooth road, and what made it so is that I started this project for fun, and as a passion without any expectation. I didn’t really worry how people will like my art, and the “Coffee Time” collection, but I was convinced that I want to try it. And with the support of my husband, I started this project. I heard that there was a Festival at the “Alif institute” and I worked hard on preparing for it. And people loved it. And this was a great push to go to level 2, become a business.

I believe I have to start small to grow bigger. I started slowly with a big ambition. And this ambition is still growing bigger and bigger everyday. I have my collection in a museum and a shop in Beirut Lebanon; on Etsy; in four coffee shops in Atlanta for now 🙂 and I try to participate to as many exhibitions and event. I always carry with me this passion for my “Coffee Time” collection and talk about it with people/ customers. Sometimes I am just scared of losing this energy, but with some support of friends, family and my husband I readjust and continue this ride.

I always wanted to do something, looking forward to the future; but today I am in the future I was looking forward to, and I am working in the full “Present”. I loved that saying “yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift that why it’s called a present!”

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Teresa Afternoon story. Tell us more about the business.
My business “Teresa Afternoon” creates art projects, items and moments. I am the entrepreneur, manager, and creator in the collection “Coffee Time”. I create the objects such as paintings on canvas/ trays, handprints on fabric, t-shirt/dresses/aprons/kitchen towels/necklaces/bags, etc… The items that sell the most are the printed posters and postcards (from the original paintings). For this project “Coffee Time”, I manage the technical stuff too as finance, orders for shops, delivery…

Also in “Teresa Afternoon” I offer painting workshop for groups (companies and organizations). “Teresa Afternoon” also does commissions illustrated books mainly for kids and other as posters, book covers, etc…

Now talking about “Coffee Time” which is the drive of my company and what I am mostly proud of, is that with this collection I am being to sell and connect with people, and I am being able to deliver the message I carry with me that is more than just coffee, and it’s more about: traditions, moments, connections…

What set me apart from others? First of all, I am not copying anyone, my company reflects my thoughts and my ideas. And I am focusing on coffee as a subject, my way.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Five to ten years from now I have an ambition to grow 🙂, I am still drawing that image,

– I will be in 30 retail places over the USA.
– I will be in 20 places all over the world (mostly middle east)
– Maybe open my own coffee shop/workshop/…
– I hope I can be selling in Target or other big store.
– I hope to have 1 or 2 employees 🙂

For sure I am going to create a new collection beside “Coffee Time”. In the end, we create the trend whoever we are and wherever we are 🙂

Pricing:

• Posters 11×14 inches 20 $
• Postcard 5×10 inches 5 $

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teresaafternoon.com
• Email: teresaabboud@hotmail.com
• Instagram: @teresa_afternoon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teressa.abboud1/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeresaAfternoon

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