Conversations with LaToya & Linda Lott

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya & Linda Lott.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our story is really a mother–daughter journey shaped by transition, faith, and a shared belief that creativity can open doors to healing and possibility.

For me, LaToya, the path to L&L Crafty Finds began after spending 15 years advocating for equitable access and opportunity through the U.S. Department of Labor. I loved the mission, but life shifted suddenly when my federal position was eliminated. It was a moment that forced me to pause, reevaluate, and ask myself who I wanted to become next. In the middle of navigating uncertainty, I found myself crafting at home just trying to breathe, create, and reset.
At the very same time, my mom, Linda, was also transitioning. After decades in Miami, she moved to Atlanta to start a new chapter of her life. She was rebuilding… and so was I. Two women, two generations, standing in a season of “what now?” without knowing that the answer would be something we’d build together.

Crafting became our bridge. We started making things side by side—woodburning boards, candles, doormats, little projects that helped us both release stress and rediscover joy. Friends would stop by, join us, laugh with us. And slowly, what was helping us heal started helping others too.

That’s when it clicked: if creativity could give us a safe, fun, empowering place to land, maybe we could create that same space for our community. Before opening our doors, we hosted a friends-and-family focus group to gather honest feedback and shape the kind of experiences people truly needed. Their encouragement and insights helped affirm we were on the right path.

In September 2025, we opened the doors to L&L Crafty Finds. Together, a mother–daughter creative hub designed for adults to gather, unwind, and make something beautiful. What began as a survival season for both of us grew into a sanctuary for many.

Today, our studio is home to woodburning nights, mixology + craft experiences, affirmation art workshops, and so much more. We’ve built partnerships across the community, hosted sold-out classes, and even expanded into youth advocacy through our nonprofit, Lott Legacy Inc., inspired in part by my mom’s own story of aging out of foster care alongside her siblings.

But the heart of our journey is simple: two women choosing to turn a moment of loss and transition into purpose. Choosing creativity as a path back to ourselves. And choosing to open our doors so others could find that same light.
This is the legacy we’re building together.

Come get crafty with us.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been purposeful. Our biggest challenge in the beginning was exposure, simply getting people to know who we were and what we offered. We believed deeply in the quality of our experiences, but belief alone doesn’t fill a room. We needed visibility.

One of our first big steps was investing in a content creator with a large following. The video she produced for us did incredibly well in terms of views, but it didn’t translate into a big wave of bookings like we’d hoped. Still, it brought eyes to our brand, and sometimes exposure comes before revenue. So instead of pulling back, we pressed forward.

We hired a team of interns to help us build consistent marketing, storytelling, and community engagement. We also entered a pitch competition through Georgia Piedmont Technical College Lion’s Den Shark Tank style in partnership with Amazon. We entered not for general funding, but specifically to strengthen our marketing budget. When we were selected as one of the winners, of the $5000 grant it felt like confirmation that people could see the potential in what we were building. That support allowed us to widen our reach and show up more boldly in front of our audience.
And slowly, things began to shift. More content creators started noticing our work organically. They visited the studio, shared their experiences, and helped introduce L&L Crafty Finds to people who had never heard of us before. That visibility has finally started to convert into real momentum, sold-out classes, new partnerships, and a growing community that understands both our purpose and our personality.

Our journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been filled with grace, gratitude, and growth. Every challenge pushed us to stay creative, stay resilient, and keep telling our story until the right people found us.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today, L&L Crafty Finds is our full-time work, but our journey here is rooted in decades of professional experience that shaped how we lead, serve, and show up for our community.

For me, LaToya, my career began in public service. I spent 15 years with the U.S. Department of Labor, advocating for access, equity, and fairness in the workplace through the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. That role taught me how to navigate complex systems, communicate across diverse audiences, and keep people at the center of the mission, skills that follow me into this business every single day. Even though my transition out of federal service was unexpected, it opened the door for me to build something that still aligns with purpose while giving me the freedom to create.

My mom, Linda, also brings a deep well of experience to what we do. She spent 10 years working with the Miami Heat’s NBA, and later dedicated 20 years to Jesse Trice Community Health System in Miami, a federally qualified health center focused on providing care to underserved communities. Her entire career has been about service, compassion, and meeting people where they are. Those values are woven into our studio culture, how we welcome guests, how we teach, and how we create safe, joyful spaces for adults to breathe and reconnect with themselves.

Together, our backgrounds may look different on paper, but they both led us here: two women used to serving others, now pouring that same commitment into a creative hub that blends wellness, community, and hands-on fun. This chapter is full-time for us, and it’s the most fulfilling work we’ve ever done, building something that honors where we come from while creating opportunity, joy, and connection for the people we serve.

How do you define success?
For us, success has never been just about numbers. It’s about impact, intention, and the kind of community we’re building every time someone walks through our doors.

We define success by the moments we witness, grown adults laughing like kids again, people who walked in stressed leaving lighter, guests telling us they haven’t felt creative in years until they came to one of our classes. When someone says, “I needed this,” or “This gave me a break I didn’t know I needed,” that’s success to us.
It’s also seeing the vision expand beyond ourselves. When our interns gain confidence, when content creators want to collaborate with us, when community partners reach out because they believe in what we’re doing that tells us our work is resonating.

On a deeper level, success is generational for us. It’s a mother and daughter turning a season of transition into a space of possibility. It’s creating a business that honors where we come from while opening doors for others to find joy, connection, and wellness through creativity.

And as we continue to grow, success looks like sustainability—being able to employ people in our community, offer new experiences, support youth through our nonprofit, and stand firm in the belief that creativity has the power to change lives.

If our work is helping people feel seen, supported, and inspired, then we’re doing exactly what we were called to do. That’s success to us.

Pricing:

• Mixology Experience – $65
• Woodburning Experience – $60
• Affirmation Art Boards – $45
• Combo Drink & Craft Experience – $60
• Craft Activities starting at $25

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.LandLCraftyFinds.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landlcraftyfinds?igsh=MXQ5Mmpib2E1aXU0dw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BL2RNft6i/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/l-and-l-crafty-finds-decatur
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@landlcraftyfinds?_t=ZP-8zHdmJZzlOh&_r=1

Image Credits
L&L Crafty Finds