GLAM-BAM! The 15 Year Glow Up

I dug out this photo the other day

Yep. That's me. Anime Expo 08, running an artist alley table with some of my friends. Back then, putting my art on some tshirts and making some simple jewelry was a fun way to meet people, hang with friends, and pay for my AX weekend.

15 years later, it's 2023 and the 5th year of Holic Mode officially in business. I'm still the massive weeb I was then, and, oh hey! Still peddling my wares at cons. And this is what I looked like at my last con:

I don't know about you, but my 15 years younger self would have absolutely gagged over this. 5 Years into the business and I've been able to invent enough back to create the booth concept I've been envisioning—and the ridiculously positive response for yall has really brought tears to my eyes. It really feels like a fever dream sometimes, but I am ever grateful to you who has continued with me on this journey, my friends who kept yelling so loudly in my ear that this was possible, and to the me who kept going and trying. 

This is Holic Mode now, and I can't wait to see where this goes in another 15 years.