How Kona Collection Grew from a Maternity‑Leave Hobby into a Heartfelt Creative Journey

Kona Collection began the way many heartfelt creative journeys do, quietly, during a season of life that was both tender and overwhelming. When Alix Calleja was on maternity leave from her full‑time job supporting people experiencing housing instability, she spotted a pair of beaded fringe earrings in a shop and felt instantly captivated. One YouTube tutorial later, she was stitching her first pair, bead by bead. They were difficult and imperfect, but they lit something up in her. That spark has carried her ever since.

The name “Kona Collection” is rooted in the two people who shape her world most, her kids Kacey and Jonah. Combining their names felt natural, a way to anchor her creative work in the love that fuels it. What started as a personal outlet during the intensity of early motherhood slowly grew into a business that now connects her with store owners, artisans, and customers across communities and even across the ocean.

Alix is self‑taught, but creativity runs deep in her family. Her Oma knitted blankets for every grandchild’s sixteenth birthday, letting each one choose their colours during special yarn‑shopping trips. Her Opa was a skilled woodworker who also created ink drawings of buildings from his home in Holland. When he passed, Alix inherited his pen and ink set, a small reminder that making things with your hands can be a legacy.

One of the first moments she realized her work might resonate with others came when she designed a pair of large peacock‑feather earrings. A friend’s reaction, equal parts disbelief and admiration planted the idea that maybe this wasn’t just a hobby. Compliments from strangers followed, and slowly the possibility of selling her pieces felt real.

Her style is intentionally fluid. Some days she’s drawn to bold, colourful statement pieces; other days she leans into delicate, minimalist studs. She laughs about being “all over the place,” and she embraces that energy in her work. Cohesive displays at markets might be tricky, but the freedom to follow her creative impulses keeps beading joyful.

Balancing Kona Collection with motherhood, a part‑time job supporting moms and babies, and even a small baking side gig means no two days look the same. After school drop‑off, she might bead for a while or head into the community for work. Admin tasks and social media are always waiting, but new design ideas tend to win her attention. Baking cakes, cookies, and the occasional word‑of‑mouth order is another creative outlet she may explore more seriously someday.

Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places. Her husband suggested she try video‑game‑themed earrings, pointing out how well pixel art translates into beadwork. That idea led to her Pac‑Man and ghost earrings, which quickly became top sellers at Dream by Day and a hit at markets.

Today, you can find Kona Collection pieces on her Etsy shop, as well as in several brick‑and‑mortar locations. Locally, her work is available at Dream by Day in downtown Kitchener and at Yoni Mudra Art Gallery, where she offers an exclusive style that fits their feminine aesthetic. Beyond the region, her jewelry is carried at the Barntique in Simcoe and even at Yoma Therapies in the UK. She also shares her work on Instagram and welcomes messages from anyone interested in purchasing a piece.

This summer, Alix will be at the Uptown Night Market at the Waterloo Library on July 2, 9, 23, and 30. She has also been part of the KWFamous Holiday Pop‑Up Shoppe for the past two years and plans to apply again this season.

For anyone sitting on a craft they love but are afraid to share, Alix offers gentle, grounded advice: start small. Post on social media, try a low‑fee market, and let things grow naturally. You don’t need a perfect plan. Creativity, community, and the sense of flow that comes from making something with your hands are worth pursuing. Crafting is good for the soul and her journey with Kona Collection is proof.