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Can't Find It? Make It!
Design and Paint Your Own Pillows
By Belinda Clarke
When it comes to home decor, the best accents are the one-of-a-kind accessories or pieces that you just can't find anywhere else. And what better way to customize a room than with a piece that's all your own, literally. 
You'd be surprised how easy it is to personalize your bedroom, living room or family room with the addition of some homemade pillows. Of course not all of us can sew – or dare to try – which is why a place like pillow a.go.go exists. The Chicago company was started by two women entrepreneurs, Stacey Okerlund and Claudia Oliva. And, they say, this new, do-it-yourself pillow painting concept was inspired (as are most great ideas) by a need.
"I was relaying my design dilemma to Claudia, and she loved the idea of custom pillows," says Okerlund. "She said flat out, 'You should make these and sell them,' and from there over numerous cups of coffee we came around to the do-it-yourself concept."
According to Oliva, who along with Okerlund shares both the operational and creative duties, the hardest part about getting started wasn't the creative inspiration, but finding the right information to make a viable business plan. "We spent hours on the Internet and in the library, but it was still difficult to find advice and statistics about what it was we wanted to do," says Oliva. Undaunted, they put together a solid business plan and decided to go for it.
Armed with their own savings and some investment money from generous family members, it took Okerlund and Oliva about 10 months to see their dream become a reality. From arranging for the insurance and licenses for the leased space to painting the studio and assembling the furniture (all from IKEA), both women agree it was exhausting but still very rewarding.
