During Covid, I started going on road trips and taking scenic photographs of beautiful small towns in Texas. While driving down County Road 134, I noticed a house for sale, and a man was outside watering flowers. I stopped at the gate, waved, and he invited me in for a tour of the historical home that was built in 1917 and told me stories of when Bonnie & Clyde used to hide out there. I made an offer, moved to Celina and immediately fell in love with the people and community.
I love Christmas, and I knew that I wanted to create a beautiful product that would allow me to give back to the Celina community. I started sketching my photos of the historical landmarks and rural landscapes into an ornamental design, and the Celina Collection was born! I named my business CurioCity Designs because cu-ri-o means a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.
A treasure.
Each ornament in the Celina Collection is inspired by photos and emblems in a montage of designs representing Historical Downtown Celina, Texas Sunsets & Longhorns, and Celina Bobcats. The creative process begins by sketching the design on the ornament, and then the figures are hand-painted with each color having to dry up to 24 hours, so the next color can be added.
My team has worked over a year producing the inaugural Celina Collection 2023, and we are already in the planning phases for new designs and collaborations with local organizations and businesses for 2024. I also want to host a workshop that helps women become entrepreneurs and start local businesses to support their families and the community.
It has been a family tradition for my parents to give us a unique ornament each year, and I have great memories of us opening the ornament and hanging it on the tree Christmas Eve. Now I have those childhood ornaments on my own Christmas tree, and I cherish every one of them. This year we will continue the tradition with the Celina Collection!
The Celina Collection ornaments are available on CurioCityDesigns.com, local shops downtown, and holiday market events including Christmas on the Square and the Holiday Sip & Shop. We have also partnered with local non-profits and charitable organizations to give back to the community, and you can follow CurioCity Designs on social media for more details. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
CARRIE LAYNE
FOUNDER OF CURIOCITY DESIGNS
Carrie grew up in Plano and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. She is an entrepreneur and has owned a digital marketing agency that supports local businesses for over 15 years. She lives in Celina with her husband, two Labradors, six chickens, and two cows.
instagram.com/curiocitydesign/
