MEET Entrepreneur Taynia Bedard
Taynia is Co-Owner and Operator of Flabulous Threads
Taynia Bedard was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia but has since made her home in Sudbury, Ontario. Her family is from Missanabie Cree First Nation, located in Northern Ontario. She graduated from Laurentian University with a Specialization in Women's Studies and Sociology.
Taynia is a Co-Owner and Operator of Flabulous Threads. Flabulous Threads was created as a means for two chronically ill friends to pursue their love of crafting and self-expression…and as an excuse to keep buying more crafting supplies. Flabulous Threads is founded on the principle that even those who face barriers and adversity can still create art and follow their passions.
Flabulous Threads highlights feminism, body positivity, anti-racism, anti-sexism, and the LGBTQ+ community. It’s not only important to represent your values but also what you enjoy in life. Flabulous Threads celebrates their joy by also creating art that relates to their own geeky/niche fandoms.
“Living with chronic illness, chronic pain, and mental illness has impacted a lot of what I can reasonably do in my life. I’ve had to be compassionate about my own limitations while exploring the realm of business and following my passion for creation.” - Tay
Taynia’s Impact Statement
Flabulous Threads is the love for all things thread whether it be sewing, fashion, beading, cross-stitch, and so on. It is the pursuit of creating out of passion and sharing those passions with others.
Taynia’s contribution to Flabulous Threads is creating customized and unique beadwork. Beadwork is created in multiple forms for people to enjoy such as pins, keychains, badge reels, necklaces, and earrings.
What's Next?
Tay has been applying for small business grants in order to expand upon the offerings of Flabulous Threads.
“So many ideas, so little time, and not enough money, LOL”
“Tay is boldly, authentically and unapologetically herself. Because she is unafraid to step into all she is, creative, quirky, colourful it allows others to claim all parts of who they are – and this is a gift to all of us”
- Vanessa Lesperance, LIFT Circle Lead
The LIFTing Your Leadership program is a cohort experience for 12 Indigenous women and non-binary entrepreneurs, and is a combination of leadership and business development activities (created by LIFT) and story amplification (by PowHERhouse). The project is rooted in decolonized leadership development and steeped in Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This project has been made possible with support from The Indigenous People’s Resilience Fund which is built upon the resiliency of, and guided by, Indigenous Peoples to support Indigenous communities.
