Creativity Over Coffee: Ji Bowlus (Take Care Space)

It’s time for a fresh installment of Creativity Over Coffee, an interview series where I learn about friends’ creative journeys.

Today’s chat is very special to me. It’s actually with my very good friend, Ji, who I’ve known since college. Back at Mount Holyoke we used to dream about the future and eat lots and lots of pizza 😉 We studied theater together and spent a lot of time thinking about the women we would become. Our dreams couldn’t match the reality we both now have 😉 I learned so much from Ji about perseverance, determination, and prejudices she faced even in liberal Massachusetts. Ji is such a wonderful person, with a huge heart, and the best sense of humor. I got to reconnect with her while we were in California and it was so great as if no time had past at all! She is like a sister to me. Ji is the founder of Take Care Space. She has such great vision and years of experience in marketing prior to owning her own company. I’ll let you read more about all that in today’s interview below. Grab your coffee and tea and join us for Creativity Over Coffee.

I’m so excited for you guys to meet Ji:

Ji, I feel like I’ve known you forever, which I guess is true (considering our friendship goes back to Mount Holyoke College). Can you tell my readers more about your new venture and Take Care Space?

Ji – We have known each other forever and I’m so grateful for it! I’m so happy we got to spend some time together during your last trip to California too! Take Care Space is a business I started a little over a year ago after 20 years of working in media and advertising and some time soul searching. I didn’t want all those years of experience and gained knowledge to go to waste and after being out of work for a year, I wanted to find something that lit my fire again. It came all together one day when I saw a small artist owned yoga mat business for sale. I acquired the business called “Magic Carpet Yoga Mats” and created a brand called “Take Care Space” so that it could hold a larger vision beyond yoga mats. 

I love the name. Take Care Space. It seems to sum up more than yoga but total well-being. Can you talk more about that?

Ji – While yoga is a large part of my journey, yes, you are absolutely right. Take Care Space is about advocating for and making accessible the journey of self-care, self-love, and healing…. It’s about making space for yourself. It’s about sharing your light and creating community. This is something I love sharing about our brand:

We believe that love starts from within and that everyone is worthy.

We believe that size matters only when it comes to heart or spirit.

We believe in diversity, inclusivity and acceptance.

We believe in the beauty found in all shapes, colors, and sizes. 

We believe that self care is community care.

We believe that kindness and compassion can change the world.

We believe in taking care of ourselves, each other and our planet.

We believe in you.

When do you feel most creative? 

Ji – I’m the most creative when I just let myself be and not judge the process. My head is constantly spinning with ideas if I allow it! The challenge is figuring out which of the ideas to execute. 

What’s your favorite color?

Ji – I love any color that makes me feel happy when looking at it but the colors that make me happiest are calming shades of blues, greens, yellows, pinks, and oranges. The best I’ve seen of these colors dancing together are the sunsets at the foothills of the Catalina Mountains near Tuscon, Arizona…They literally are the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life! 

Who, or what, inspires you? 

Ji – Friends like you inspire me. I have loved watching you grow Finding Silver Pennies and seeing you do something that clearly gives you so much joy. I’ve been so lucky to have met a community of wonderfully talented and passionate makers too. Every market I attend as a consumer or a participant, I leave exhilarated with so many great conversations and connections with people. 

I’m so honored to have helped spread the word about Take Care Space and be part of your Care Squad. You’ve just launched Take Care Market, which is so exciting. Can you tell my readers more about that?

Ji – Yes! Take Care Market will solve the biggest challenges faced by small businesses by having a tech and people forward platform. Take Care Market will have transparency making sure we are always putting small businesses and people first. It’s being created to function as an ecosystem of idea sharing, inspiration, and authenticity while giving amazing value to our consumers. Now more than ever, it’s time to level the playing field for small businesses. There will be resources for small businesses and surprises for consumers that will be unique and exclusive to Take Care Market. More will be announced in the coming weeks!

What’s next for you and Take Care Space?

Ji – Recently I shared about our next collection and artist collaboration. My spiritual happy place is Joshua Tree and in the effort to share that love with people, my next yoga mat collection will be inspired by that. Taylor Compton (IG @lovetaylorelyse) from Joshua Tree will be painting original artwork for the collection. I have a couple of surprises in the works for this collection that have not been announced yet too. Secondly, we just brought on our first Community Manager for Take Care Market, Adrianna Gluck, and I am so grateful. She is not only an artist and a founding Take Care Market community member, she is equally as passionate about the company’s values and mission. Lastly, I have joined forces with iFundwomen. There is a lot more work to be done and as such, I will be launching a fundraising campaign in the next couple of weeks so that we can continue building and scaling. And true to the diversity and heart-centered spirit of our Take Care Market family, we will be showing our gratitude in the form of memorable curated gifts and once-in a lifetime experiences–including accommodations in enchanted Bali, the beautiful town of Idyllwild or Joshua Tree, CA. 

Oh, my goodness! I want to go on the retreats. Sounds amazing! What advice would you give to someone who is interested in becoming more creative, or following in your footsteps as an entrepreneur?

Ji – Believe in yourself even if others don’t. Find your tribe. Ask for help. It’s not easy doing anything alone nor should you. 

Growing up I was a huge follower of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO.  At the end of the program, they would ask the interviewee these questions:

What is your favorite word? Sweet

What is your least favorite word? Sugar

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Authenticity

What turns you off? Selfish people

What is your favorite curse word? FUCK

What sound or noise do you love? My animals “talking” (We have a dog, 3 cats, and a snake…my husband won’t let me get anymore. We’ll see about that.) 

What sound or noise do you hate? Whistling

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Interior Designer

What profession would you not like to do? Pimple popper

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Ready to party? 

A huge thank you to Ji for sharing so much of her journey and herself. I hope you enjoyed this chat as much as I did and I can’t wait to see all that’s coming for Take Care Space and Take Care Market! Be sure to follow along with Ji:

Website * Instagram * Facebook 

If you’d like more Creativity Over Coffee you can read the full series here

* Photos courtesy of Take Care Space.