Hello!
I'm Laurie. By day I am a domestic engineer aka a stay at home mom (SAHM). By post kids bedtime, I make things. I am married to an amazing man who I am crazy in love with. He also happens to be a police officer. I started Gladiator Designs as a way of self-care. Something for me while staying home with my babies but it has turned into something even more than I could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). I’m so thankful and truly love getting to create.
How it all started
Four Christmas’ ago, my husband said I should get a laser and start making things. It could be my Christmas gift. Honestly, I didn’t want it. I was kind of annoyed that he suggested it, but it would be a smart investment. I could help bring in some extra money from home so why not? It was a little Fox Alien 5W diode laser. I knew NOTHING about lasers. Nothing about vectors. I didn’t understand any of it. I was annoyed that I was going to have to spend that much time learning about something that I didn’t really care about. I didn’t even open and start messing with it till April because something in March kind of forced it.
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Something pretty significant happened in our lives in March 2021 and lasted for 3 years. During that time, my love for the scroll saw grew. While I'd scroll, I'd talk to God about what we were going through. I'd talk about my day, my fears, our future. It's a place I can just be by myself and immerse myself in being creative with God. I'm so thankful to what He has turned Gladiator Designs into.
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Looking back, I just laugh at myself. Something I didn’t even want and was annoyed by has now turned into something I absolutely love. Thank you, babe. I started by making personalized magnetic bottle openers. Then came up with the idea of ornaments. The 5W diode wasn’t strong enough to cut through the wood so I had it engrave the wood then I’d cut them out on a scroll saw. That's when I first started using the scroll saw. From ornaments into Legacy Badges.
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Behind the name
A lot of people who were put in the coliseum to fight were wrongfully accused. When your situation looks impossible and there's little or no hope at all, you can either fight while holding onto the little hope or you can fold and allow your circumstances to win.
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This is where your character is built and molded for your destiny. The world may be rooting and watching to see you fail, but they actually get to see your transformation happen before them and what true power looks like while you endure your battles.
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I picked the name more for the officers, not me. This business isn't really about me.