I grew up with a mother who had a passion for making things! My mom was rarely seen without sawdust in her hair, stain on her fingers, or a paintbrush behind her ear. It was only natural that her love to create eventually evolved into her own little gift business, which she ran in the basement of our home. Her business was a big part of our family's life. Looking back, I realize now that growing up around her passion and business is the deepest root of the Natural Life story.
Three decades later, in 1995, I discovered that same passion for making things when I began taking black and white photos of things I love like dogs on the beach, Adirondack chairs and words written in the sand. I built my own darkroom and created raw black and white photographs that captured the little things in life that made me happy. I quickly created a floor-to-ceiling wall of all my favorite shots... that motivated me to try to become a photographer! The idea of quitting my unfulfilling job to do something I was passionate about thrilled me. I named my new little company Natural Life Photography.
Before I could find my first customer to photograph, friends and family began asking to buy the photos off my wall! This inspired me to frame my favorite photos as tiny keepsakes and magnets and sign up for a local arts market. When the keepsakes sold out in an hour, I realized Natural Life could be a different kind of business! Motivated and excited about my new business idea, I found a handful of stores to carry my Natural Life keepsakes and watched from afar how people reacted to them and how quickly they sold.
I had found my passion and felt happier than I had ever been before. The gifts my mother quietly passed down to me not only gave me the courage and knowledge to start my own business, but the talent to create things people love! Over the years I have met talented artists and people that I invited to help grow Natural Life. I have fun with every aspect of the company… enjoying the business side as much as the creative side!
I still oversee every single detail of every product we make and am proud and lucky to say that everything about Natural Life is still my passion! My motivation to follow this passion and build the business comes from my three amazing daughters who inspire me every day, nostalgic memories of my happy childhood and global artisan markets we love to hunt for treasures in.
We call our products “treasures” because they are things you stumble upon while out and about and just can’t resist… whether it’s a saying that speaks to you, a perfect little gift for a friend or family member… or something to wear or put in your home that makes everyday life more fun!
We love to inspire people to Give & Live Happy!
My biggest hope is that my daughters, along with girls and women all over the world, will discover their talents and passions so they can enjoy life doing what they love. When that magic happens, you can live happy, enjoy the little things and make the world a better place… living your “Natural Life”. Thanks for being a part of this journey with me and the Natural Life family!
xoxo,
Patti Hughes
Founder & CEO of Natural Life
"Spreading positivity with the messages that speak to us is the heart & soul of Natural Life. We hear from so many people all around the world that they love our inspirational messages on the treasures we make and daily posts we share on Instagram and Facebook.
We wanted to start spreading them in even more ways... like sending them in a daily email and printing them on stickers to give away! We didn’t want to just call them “posts” so we put our heads together to come up with a fun new name for them! Since they made people feel cheerful, we looked up other words for “happy” and “chirpy” came up. We instantly knew that Natural Life Chirp was the perfect name... and we even made a little chirping bird to go along with it!
Another fun fact: YOUR most-loved Chirps become the art & words on Natural Life treasures and graphic tees! That makes us all so connected — the Natural Life family and the people who love us are all an important part of creating this happy & hopeful brand! I just love that!"
xo, Patti
We’re on a mission to make the world a better place by inspiring people to Give & Live Happy! Hearing from customers that our products have brought them happiness or helped them through a tough time is what motivates us the most. When we stumble upon an organization or cause that's close to our hearts, we try to get involved in any way possible.
A phone call from Kim Vincenty, a passionate mom from my daughters’ school about “doing something together to help,” was the start of FEARLESS. We created this collection to help educate, empower, and reduce the stigma of anxiety disorders, the most common mental illness in the United States affecting 40 million people. A percent of proceeds from the Fearless Giveback Collection supports JACK Mental Health Advocacy, a nonprofit created to change the way anxiety sufferers and their families navigate the challenges of mental illness, fight stigma, and obtain quality education, support, and treatment.
Make sure to visit the resource page we put together to learn more about how to help yourself or someone you love!
Renewing Dignity was founded by our friend, Jan Healy. When we heard Jan’s idea, we couldn’t wait to help her! In collaboration with partnering organizations, they are dedicated to eliminating “period poverty” through direct period product distribution, education and advocacy. Their mission is to provide period products to women and girls in Northeast Florida who can’t afford them.
Patti, Natural Life Founder & CEO, joined the Renewing Dignity Board of Directors and immediately started brainstorming ways to help this amazing organization! One of the first ideas she had was adding Period Pouches to the Natural Life assortment. A portion of the proceeds are donated back to Renewing Dignity.
We’ve watched an incredible family in our community build an organization that is making a huge difference in the world for children with Autism (now affecting 1 in 59 children!). Their mission is to inspire, educate and fund services for those affected by autism. They are making an enormous impact on our community! Patti, the Natural Life Founder and CEO, is honored to be on the HEAL Board of Directors!
Girl Talk is an international non-profit peer-to-peer mentoring program with a very simple premise: high school girls mentor middle school girls to help them work through the issues they face during their early teenage years.Through weekly chapter meetings, high school leaders have the opportunity to share their own experiences as positive role models.
Natural Life offers two annual Scholarships to Girl Talk Leaders, donates product for the annual summer camps and even hosts a Girl Talk Chapter held at the Natural Life corporate office! This organization is so special… learn more about how to start a Girl Talk chapter in your community.
