Random creations bringing joy, comfort
New Truro business offers variety of unique, colourful items
Meghan Clarke enjoys creating things that make others happy.
Her colourful creations can easily bring smiles to peoples’ faces and she never knows what she’ll be making next. Because of this, she has called her new business Random Like Me.
“I’ve always been a maker,” she said. “I made clothes, dog collars and leashes. I loved doing it and was coming up with more ideas. I was sort of all over the place and I thought, ‘Why not have a company with that kind of presence?’”
Although Clarke wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until 2019, at the age of 35, she realized she’d been using certain things to help her cope with it throughout her life.
“Bright colours were helpful so I incorporated that into Random Like Me,” she said. “I’m very interested in how things are made and I wondered if I could make a rug. I did some research and got a punch needle to make handtufted items. I was making mug rugs and the first week I was at the (Truro Farmers’) market a fellow vendor bought one. When she told me she was carrying it around to use for comfort, I thought about making a pocket version. I started making the stimmies and they’ve really taken off. People can use them to stim if anxious or need extra stimulation.”
She also makes wall hangings, capes, bathing suit coverups and earrings created from upcycled leather. She upcycles as much as possible, with yarn and fabric scraps. Denim can be used as a backing for rugs.
“I find making these things is very therapeutic, but parting with them can be hard, even though I love seeing people take them home. Letting go of a piece of art is much different than letting go of clothes you make.”
The other thing she finds difficult is setting prices that will reflect the time and effort put into her work yet will still be something people are willing to pay.
She does do custom orders for specific hand-tufted items and plans to offer classes in the spring.
Clarke, who grew up in Newfoundland and moved to Nova Scotia seven years ago, has always been a creative person and is still involved with performing arts.
“I was bullied about my weight when younger and a lot of the way I coped was throwing myself into creativity,” she said. “I enjoyed writing, acting, dancing and singing.”
She’s performed in The Vagina Monologues, The Crucible, and is a member of a band called Three’s Company. She combined her love of dogs with her creativity and used to work as a groomer with her own salon (The Downtown Hound) in Truro.
“I’ve decided I’m going to do things I enjoy as much as possible for the rest of my life and creating fun things is something I enjoy,” she said.
Random Like Me can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/randomlikemeco. Items for sale can be found on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/meghanlynndesign, on Shopify at https://randomlikemeco.com/ and on Instagram at @rlmcompany, as well as at the Truro Farmers’ Market.