When you can be anything in the world, be kind.

Olivia (Xinyu). I am is a 17 year old Junior in High School. She is the owner of Crafty Paws and designer of many products. She started her charity based business in 2020 during the pandemic as a means to help support a pet rescue back in China where her family was living at the time. Many animals were being abandoned and Olivia and her family and were rescuing, fostering, vetting and finding them FUREVER homes.

She too had been abandoned at approximately one month of age so she understood about abandonment.

“Someone found me and took me to the orphanage which saved my life.”

In addition to funding the pet rescue, part of her proceeds go towards supporting her former orphanage in northern China where she lived until she was adopted at approximately 4 years of age.

Since moving to Northwest Arkansas, she began supporting additional projects in the USA. “One I am passionate about is Grand Valley State University Mobility Lab in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They focus on helping children with mobility issues to become as mobile as possible and enjoying life the best they can. “I can relate to this as well since I was not mobile until after I was adopted and had intense therapy, explained Olivia. “100% of the proceeds of my products goes towards these programs. I have been so blessed by the kindness of others to save my life and I want to pay-it-forward. My fiber art business is my way to give back to less fortunate animals and humans all over the world. In addition to supporting the International organizations, I am currently supporting these US and local organizations.”

Olivia’s knit and crochet products will be on exhibit at Rogers Experimental House during the February Art Walk.