So who’s behind The Colibri Project?
My name is Paola Alejandra Chamorro Ward, and yep, you guessed it – I’m Hispanic. Did my long name give it away?!. My friends call me Pao and I was born in beautiful Bogotá, Colombia. I came to the States to pursue college, then I fell in love with a sweet and handsome guy, Ryan, and now I have been living in Florida for about 8 years. Ry happens to be a super creative writer, and I’m so thankful for this because it means he gets what it’s like to want to pursue a creative life. We have two schnauzers who are absolutely adorable. Family is a huge aspect of my life and I love spending time with them.
I created The Colibri Project in a sort of accidental but purposeful way. First, I needed decor for our little one bedroom condo. I’ve always been a major DYI’er and I love having unique pieces that are not mass produced – I’ve built my own dinning table, bought run down furniture and added my own touch to them, etc. So in decorating, I pulled out a wood burner tool my parents gave me over ten years ago that I’ve taken with me every time I’ve moved, and I started creating. I was encouraged by Ry, my parents, and his parents to sell them, so I did!
Throughout my life, I’ve seen people be scared to take a chance on themselves and miss out on something they love and the reasons varied. Some were because they lacked the confidence, some didn’t have the tools, and some didn’t know where to start. This made me realize how much I want to encourage people to JUST GO FOR IT, and provide support through resources. I want people to unapologetically be themselves. To dare to dream, but even more so, to dare to take action. So while this website is a place to shop for inspiring pieces, it will serve also as a way to share the resources, tools, and knowledge I’ve been honored to learn along the way of both failures and successes, so that you can push forward and live the life you were meant to live.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing me at pao@thecolibriproject.com. You can also email me there for custom order requests or collaborations/wholesale!
Be bold,
Pao