A creative person has opened up a creative business. On Friday, the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting event at Solecito Creations, a new business located at 3704 E. Andrew Johnson Highway opened by Diana Duarte that specializes in event décor and other hand-made crafts.
“I do different types of set-ups,” Duarte said. “For birthdays (and other events) I do floral arrangements, balloon displays, crocheted (and other handmade) decorations and have all sorts of unique offerings.” Solecito is Spanish and means “lovely sunshine,” and that’s a good way to describe Duarte’s offerings; her custom pieces are vibrant and cheerful.
“To me, sunshine represents happiness, and this business is a joy in my life,” she said. “I currently work at the Rose Center, which I love, and I’m raising two beautiful children. I still find time to create luxurious floral arrangements.
” Duarte said anyone who orders balloon or floral arrangements from Solecito is sure to have a smile on their face. The shop is an expansion that has made the business a family affair. Duarte’s mother and father will help run the shop when she is elsewhere and her husband is contributing his artistic talent, as well.
“He’s the artist behind the painted walls and balloon designs,” she said. Duarte started creating decorations as a hobby and as she grew as an artisan, she started to make plans. In 2019 she started selling her creations which have shown up at birthdays, weddings and other events.
Now, she has a storefront can showcase her beautiful work. The ribbon cutting was full of family and supporters cheering on the effort. “Without them, I wouldn’t have made it this far,” Duarte said.
And the supporters returned the love. “Diana is amazing,” Rose Center Executive Director Beccy Hamm said. “She is the most hard-working and talented young lady, and I am so proud of her for this.
She has worked very hard on this and it’s a dream come true for her, and I couldn’t be happier.”.
