Building My Dreams One Sparkle at a Time
- Lela Robinson
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
There comes a point in life when you realize asking for help isn't weakness.
For a long time, I struggled with asking people for money. Not because I didn't believe in my projects, but because somewhere deep down I felt I had to do everything myself. Work harder. Figure it out alone. Carry the weight on my own shoulders.
But recently, something shifted.
I realized that when we ask our friends and family to support a charity, donate to a fundraiser, buy cookies from a Girl Scout, sponsor a walk, or attend a community event, we're doing something completely natural. We're inviting people to be part of something bigger than themselves.
That's exactly where I find myself today.
The causes I care about most have always involved taking care of our planet. Whether it's planting a tree, cleaning a beach, protecting marine life, or teaching children about conservation, I truly believe Earth preservation is one of the most important causes we can stand behind.
As a forever mermaid at heart, that mission runs through everything I create.
The names Angel and Timeless aren't just names to me. They represent something bigger—a reminder that our actions ripple through generations. Every children's project I create carries a deeper message about conservation, kindness, responsibility, and protecting the world around us.
And that's why I need your help.
The Mermaid Project That Has My Whole Heart
My newest endeavor is perhaps the most vulnerable thing I've ever attempted.
I'm creating a children's television show.
For years, I've dreamed about developing a show that teaches unconventional life lessons through storytelling, music, imagination, and wonder. Through Mermaid Monica, Mermaid Mika, and an incredible cast of characters, children will learn lessons that aren't always taught in school.
Lessons about confidence.
Lessons about creativity.
Lessons about protecting the Earth.
Lessons about kindness.
Lessons about believing in themselves.
For the first time, I'm allowing myself to be vulnerable enough to create the music, write the monologues, book the guests, and produce the episodes myself.
The episodes are already outlined.
The vision is crystal clear.
The business plan exists.
The stories are ready.
Now comes the part that requires resources.
Production.
Filming.
Editing.
Costumes.
Sets.
Distribution.
I'm incredibly excited to share the finished project with the world, and for anyone interested in supporting or sponsoring this dream, I would be honored to share the full episode list and business plan.
This isn't simply entertainment.
This is legacy work.
This is education wrapped in imagination.
This is something I believe children desperately need.
Sparkle By Number: My Biggest Art Project Yet
At the same time, I'm building what may become the largest art project of my career.
Sparkle By Number.
Imagine the concept of diamond painting and diamond dots but elevated.
More luxurious.
More personalized.
More artistic.
More magical.
Instead of simply placing tiny gems on a canvas, these kits will feature rhinestones, sequins, specialty beads, embellishments, and high-end materials designed to create breathtaking works of art.
The finished pieces won't just sparkle.
They'll shine.
I've spent countless hours researching materials, suppliers, packaging options, and manufacturing possibilities.
Right now, I'm searching for the perfect partner to help develop what I believe could become one of the most innovative crafting kits available.
My vision is for the box itself to become part of the experience.
A carrying case.
An easel.
An organizer.
A workstation.
A complete creative studio in one package.
Every insert, compartment, and feature would serve a purpose, allowing artists to easily stop and restart their projects whenever life gets busy.
The truth is, this project has tested me.
There are days when I feel overwhelmed trying to source materials, order samples, test papers, compare finishes, and coordinate multiple manufacturers.
As an artist, I'm used to creating a single commission from start to finish.
Building a product line is completely different.
It requires printers.
Packaging companies.
Material suppliers.
Tool manufacturers.
Shipping partners.
Marketing systems.
Technology platforms.
What used to be a one-person artistic process has become a multi-company collaboration.
And yet, despite the challenges, I keep moving forward.
One sample.
One test print.
One prototype.
One sparkle at a time.
The Soundtrack of My Life
Another dream quietly becoming reality is my music.
For years, music lived inside my imagination.
Now it's finally stepping into the world.
I currently have music projects being developed across multiple creative brands and experiences.
An album for the children's television show.
An album for mermaid experiences and parties.
An album inspired by burlesque performances and intimate jazz club evenings.
And another album in development featuring dance tracks and club-inspired beats.
Creating music has become another extension of my storytelling.
Another way to connect.
Another way to share emotions.
Another way to build experiences that leave lasting memories.
When I look at everything I'm creating, I realize my brand was never meant to fit neatly into a single category.
I'm not just an artist.
I'm not just a coach.
I'm not just a performer.
I'm not just a creator.
I'm a mixed-media storyteller building an entire universe from imagination, determination, and hard work.
Working the Dream
Every day I clock into the hospital.
Every shift.
Every hour.
Every paycheck.
I am funding another piece of a dream.
The television show.
The art kits.
The books.
The music.
The merchandise.
The licensing opportunities.
The educational experiences.
The community.
I have given myself a two-year timeline to bring these projects fully to life and establish the seven streams of income that I envision becoming part of my retirement plan.
Some people see multiple projects.
I see one ecosystem.
Each piece supports the others.
Each dream feeds another dream.
Each creation expands the universe.
And every day I keep building.
Love, Doubt, and Doing It Anyway
Perhaps the most difficult part of this journey isn't the money.
It's the doubt.
I'm currently in a May-December relationship with a wonderful provider who helps me keep life in perspective.
Love has taught me many things.
But it has also shown me how lonely it can feel when someone doesn't fully understand your vision.
When someone doesn't see the possibilities you see.
When they question whether you have the skills, experience, or ability to accomplish what you're determined to build.
Sometimes those doubts hit harder because of where I come from.
Because of assumptions people make.
Because of what others think is realistic.
Because of what they believe someone like me can or cannot achieve.
What hurts isn't disagreement.
It's feeling as though everything I've survived, learned, built, and overcome gets dismissed.
As though my experiences don't count because they don't fit someone else's definition of success.
I understand he's trying to protect me from disappointment.
But while I'm often his biggest cheerleader, there are moments when I wish he could be mine.
The reality is that there is a fifteen-year age gap between us.
Different experiences.
Different perspectives.
Different energies.
Sometimes very little overlap.
And while I love deeply, I also recognize that many of these dreams are being built alone.
Not because I want to.
Because they have to be.
There is no promise of tomorrow.
There is only today.
Today to create.
Today to build.
Today to dream.
Today to try.
Today to believe.
So if you've ever wondered why I keep going despite obstacles, despite setbacks, despite uncertainty, this is why.
Because somewhere inside me lives a little girl who still believes anything is possible.
A mermaid who still believes magic exists.
An artist who refuses to stop creating.
And a woman who finally understands that asking for support doesn't diminish the dream.
It gives others the opportunity to help bring it to life.
And for that reason, I'll keep building.
One song.
One sparkle.
One episode.
One dream at a time.
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