Written by Tanya Terry
Rhonda Willingham, owner of Sista Girl Greeting Cards, recently shared with the Courier the creative process she uses when creating greeting cards and other items she offers through her business. Usually, she is in her favorite spot in her studio and has candles lit. She listens to music by Blues Singer Bessie Smith to set the tone when she is getting ready to create. She tends to be most creative between 10 p.m.-2 a.m.
Willingham told the Courier Sista Girl Greeting Cards based on what she did not see in the mainstream.
“I was looking for greeting cards,” she said. “I was in graduate school, and I did my research on Black women in corporate America. My thesis was: “As a Black woman, what even drove you to entertain the thought that you could break the glass ceiling?’ My research group was very small because at that time there were not a lot of Black women CEOs sitting having that leadership position at the table. But, within the small research study group that I found, the women were so supportive of my research and so cooperative! They gave me their personal contact information and were so transparent. So, at the end of my research, I wanted to send some special note or a card to really express to them my gratitude.”
Willingham had a very difficult time finding card that looked like the women she wanted to purchase them for. So, Willingham decided when she completed graduate school, she would revisit this issue, asking why there wasn’t a variety of greeting cards that reflect Black women.
Willingham started designing T-shirts, then took that idea and starting designing greeting cards. From there, she went on to design journals, a coloring book, lapel pens, wrapping paper, gift bags, hand-painted Christmas ornaments, hand-painted glassware, stickers and hand painted rocks in honor of Women’s History Month.
Willingham has designed swag bags for Vivica Fox for a product launch Fox had. Her cards have been sent to Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys and Patti LaBelle.
“I met Erika Alexander; she played Max on Living Single, and she’s a fan of Sista Girl as well,” Willingham recalled. “Myra J from the Tom Joyner Morning Show-we kind of formed a rapport-and she loves Sista Girl.”
Along with about 40 other artists’ work, Willingham’s art will be featured at the First Bloom: Artful Bling and Pleasing Things event taking place locally April 2 and 3.
“I decided to submit an application to be part of First Bloom: Artful Bling and Pleasing Things because the event is women-focused, and I think it’s a great fit for Sista Girl.”
For details about First Bloom: Artful Bling and Pleasing Things, see article in this issue.
For details on Sista Girl Greeting Cards, which are also sold in select stores, visit www.sistagirlgreetingcards.com.
