Pulse BEAT
GONE GLAMPING
Sleepovers get a memorable makeover with Dana Maciag’s creatively crafted teepees
Gone are the days of zip-up sleeping bags and spending the night on uncomfortable floors. Thanks to Dana Maciag, the mompreneur behind AZ Sleepy Teepee (www.azsleepyteepee.com) and Kid Murals by Dana (www.kidmuralsbydana.com), kids can slumber in their own themed mini teepees complete with twinkle lights, fake campfires, and personalized crafts and pillows. The Scottsdale native, who taught first grade for six years, is no stranger to over-the-top party planning or owning her own business. After painting a mural of storybook characters at her school’s library, parents began commissioning her to decorate their children’s bedrooms. Kid Murals by Dana was born, and, since then, she’s brought life to empty walls at Chase Field, Desert Ridge Marketplace, and countless rooms throughout the Valley. With seven years of entrepreneurship under her belt, Maciag launched AZ Sleepy Teepee in March of this year. The company offers six teepee themes, including glitter and glam, dreamy desert, safari jungle, and campin’ camo (shown here). “With my creative nature, I put a lot of thought and handmade products into this company. My mother-inlaw sews the teepee covers and pillows, and I create the banners and craft kits,” Maciag says. “We take pride in our designs and themes, making them unique and fun for both boys and girls.” Maciag notes that the best part of what she does is seeing the joyous reactions of parents and kids to the personalized sleepover setups. Meeting other successful moms keeps Maciag inspired and she shares, “It truly takes another mom to understand how crazy life can get with kids and a business. I love hearing their stories, what they have overcome, how they have grown, and how they manage to balance life.” Between her two businesses and three children, Maciag doesn’t have much spare time, but when she finds herself with a free weekend, she enjoys spending it with her family and exercising her creativity. “You’ll probably find me being artsy and creative in my own home,” Maciag says. “I’m always trying to find a new space to decorate or paint.”
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So Scottsdale! November ‘18
BY MANDY HOLMES / PHOTO BY CLAUDIA JOHNSTONE