About Yoshi-oka

Hello and welcome! My name is Stephanie Yoshioka and I am the founder of Yoshi-oka, a visual and tactile world of design filled with colors and textures. 

For as long as I can remember (and even before, according to my mother) I have always loved art. Growing up, I formally studied drawing and watercolor painting. I also dabbled in many different crafts, from cross stitch to beaded jewelry to sewing. At one point, I even made and sold custom reversible purses, carrying around a binder of fabric swatches so people could choose the colors and patterns. 

However, life often has a way of encouraging us to leave childhood pleasures for more realistic pursuits. I put aside my artistic endeavors to study economics, then moved to New York and got a job in the financial services industry, working in data analytics then strategy consulting.

In the fall of 2019, I found my way back to my artistic side, starting with a beginner class in modern embroidery. It was a medium I had never tried and I had no expectations for how good (or bad) I would or should be. I loved it - the freedom of making something up as I went along, the colors of the thread and all the different textures I could create. From there, I also got interested in another fiber art, weaving, and I've been obsessed ever since.

I launched my business in September 2020, fitting it in after hours while working in finance full time. As they did for many others, the changes to life during the pandemic helped me re-evaluate my aspirations and I am now fully dedicated to following my artistic dreams. 

I hope my art brings you joy and brightens your world. I would love to hear from you, so feel free to reach out via the contact page, email me at stephanie@yoshi-oka.com, or find me on Instagram @yoshi.oka.design. 

Also, if you are interested in a custom order, please reach out via the contact page or email and we can get started!