The Full Story: Why I Built Clare’s Corner & Why I’m Rebuilding It 💛

Behind Clare’s Corner – The Mum Behind It All

My life feels like a rollercoaster I can’t seem to get off. When COVID hit, my income dropped to $0 overnight — it was terrifying. Then, post-pandemic, my business MagicPainters (kids & corporate event entertainment) peaked. Business was booming, and for the first time, I felt like I had made it. After I become a mum, I decided I wanted to do more, so I decided to scale and start new ventures to support the mum community. One of it was Clare's Corner. 

Clare's Corner was everything I had dreamed of. Watching it take off so quickly felt like my biggest success yet. But just two months later, I lost it all. One moment, I was on top of the world; the next, I was scrambling to hold everything together.

Why I Decided to Start Clare’s Corner

It started with a simple idea — I just wanted a space to celebrate Clare’s first birthday in December. I spent weeks searching for the perfect venue, but everything felt either too expensive or not mum-friendly enough. And then it hit me: If I can’t find it, maybe I need to create it.

We got the idea in August, and from that moment, the plan was simple — build a space that wasn’t just a venue but a place where mums felt seen, where their child’s special moments could unfold effortlessly.

At first, I told myself that even if no one booked, at least we’d have a space to celebrate Clare. That alone would make it worth it. But then something unbelievable happened. Even before we had photos, 50 mums booked Clare’s Corner, just based on trust and the story I shared.

That was one of the proudest moments of my life. I had no idea if this would work. But this? This was crazy. It made me realize Clare's Corner wasn’t just a venue. This was something more.

The Process: Bringing the Dream to Life

Bringing Clare’s Corner to life was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. We started from scratch and had such tight timeline; finding a location, planning renovations, and designing a space that could adapt to every kind of celebration, just before Clare's first birthday. When I first walked into the finished space, it felt surreal.

This place was mine. It looked amazing, and I couldn’t wait to welcome mums through the doors. I poured everything I had into it: financially, emotionally, physically. Every decision was intentional. And the response was overwhelming. Mums sent me long messages thanking me for creating Clare’s Corner. I felt like I had found my calling.

Clare's Corner was never just a business to me. It was named after my daughter. It was a symbol of my love for her, it was an extension of me.

I had never worked this hard on something before. I had built a "successful" business before with MagicPainters, but I always attributed it to luck — being in the right place at the right time. I worked hard, but deep down, I never felt like I had given it my absolute 100%. But Clare’s Corner? This was different. For the first time, I had put my entire heart, soul, and energy into something. I wasn’t just building a business — I was building a home for moments, for memories, for the people who needed it most. We received so many kind messages from the mums (and some dads!) who booked the place and I was so so heartened.

Clare’s 1st Birthday – The Day Everything Came Together

After months of planning, stress, and sleepless nights, the day finally arrived: Clare’s 1st birthday. And it was perfect. For the first time, I got to see everything I had built come to life. The venue, the entertainment, the joy — it was all mine. MagicPainters brought the fun, Clare’s Corner provided the space, and together, it felt like a full-circle moment. I had created something that mums like me had always wanted: a venue designed for families, a place where celebrations could be truly stress-free.

The best part? It was bigger than my husband’s company family day 😂 We went all out, facepainting, balloons, magic show, a photo booth & more...it was a full-blown carnival! Seeing Clare run around, laughing, playing, surrounded by love, made every sacrifice worth it. It wasn’t just a celebration of her first year; it was a celebration of why I started all of this in the first place.

But just when I thought we were at the start of something incredible, everything fell apart.

The Unexpected Shutdown – When It All Crumbled

I’ll never forget it. Not trying to be dramatic, but it felt like something out of a movie. When I read the email, it was like the words slowed down, the background started spinning, and everything just stopped. I had poured my heart and soul into this space, and to find out it wasn’t compliant was soul crushing. I wouldn’t wish that feeling on anyone. I forced myself to shut off the emotions and push forward. I didn’t want to let anyone down. I couldn’t cancel bookings. So, I did the only thing I knew how — I went straight online and started searching for a new location.

But you know what they say — when you compress something for too long, it combusts. The sadness started leaking through, especially when I was alone. I felt like everything was crumbling down around me. And when I finally let myself feel it, it was unbearable. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t feel like eating. I lost weight. It felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I felt like I failed Clare, I failed myself, and I failed all the mums who put their trust in me. Clare's Corner was supposed to be something positive. For it to be taken negatively and used as an opportunity to hurt me was such a hard pill to swallow.

It was heartbreaking and I was terrified. I knew the next step was to rebuild, but I kept thinking, what if I can’t recreate Clare’s Corner? What if this is it?

The Emotional Toll – Missing Out on Clare’s Moments

The journey to Clare's Corner was not an easy one. I forgot that starting this was another full time job on top of my already busy "full time job" and I really struggled to make everything work. In the beginning, I thought, I just need to push through. Once we open, things will stabilize, and I’ll have more time for Clare. But then this happened. And suddenly, I have no time again. I feel guilty every day. I am on my phone 24/7 trying to fix things, and sometimes Clare would be calling me, and I wouldn’t even hear her. I would be so engrossed in my phone, in the emails, in the planning — I am missing out on moments I can never get back.

I tried to keep my struggles to myself because I didn’t want my family to worry. But my husband saw it. He saw how much I was breaking, even though I kept pushing forward. And one day, he looked at me and said, this was supposed to be a passion project — just think of it as an expensive passion project (LOL)

The Moms Who Believed – The Messages That Kept Me Going

When I first announced our closure, I had no idea what to expect. Moving to a new location felt like starting over, and I wasn’t sure if we could recreate the magic we had built. But what happened next was completely unexpected. We went viral on TikTok, and the messages started pouring in — not just from mums who had booked our space, but from complete strangers on the internet.

Mums reached out saying, “Just tell me when — I’ll book the new place.” Their unwavering faith in Clare’s Corner left me completely floored. It wasn’t just about a venue; it was about what this space meant to them.

To be honest, I received so many messages telling me I was an inspiration for not giving up. But the truth? I don’t feel like one. People don’t see the exhaustion, the intrusive thoughts, the moments I wondered if I should just let it all go. But I try my best to keep going, because if so many mums still believe in Clare’s Corner, how can I not believe in it too? I received the kindest message from a mum that made me realise — I wasn’t just fighting for myself. I was fighting for them.

The Fear of Losing It All Again – The Anxiety of Rebuilding

Now that we’re rebuilding, do I have moments where I’m scared history will repeat itself? Absolutely. But we’re making sure we do it by the book this time. Still, the anxiety never fully goes away. We need to spend so much again. And as a risk-averse person, it terrifies me. Every dollar we’re putting into this is a risk. Every decision feels heavy.

But what keeps me going? Clare. I want to build something that will make her proud of me. I want to build a place where she can spend all her birthdays, and I want to build something that makes motherhood better.

Why This Is Just the Beginning

This journey hasn’t been easy. There have been moments where I questioned everything. Moments where I felt like giving up. But if this experience has taught me anything, it’s that mums deserve better. And that’s why I refuse to give up. Clare’s Corner will be back, and it will be even better. Because this isn’t just a business — it’s a promise. A space built with love, resilience, and a community that believes in it 💛

Now taking bookings for March onwards — because every mum deserves a space she can count on.