About us

The passion and reason behind this webshop

Hi, I’m Kayden, the person behind this webshop.

I’ve been creative pretty much my whole life. I took dance, music, and art classes and would keep practicing at home too. I’ve tried so many different DIY kits!

Naturally, as I got older, I had less time for it, but I never stopped creating or being creative. It was always a great way to relieve stress and have some fun.

And I really need that now, because I’m currently stuck at home due to mental and physical health issues. I talk more about that in the section titled "My journey to a service dog."

Now that I can’t go outside and am confined to my room, my creativity has actually been a bit of a lifesaver. Instead of lying in bed feeling depressed, I can channel my energy into something more enjoyable, like making things. Maybe a little to much though, my room was starting to fill up with handmade items, and my family was going crazy from the sheer number of gifts they were receiving haha.

But that’s exactly what gave me the idea to open a webshop. I’d had this dream for a while but never managed to make it happen. This turned out to be the perfect time! I had too many handmade items and also needed money for an assistance dog.

I also felt it was the right moment because the world, both then and now, isn't exactly a happy place, and this way, I can offer people a little ray of sunshine.

So, that’s the short version of my passion and the reason behind the webshop :)

The meaning behind the name

There honestly isn't like a big hidden meaning behind the name, but I ofc did put some thought into it and I thought it would be fun to share it :)

So here is a short explanation:

The first part "kems" is actually quite simple, my initials are K.M.E so kem is just my initials hustled a little bit to make it sound better haha

Now the "trinkets" part actually does have some more meaning to it and it actually comes from 2 things:

The first is that basically since I was born I've been obsessed with collecting little trinkets. It could honestly be anything, a shiny rock. a pretty coin, a cute figurine, etc.

The second reason is what the word trinkets actually means. Some people know it, some don't, but the meaning I've based this on is (small) objects which may not be worth a lot of money, but mean so much emotionally.

This is what I want my webshop to be about. I want to sell things that bring a little extra light to your day, a little extra color in your life and a little extra comfort in the darkness.

The person behind this webshop

Hey there, I’m Kayden and I’m 23 years old.

I have autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD and chronic tinnitus.

My hobbies/special interests:
Being creative (drawing, painting, crafting, crocheting, etc. basically anything you can do with your hands), reading, listening to music, photography (especially nature, sunsets, and animals, I even have a photography account: @Kayden.m.e_photography), cooking, baking, walking (in nature), cycling, horseback riding, and basically anything related to animals!

I have one cat, she’s one of the cutest little monsters you’ll ever meet, hahaha.
Her name is Gino.
She’s a rescue cat from Egypt and lived with dogs for a while, so she has some funny quirks sometimes lol.

My favorite colors are purple, dark blue, and dark green. But honestly, I like all colors, after all, rainbows are kinda my thing :D

Right now, I’m also working hard to arrange an assistance dog for myself. An assistance dog could help me get out of the house again and do things like going to school, working, meeting up with friends, etc.
It’s a slow process, but I’m not giving up until I succeed!

Read more about this in the next section: "My journey to a service dog."

My journey to a service dog

Dear everyone,

 

For a long time, I didn't dare share my story with the world, but now it is important that I do so anyway.

I’m Kayden and I’m 23 years old. I need an assistance dog because I cannot function independently in daily life due to my autism, ADHD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder and chronic tinnitus.

Because of these challenges, I’ve also been confined to my room for nearly five years, a room measuring just 2.5 by 3 meters. I can’t go to school, I can’t work, I can’t meet up with friends, basically, I can’t do anything at all. At first, I tried to make the best of it, but I soon realized that unfortunately, that wasn't going to work. I am heavily dependent on other people (especially my mother), and that isn't right.

Besides that, staying indoors for so long simply isn't healthy. It’s making me depressed again, and I’m running out of ideas for what to do. I miss being outdoors, going to school, and seeing friends so much. I haven't been able to do any of those normal things for such a long time.

And all of this is why I’ve started the journey toward getting an assistance dog.

That is the reason for this crowdfunding campaign.

So, I’m asking you now: could you please help me?

It doesn't matter if the contribution is small or large, every bit helps!

If you’d prefer to get something in return for your money, all proceeds from the items I sell here go toward the assistance dog!

Sharing my story (in any way you can) helps a great deal too.

Would you like to follow my journey toward getting an assistance dog? Then follow me on my assistance dog Instagram account: @hulphond_voor_kayden

And for those interested, here is a list of what the assistance dog could do for me.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

Love, Kayden <3

 

What a service dog can do for me:

- Due to my mental and physical health, I am currently barely able, or unable, to go outside. This prevents me from doing things independently, such as going to the supermarket, attending appointments with the dentist or doctor, going to therapy, using public transport, or even working or studying. A service dog could help me stay calm, feel safe, and provide a distraction in these situations simply by being there. This would help me become more independent, so I wouldn't always have to rely on others.

 

- Detecting rising tension early to prevent a panic attack. If my service dog signals that a panic attack is coming, I can take action sooner to stop it or if I am already too far gone, the dog could help pull me out of it and break the cycle. This would be incredibly helpful, as a panic attack usually leaves me unable to do much, or anything at all, for the rest of the day.

 

- Finding the exit, for example, from a supermarket, if I become disoriented due to a panic attack or sensory overload.

 

- Lying across my legs to help lower my heart rate and calm me down (Deep Pressure Therapy).

 

- Detecting sensory overload. Because of my autism, I become overstimulated easily and often struggle to sense when I’ve reached my limit. As a result, I frequently push myself too hard. A service dog could signal this, letting me know sooner that I need to rest, thereby preserving my energy for the other things I need to do that day.

 

- Rediscovering joy and a sense of purpose in life by being able to participate in society again, such as meeting up with friends, returning to study or work, living independently, and so on.

 

- A solid routine: this is crucial for me. Caring for an assistance dog naturally creates a structured daily schedule, playing, feeding and walking the dog, etc which also ensures I get plenty of time outdoors.

 

- You are with your assistance dog 24/7, so you are never truly alone, which is a wonderful feeling. A companion who always supports you and helps you get through tough days simply by being there.

 

- After a restless night or a nightmare, the assistance dog can help me feel safe by coming over for a cuddle, allowing me to settle back down and sleep peacefully.

 

- He can expand my personal space, for instance, when I’m standing in line at a shop, by positioning himself behind me to create a buffer, effectively shielding me from others.

 

In short: living again, rather than just surviving.

 

And hopefully, regaining some independence and self-confidence so I can fully participate in society once more.

 

If you’d like to donate after reading this, you can do so via the button below.

 

I would also greatly appreciate it if you made a purchase. As I mentioned, all proceeds from Kems Trinkets go directly toward my assistance dog!

 

Thanks so much for reading! <3