About Us

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Mabuhay!!! Kathleen Penaloza Engel is a proud Filipina American, Mom and Founder of MAKE Collectives, a lifestyle store in Downtown Long Beach, CA in the East Village Arts District. Founder of Makers Mart, a community market event in Downtown Long Beach. Co-owner of  MAKE ESCAPE - a Vacation Rental in Crestline, CA. Event organizer and collaborator for community events in Long Beach such as the East Village Arts District events, the Long Beach Filipino Festival and in Seal Beach for the Mcgaugh Elementary School Carnival 2023. Kathleen is also a featured entrepreneur in In Her Purpose, a book featuring 42 Asian Americans women who have paved their own way to success.

Kathleen's store MAKE Collectives is not just a beloved boutique and online store located in the East Village Arts District since 2012 but is a creative space to gather community, host events and workshops.

Friendship Bracelet Bead Bar was born in 2023 as a total accident when she was a Co Chair for her son's elementary school annual  school carniva and was asked to come up with a bead bar booth. Never ever had she made any type of bead accessories in her life! But she did not want to disappoint her committee and wanted to make her son proud, so she accepted the challenge with hopes of creating a memorable creative experience for her son's peers and classmates. It was a a blast not just for the kiddos but parents too felt inspired! 

She taught herself to bead so she could bring the bead bar to life - she discovered how therapeutic and calming it was for her high anxiety and ADHD busy brain. As an adult beading challenged her to stay focused as she strung each bead, tapping into her inner artist, trust her artistic intuition (hard for her as she doesn’t consider herself an artist) instead of "overthinking" and trying to make a "PERFECT" accessory and most important (for an ADHD'er) finish what she started. Something adults/moms/entrepreneur might struggle with - "perfectionist" and "overthinking."  When finished with a piece, she finished feeling calm, joy and inspired. She discovered that threading inspiring words and using that piece as a reminder of her intention was EMPOWERING! 

She had an epiphany! Relaxation and slowing down is something that doesn’t always come easy in adulting and is much more important than the “hustle.” She had to share this new found wisdom and relaxation activity with everyone!! 

Starting with her customers at her retail store. 

And then the EmpowHERment Friendship Bracelet Bead Bar was born at MAKE Collectives 🌈  MAKE a unique beaded accessory with intention & purpose to use as daily inspiration.

Now you can your own inspiring Bead Bar at your Private Event or MAKE it in store ☀️ MAKE a reservation or book your event here.