Andrea was born on the Pest side of Budapest – yes, that’s “Pest” as in Budapest – in a modest apartment within an old residential building with rusty wrought iron railings lining open-ring corridors. The building had shared toilets on each floor, and her family lived in a small one-bedroom unit with a kitchen heated by a wood stove. Her parents were instrumental in her life, teaching her the importance of hard work. Her father worked tirelessly, often holding two or three jobs and working 16 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. Andrea rarely saw him, but she would stay up late to hear him come home or try to wake up early to catch him before he left for work. Her mother, who washed clothes by hand, taught Andrea and her brother to be independent and from an early age. Even before she could count or write, Andrea learned practical skills. When shopping for groceries, her mother taught her to recognize the color of the money she needed to receive as change. She began sewing by hand at only four years old, creating outfits for her Russian-made Barbie doll. She also built a dollhouse by gluing together matchboxes and painting them burgundy. As her father's hard work started to pay off, the family moved frequently, limiting her to having real friends for any length of time. So, Andrea and her older brother spent weekends and summers helping her father build houses. She often helped carry heavy bricks or pull buckets of cement, but the buckets were too heavy for her. Once, the weight of a bucket shifted and lifted her into the air, and she was caught by her brother. Her father had to tie her with a rope to the product to keep her steady. Despite the physical strain, Andrea persevered, even when her hands were sore and blistered. Her father would tell her, "Keep working as hard work will be a credit to your future." Despite her father's belief that hard work was the only path to success, Andrea began to really pursue her passion. When she was 14, her father enrolled her in a chemistry school, which she attended reluctantly. She often skipped classes to sketch people, families, and scenes in a local park. During the summer, she worked at the local county office and continued to develop her artistic skills, designing the front page of the school newspaper. After high school, Andrea worked at an architecture and real estate firm before attending Leather Craftsmanship School for three years. She also took evening art and sculpting classes four nights a week, studying under renowned art professors like Korga György, telling her father she was taking English classes. Andrea's education continued with a two-year sewing pattern design program, during which she took additional classes from a fashion designer, Bráda Judit, who specialized in leather bags and accessories. Through this connection, she met Valéria Fazekas and began working in her studio, learning about fashion design and custom clothing. Through this new mentorship, she was able to attend fashion shows and art exhibits. She was even able to start selling her own crafted bags locally and in Western Europe. Later in her young adult life, Andrea was accepted into the Hungarian Fashion Design University (MOME). It was another great experience and opportunity for growth. One night while out with friends, she met her future husband, Balázs, a drummer and musician. As their relationship grew, their desire to do greater things did as well. Balázs decided to move to the USA, and Andrea chose to follow him, despite her father's disapproval. Eventually, Andrea found herself in a small house in the countryside of Clinton, North Carolina with no phone, bike, or neighbors. With only a suitcase of silk shirts and high heels, half of her day she walked to and from the grocery store and back. It was a tough time, for her. Even though she was homesick for a good while after this transition, she found solace in exploring nature with her newborn, collecting shells and pretty rocks for decoration. After a few years, the family moved to Urbanna, Virginia, where Andrea faced challenges due to her limited English and unique style. She began to make and sell her creations at the Haywood store, using fabric and clothing from yard sales. Customers could watch her make bags and paint, anther technique she began to master. She painted portraits of parents and their grandchildren. She even began to teach portrait and figure drawing. As her talent became recognized, townspeople began donating art supplies, sewing machines, and fabric materials, which she still uses today. After the birth of her second son, Andrea closed the store and set up a workshop at home, where she continues to this day to make leather bags, accessories, and clothing. She sells her products at local stores, craft shows, and online. Despite the many difficult years, including battling depression and being far from her family, Andrea found comfort in her work. She often wished she could hug her father and tell him she loved him after he passed away, which was her lowest point. Through her experiences, Andrea has been inspired to create a large studio to help others who are struggling—abused women, people from shelters, former inmates, mothers who never had the chance to work, and refugees—by teaching them technical skills such as sewing, design, pattern making, and selling products. Together, they design and manufacture bags based on company specifications, creating a sustainable market for these artisans and their customers.