If you know me personally, you’ll know that I have a strong appreciation for handcrafted gifts. The amount of love and care that goes into creating a personalized gift is truly special, both for the person making it and the one receiving it. I enjoy the idea of giving a friend or family member something that will make them feel truly special. I’m sure many of you reading this feel the same way. One day, while I was scrolling through Instagram, I came across an Instagram profile that offers custom, handcrafted gifts. I checked the username, and it said, “The Doodler Dentist”. I was immediately captivated and felt like I had to reach out to her.
Shoba, fondly known as Shobi, hails from Kochi, where she has spent the past 24 years of her life. Since she was a child, Shobi has been deeply passionate about art, spending her time drawing and doodling. It became a huge part of her life. So much so that, during her school days, her teachers would often catch her doodling during class. Alongside her love for art, she aspired to become a dentist. Over the years, she sought to combine her two passions into one fulfilling career.
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“Despite my love for art, I was equally passionate about becoming a dentist,” Shobi shares. “Over time, I realized that creating artwork brought me immense joy. Not wanting to abandon either of my passions, I chose to balance both. I work as a freelance dentist on a consultation basis, which allows me the flexibility to pursue my love for doodling in my free time.”
The Doodler Dentist was actually Shobi’s plan B. “When I was pregnant, I decided to take a break from dentistry to spend the first two years of motherhood with my child. During this break, I discovered how much I enjoyed doodling—it was the best time of my life. The pandemic extended this break to four years, allowing me to further develop my skills. Eventually, I started receiving orders for my artwork, initially from family and friends, and then through word of mouth from new clients. I have to thank my husband Arun and our best friend Nikhil for pushing me to share my work online. It was because of their encouragement that I was able to proudly show my work, which, thankfully, has received only positive comments.”
One of the reasons that Shoba does this professionally is because she understands the joy it brings people. I can relate to her perspective, as I find giving and receiving gifts to be one of the greatest sources of happiness in my life. Similar to Shoba, I believe in the profound impact of meaningful gifts. And that’s something I admire about her.
Shoba continued, “I have always believed in giving gifts that are meaningful. I always say that when you open my gift, it should feel like a giant hug. When I could rarely find gifts that had a personal touch to it, I gradually started making my own handmade gifts, whether it’s a keychain or a magnet.”
Within the line of offerings by The Doodler Dentist, there is a bestseller that’s often the talk of the town, including M-town. It’s called “Life in a Doodle,” and it’s all about capturing a person’s personality, life milestones, and their unique journey in a beautifully framed doodle. She shared, “Back in 2016, during college, I had a habit of doodling the life of my friends and capturing their unique characteristics. I would create these doodles as a past time. However, as more and more people began to appreciate and request my work, I realized that there could be something more to it. After 2-3 years of consistently creating these doodles, I felt that it was time to give this passion of mine a name. Interestingly, one of my followers on Instagram came up with the perfect name for it – “Life in a Doodle.”
This project became such a hit that she’s even had the opportunity to partner with agencies to gift it to actors like Basil Joseph, and she created customized versions for the cast and crew of Premalu. “It was a proud moment for me,” shared Shoba.”
In case you want to know what The Doodler Dentist provides, she offers an extensive range of gifting options to cater to diverse preferences. The selection includes smaller items like magnets and keychains as well as larger, more substantial offerings like custom home decor, name plates, and frames. Notably, she has even showcased her creativity through the creation of 11 captivating wall murals across Kerala, each adding unique character to various cafes, restaurants, and metro walls. The prices for customized gifts range from 150 to 3,500, depending on the intricacy and level of detailing involved. This exceptional variety ensures that there is indeed something to delight everyone.
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Shoba’s beautiful creations are a gentle nudge that the best gifts come straight from the heart, made with love, and a deep desire to bring joy. It’s truly heartwarming to connect with passionate creative souls like Shoba, who find pure bliss in what they do and inspire folks like us along the way. I really hope that after reading this, you’re able to find something delightful from her collection to share with someone special or even to treat yourself.
Please place your orders with The Doodler Dentist by DMing Shobi on her Instagram page.
