Today we’d like to introduce you to Tierra Sheppard.
Hi Tierra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Story Behind Agape Creative Designs
For as long as I can remember, art has been a part of who I am. I discovered my love for drawing at a very young age, and as I grew older, that creativity grew into a dream of designing my own clothing and shoes.
That dream became real in high school when I was a junior. I designed my own dress for an event, and my mother brought my vision to life by making it for me. Looking back, I realize that moment was more than just a dress; it was one of the first moments that showed me what was possible when creativity, love, and determination come together.
When I went to college, I decided I wanted to learn how to crochet. My aunt taught me the basics, and from there, I took off. I taught myself through practice and persistence and eventually created sweaters, hats, bags, blankets, and so much more. Of everything I make, baby blankets hold a special place in my heart. There is something incredibly meaningful about creating something by hand that will wrap a precious new life in warmth and love.
After college, I decided it was time to turn my creativity into a business. That is how Creative Hands by Tee was born.
My business began very humbly. I started by making shirts for a ministry group I was a part of. In those early days, I would cut every letter and design by hand. Eventually, I invested in a heat press and vinyl cutter, which opened the door to even more possibilities.
Because I have always been someone who loves to create, I began experimenting with all kinds of things like party favors, pop-up signs and images, centerpieces, tumblers, mugs, clothing, and more. I am the type of creative person who, if you can imagine it, will do everything I can to figure out how to make it. Even if I have never made it before, I am willing to learn, experiment, and give it my best.
More recently, I have ventured into working with wood, and I have discovered another creative outlet that I truly enjoy.
But for me, this business has never been just about making products.
It has always been about making people smile.
It has always been about creating something that makes someone feel special, celebrated, encouraged, or loved.
And that brings me to Agape.
After the passing of my parents, Angela and Phillip Sheppard, my life changed forever. My siblings and I lost our parents just nine months apart. Losing them so close together left a space in my heart that words cannot fully describe.
Out of that grief, something beautiful began to grow.
My clothing line, Agape, became a place of healing for me. It became a way for me to take some of the love, lessons, and memories my parents gave me and turn them into something that could live on.
I chose the name Agape because my father would often say the word to us. Agape represents a selfless, unconditional kind of love and that is exactly the kind of love I experienced from both of my parents. It is also the kind of love they shared with the people around them.
So, in their memory, I want to continue that legacy.
In 2025, I made the decision to rebrand my business, and Agape Creative Designs was born.
The name represents so much more than a business. It represents my journey, my creativity, my family, my healing, and the legacy of two people who taught me what it means to love.
One of my greatest goals for Agape Creative Designs is to pour back into my community. I want to create opportunities for others to discover their own creativity, including a future summer art program and other art-filled experiences for children and families.
I want Agape Creative Designs to be more than a place where people purchase something beautiful.
I want it to be a place where creativity meets purpose, where memories are made, where people feel valued, and where love is at the center of everything.
If nothing else, I hope that every person I create something for leaves with a smile on their face and a little more love in their heart.
Because this journey started with art, but it became so much more.
It became healing.
It became purpose.
It became legacy.
It became Agape.
Agape Creative Designs
Creating with purpose. Creating with love. Spreading Agape.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has definitely not always been a smooth one. There have been financial challenges, moments of uncertainty, and times when I struggled to believe in myself and the dream I had for my business. Building something from the ground up while balancing life’s many responsibilities has not always been easy.
There have been times when I questioned whether I was on the right path or wondered if my business would ever become what I envisioned. But I have learned that every setback does not mean you should give up. Sometimes, it simply means you have to pause, learn, adjust, and keep going.
I have had to remind myself that the same creativity, determination, and faith that helped me start this journey are the things that will help me continue it. My parents’ legacy has also been a source of motivation for me. I want to build something that honors them, serves my community, and reminds others that their dreams are worth pursuing even when the road gets difficult.
The journey has not been perfect, but every challenge has helped shape me into the entrepreneur I am becoming. I am still learning, still growing, and still believing in the vision. Most importantly, I am still creating, still dreaming, and still spreading Agape love along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work has always centered around one thing: serving children and families and helping people recognize their own potential.
I am currently in my fifth year of teaching with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, where I serve as a first-grade teacher. I absolutely love teaching. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching a child grow in confidence, overcome a challenge, and realize, sometimes for the very first time, “I can do this.”
Before becoming an educator, my professional career began in Social Work. I worked for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, beginning in Family Involvement and eventually working in the Family Service Unit, where I had the opportunity to serve children and families. Although my career has evolved, my purpose has remained the same: to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families.
That purpose is also at the heart of everything I do through Agape Creative Designs.
I am proud of the fact that no matter what role I am in teacher, social worker, entrepreneur, or simply someone serving my community I lead with love. I believe in doing everything with Agape love, and I believe that love, encouragement, and genuine support can change the way people see themselves and what they believe they are capable of achieving.
What sets me apart is my determination. I don’t easily give up on myself, and I encourage the people around me not to give up on themselves either. I push myself to grow, learn, and try new things, and I challenge others to be the best version of themselves and to pursue the things they put their minds to.
That philosophy is reflected in my classroom motto:
“I can do it, and we can do it together.”
To me, those words mean that something doesn’t have to be easy for us to accomplish it. We may struggle. We may make mistakes. We may have to try more than once. But we keep trying, and we don’t have to do it alone.
Whether I am teaching a child, supporting a family, creating something for a customer, or working to make a difference in my community, I want people to leave my presence feeling encouraged, valued, and reminded of their own potential.
That is what I am most proud of and ultimately, that is what Agape means to me: love in action
How do you think about luck?
I don’t necessarily believe in luck. I believe in blessings, purpose, and the lessons that come from every person and every experience God places in my life.
When I look back over my journey, I realize that every person I have encountered has been a blessing in some way. Some people have encouraged me, some have opened doors, and others have taught me lessons through experiences that were not always easy. But each encounter has helped shape who I am and who I am continuing to become.
I don’t always get it right, and I have certainly made mistakes along the way. However, I choose to see my mistakes as opportunities to learn, grow, and do better. The lessons I gain from my own experiences allow me to help the next person who may be facing a similar challenge.
That is also something I teach my students: mistakes are okay. A mistake does not mean you failed; it means you have an opportunity to learn something new and try again.
One of the mottos I live by is:
“You live, you learn, you grow.”
I truly believe that when you stop learning, you stop growing. Every experience whether it feels like a blessing in the moment or a challenge has the potential to teach us something and prepare us for what comes next.
I believe my journey has put me in a position to not only grow personally and professionally, but also to be a blessing to others. Through my teaching, my creativity, my business, and my community work, I hope to take everything I have learned and use it to encourage someone else to keep going, believe in themselves, and recognize that their journey has purpose too.
Contact Info:
- Website: AgapeCreativeDesigns.com – coming soon (under construction)
- Instagram: @AgapeCreativeDesigns
- Facebook: Agape Creative Designs
- Other: Agapecreativedzn@gmail.com
