My Journey: From Machine and car workshops to Digital Freedom
I'm Zvezdana. I finished art college in 1999, then spent years as a machine technician and car mechanic. I also design and sew, paint, and do amateur carpentry. For years, I chose paychecks over passion while my art collected dust and my clothing designs waited to get from sketch to wearable pieces.
In 2009, I burned out completely. Between 2009 and 2013, I was broke, surviving by selling handmade jewelry on eBay and relying on friends' help. In 2016, I lost another job due to severe muscle inflammation and was diagnosed with EDS. Pain and depression forced me to give up everything I loved.
Getting back on my feet meant re-educating myself. Everyone expected me to jump back into the hamster wheel. I tried starting a traditional business, but the endless bureaucracy, bookkeeping, and regulations felt impossible. I'd need four more arms and 50-hour days just to survive.
I was tired of wasting my time and energy for pitiful paychecks building someone else's dreams. I had had enough of just surviving - I wanted to LIVE. So I searched for a different way. With barely any digital skills and no money, I discovered I could work on my own terms, control my own time, and finally cut those strings.
I'm not here to sell you another success story or position myself as an expert. I'm just someone who refused to give up, give in to the status quo, and found another path. If I could figure this out with no money and no tech skills, maybe you can too.
~ Zvezdana
Artist, Maker, Digital Rebel
I BELIEVE:
• Your art is your (needed) rebellion against conformity
• You DON'T need to choose between creativity and stability
• AI is a tool and companion for creation, not your replacement
• Working artists deserve autonomy and freedom
• Authentic work beats corporate polish every time
MY APPROACH:
• No fluff, no guesswork, just practical strategies that work
• Built for creatives, not corporate climbers
• Authentic experiences over perfect presentations
• Digital tools with a human heart
• Revolution through creation, not destruction
ABOUT THE ARTIST & BRANDS:
Puppet Without Strings is my digital business affiliate and education brand, where I help creative entrepreneurs break free from traditional work constraints and build businesses they love.
Wings of the MorningStar is my creative brand, my art and crafts brand for Goths and rebels
Nyx Designs is the gothic witch collection that bridges both worlds - rebellious business wisdom meets mystical artistry, created exclusively under my Wings of the MorningStar Brand specifically for Puppet Without Strings Grimoires. It's the only AI-generated gothic artwork I've made in collaboration with Sora & ChatGPT.
