Making Space for Creativity, Yean Chong @snibspace
- Kindred Curiosity
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Meet Yean, the Creative Founder Behind Snibspace and Craftolog’y
Sometimes, the most inspiring spaces are born out of a desire to build the home you always wished you had. For Yean, that journey meant spending two years packing up her craft supplies and traveling all across the Bay Area to host her mobile Craftolog’y workshops—all while dreaming of a permanent place where local makers could truly take root.
Launched in late November 2025, Snibspace became the beautiful answer to that dream. Located in South San Jose, the studio's name is a playful blend of three ideas—Snug, Snip, and Siblings—reflecting a cozy, collaborative sanctuary where ideas are shaped, shared, and nurtured together.
Today, as the founder of Snibspace, Yean is channeling her firsthand experience as a small business owner of Craftolog’y into a mission to support others. By bringing a bright, multi-use creative hub to the South Bay, she is filling a vital gap for local creators who often had to travel to far to find the right space to host, work, and connect.
Step inside her light-filled studio as we chat about her inspiring journey from mobile workshops to community anchor, and how she’s cultivating a supportive environment where everyone has the space to bring their vision to life.
What made you curious about the crafting / event business?
I’ve always been the kind of person who doesn’t just use something, I wonder how it’s made. For example, something as simple as body soap. You use it every day without thinking, but I’d find myself asking: How did they make this? What ingredients go into it? Why does it smell this way? That curiosity slowly turned into hands-on learning. And once I started learning, I realized crafting isn’t just about making things, it’s about understanding, experimenting, and creating experiences.
The event side came naturally after that. I didn’t just want to make things on my own, I wanted to share that moment with others. Seeing someone light up when they realize, “Ohhh, this is how it’s made!” that’s what made me fall in love with the crafting and event business.
What is something about the crafting / event business that you think more people should know about?
I think a lot of people assume that we just provide a space and some materials, and that’s it. But in reality, there’s so much intention and planning happening behind the scenes.
From the outside, it can look simple like you show up, make something cute, take photos, and go home. But a lot of thought goes into designing the entire experience. Testing formulas, sourcing safe and quality materials, calculating costs, setting up the space, managing timing, and making sure every guest feels comfortable and supported, all of that happens before the event even begins. It’s not just about the final product. It’s about creating an environment where people feel relaxed and proud of what they’ve made. A well-run workshop is carefully designed so that even someone who says, “I’m not creative,” can walk away feeling confident.
Craft workshops and events may look effortless when done well, but that’s only because a lot of care, preparation, and intention went into making it feel that way.
Can you tell us about key milestones and significant events that have shaped your business’s journey up to the present day? (i.e. Jan 2023 - Established LLC for business, Mar 2023 - Officially opened business, etc.)
Late 2022 – Quit my full-time job to pursue certified craft courses, and researching and studying how to start and structure a business in California, U.S
June 2023 – Launched Craftolog’y as a Sole Proprietorship and participated in my first pop-up craft fair.
2023–2025 – This period focused on growth and experimentation. I continued refining my craft through multiple pop-up fairs, launched “Craft Picnic” for summer outdoor workshops, offered mobile workshops, and began hosting sessions at my home. This phase helped me understand my audience, test different formats, and build confidence as both a creator and host.
July 2025 – I purchased a commercial building with the vision of creating a dedicated creative studio. Over the next four months, I transformed the space into a functional, welcoming studio for workshops and events.
November 2025 – Snibspace officially launched as an LLC. Craftolog’y workshops moved into the new home, and Snibspace opened as a shared creative space for other makers and creatives to host workshops, events, and gatherings.
Today, Craftolog’y continues to operate within Snibspace, while the studio also serves as a hub for the local creative community, supporting makers, small businesses, and collaborative events.
Tell us about the product/service you are most proud of.
I’m most proud of the workshops I create. Hearing that people are willing to drive an hour or two just to join them makes me feel so thankful and happy, and it really makes me proud of what I’ve built. It shows that the experiences I design are meaningful and enjoyable, and that people leave feeling inspired and accomplished.
Can you share the story of your first workshop or event — what was it like and what did you learn from it?
Craftolog’y’s very first time in public was at a pop-up craft fair. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, because my goal wasn’t to sell products, I wanted to share experiences. While most vendors joined fairs to sell their items, my goal was to let people get hands-on and create something themselves. It was a two-day event, and I assumed a lot of people would be curious to try new things. I prepared a lot! Probably more than I actually needed, and ended up with enough materials and ingredients to last me over two years!
But more than anything, what I learned wasn’t about earning money. I learned about creating experiences, connecting with people, and the joy of meeting new faces. That first pop up taught me the real value of what I do: building connections and sharing creativity.
Many of your workshops blend artistry with tradition and are inspired by Korean craftsmanship — how do you integrate cultural elements into the experiences?
My workshops are inspired by Korean craftsmanship because I took Korea certified craft courses for candles, perfumes, and other handmade products. I’m drawn to the modern, minimalist, and delicate aesthetic, especially soft pastel palettes and refined details.
Like Korean candles often focus on creating something visually striking and playful, like desserts, fruits, or cute creatures, meant to be admired rather than lit. In comparison, U.S. candles usually focus more on classic jars, and creating a relaxing atmosphere, which is great, but it’s a different approach. I love the Korean style, and that’s the kind of aesthetic I bring into my workshops here.
What was the leap of faith like when you decided to invest in yourself and start Craftolog’y full-time? Was there a moment that made you certain you had made the right decision?
The leap of faith to start Craftolog’y full-time came from realizing I didn’t want to work for someone else forever. Doing a 9-to-5, doing the same thing every day, wasn’t for me, I get bored easily. I also love traveling and wanted the freedom to manage my own schedule.
What made it even more exciting is that I don’t really feel like I’m “working” at my own events. I get to create and run workshops while people are having fun, so I’m part of the experience too, it feels like I’m blending into the fun rather than doing a job. That’s what makes it so rewarding and confirmed for me that taking the leap was the right decision.
What is the last thing you were curious about?
I’m constantly curious about how to build a sustainable business, especially as someone who started everything on my own. I didn’t have a guide or mentor. I’ve had to research, learn, and figure out every step myself, from legal structures to daily operations. As someone who’s not originally from the U.S., I’ve also had to spend extra time understanding how business systems work here. I’m still learning every day. Running a creative business means wearing every hat, content creator, marketer, event planner, accountant, operations manager. That ongoing curiosity about how to do this better is what keeps me growing.
What can the community help you with?
Come join me at Craftolog’y workshops or any events at Snibspace! By showing up, supporting, and creating together, we help each other grow. If you’re a small business or creator, I’d love collaborations, host your own workshop, pop-up, or event at Snibspace and share the creative energy.
I hope the community can support small businesses by paying what we ask and appreciating the time, care, and creativity behind what we offer, you might not realize all the work that goes into creating each experience. When people value the experiences we create, it helps these spaces thrive and continue inspiring more makers and dreamers.
Share another Asian-women-owned small business or entrepreneur that inspires you!
The Weekend Workshop (@theweekend_workshop) founded by Wendy in Malaysia. It’s a creative studio offering art, baking, craft, design, and hands-on workshop experiences. Their belief that creativity brings joy and helps people discover their passions is something I deeply resonate with. That’s exactly what I’m trying to bring into the Bay Area, a welcoming space where people can slow down, connect, and experience happiness through making.
By bringing a dedicated creative hub to the South Bay, Yean has shown that the most meaningful spaces are the ones we build to lift others up along with ourselves. Snibspace lives up to every bit of its name as a sanctuary for collaboration and gives local makers a true place to belong. Thank you to Yean for opening her doors, sharing her story, and giving the South Bay creative community a vibrant new place to call home.
