How Isa Tasi Co Began…

In 2020, I started missing home. Guam was on my mind for many reasons—my father, who had passed away in 2018, my family, my friends, and being surrounded by the island in all its warmth and culture. Being CHamoru and living stateside, I felt like I had lost my connection to home and to my culture. That realization compelled me to start creating CHamoru art inspired by Guam.

Slowly, I began sprinkling Guam-inspired artwork into my Instagram page, Amanda Holden Designs, and suddenly there was growing interest in more CHamoru artwork, Guam stickers, and art prints. After designing a special Guam enamel pin and selling out twice, I knew I needed to create another space dedicated to my Guam artwork. That's when I created Isa Tasi Co.

Isa means rainbow, and Tasi means ocean. The name made me think of my father even more. Oh, how he loved the ocean! He was a CHamoru who spoke the language and knew how to do almost anything. He was an amazing Peskadot and Talayeru, meaning fisherman and net thrower. He definitely took after my grandpa, who was well known on the island as a Master Talayeru. I will always be so proud of that.

Isa Tasi Co was certainly gaining momentum and exposure on Instagram, and suddenly I was so busy working on my Guam business that Amanda Holden Designs was kind of put on the back burner for a while. I still do a lot of work for that side of my business, for sure. Isa Tasi Co definitely takes up most of my time now, but I am equally proud of both of my art businesses.

Not only is Isa Tasi Co a way for me to reconnect with my home and my people, but it is also a way to honor and remember my CHamoru heritage. Through my illustrations, I hope to turn that heritage into something tangible and memorable—whether it's through greeting cards, stickers, gifts, or artwork that reminds others of home.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read!