For Deanna Dendrinos, creativity has never been just a hobby; it has been a way of bringing warmth, personality and connection into family life. As the founder of Tria Little Doodles, she creates beautiful downloadable artwork designed to help parents transform children’s spaces into calm, inspiring environments without the stress or expense often associated with decorating. Inspired by her own journey through motherhood and a lifelong love of drawing, Deanna has built a business that combines creativity with practicality, helping busy families create meaningful spaces where children can learn, grow and dream. Here, she shares the story behind Tria Little Doodles, the lessons she’s learned as a mum and business owner, and why creating with heart remains at the centre of everything she does.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. A pencil was always my favourite thing to create with, and as a teenager, I was constantly sketching.
I still remember one moment so clearly. I was staring at a poster on my bedroom wall and thought, what if I could just extend it… just a little?. Four hours later, I had drawn a full grey-pencil portrait that made it look like the poster was spilling out onto the wall. My parents… were not quite as impressed as I was at the time! I couldn’t really be mad years later when my own kids started drawing on their walls, could I?
Creativity has always been part of how I see the world.
When my firstborn daughter arrived, that creativity turned into something deeper. I remember looking at nursery décor and feeling completely uninspired. Everything felt very pink, very copy-paste, very expected – and it just didn’t feel… personal.
So I did what most slightly sleep-deprived, determined mums would do… I went a little bit over the top.
I drove two hours to a tiny shop that sold bespoke wallpaper borders because I had this vision in my head that I just couldn’t shake. I even asked a clothing store (yes, really!) if I could have their butterfly window display when they were done with it. I’m sure they thought I was (more than slightly) mad, but I got my butterflies!
That nursery became this soft, gentle, magical little space that felt calm and personal and, more than anything else, unique. And without realising it at the time, that moment planted the very first seed of what would eventually become Tria Little Doodles.
A few years later, and life looked very different. I had two more boys, because who needs sleep or a clean house or a sliver of sanity? With 3 kiddos, I was juggling a full-time job, kindy and school drop-offs, laundry piles that never seemed to end, cooking, cleaning, school events… and a never-ending to-do list. There simply wasn’t time to create those same intentional spaces. So I did what most busy mums do – I bought the mass-produced décor.
And while it “did the job”, it never gave me that same feeling.
That contrast stayed with me. The difference between a space that’s thoughtfully created… and one that’s just filled.
Fast-forward a few years and I found myself drawing again late at night, just for the pure joy of it. That’s when the idea for Tria Little Doodles was born. I wanted to give other busy mums the shortcut I wish I’d had: beautiful, affordable art they could download and print in minutes, without the stress or the two-hour drives!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Tria Little Doodles started very humbly with late nights, lots of learning and figuring things out as I went.
I didn’t come from a big design agency background or have a perfectly mapped-out business plan. I was (and still am) a mum building something meaningful in between real life.
Before digital art, I spent years drawing murals for kindergartens, nurseries and playrooms. There’s something so special about transforming a space like that, seeing a blank wall come to life. But murals are limited. You can only be in one place at a time.
One day, I decided to try digital art. I remember thinking, what if I could still create these beautiful spaces, but reach many more walls, not just one? (And maybe save my back from climbing ladders too!).
I won’t lie – it was a steep learning curve. It’s nothing like working with a grey pencil. There were plenty of trial-and-error moments, a few tears, a lot of frustration and definitely some questioning of my life choices and sanity along the way.
But something shifted.
When the first listings went live on Etsy, I had zero expectations, but when the very first order came through, I squealed and did a little happy dance like a two-year-old. It felt like proof that other mums were craving the same thing I’d been searching for all those years.
From there, creating digital printable art felt like a natural fit. It’s practical, affordable and instant – something that actually works for real families.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough wasn’t one big moment; it was a shift in mindset.
When I stopped trying to create what I thought would sell, and instead started creating with a real mum in mind, everything changed.
A mum who’s tired, busy and probably a little overwhelmed. Someone who wants her child’s space to feel beautiful and calm, but doesn’t have hours to spend figuring it all out.
That’s when my designs became softer, more intentional. I started focusing on collections that feel cohesive, gentle and easy to use, rather than following the masses.
Another big breakthrough was fully embracing digital downloads. Instead of seeing them as “just printables”, I realised they’re actually incredibly empowering and versatile.
You can create a beautiful space within minutes. No waiting, no huge costs, no stress if something gets damaged.
And for me personally, it meant I could finally do what I love most – create – while helping out another equally tired and stretched-too-thin mum, by making one thing easier on her extensive to-do list.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Honestly? It’s still a very wobbly juggling act. My kids are now 23, 18 and 13, so the chaos has changed shape. It’s stinky sports gear instead of stinky nappies these days!
But the normal household chores are always there – the cooking and cleaning and laundry and stopping mid-sketch when your child needs you. Whether it is to drop them at practice or just listen to what happened in their day, or rushing off to buy stuff for their school project that has to be handed in tomorrow.
I’ve learned to let go of the idea that everything has to be done all at once, perfectly.
Sometimes work happens when everyone’s still asleep. Sometimes ideas come while I’m making dinner or folding laundry.
My family is woven into every little detail of Tria Little Doodles. The name ‘Tria’ means ‘three’ in Greek – one for each of my three beautiful children – and it’s also my quiet little nod to my Greek husband, whose unwavering support has held a space for me to find my calm in the chaos.
At the end of the day, my business was built because of my family, not in spite of them. So they’ll always come first.
