Home & Garden: From The Pinata Patch

Ashley Shannahan said a series of small things led to her making piñatas but really it’s about her dedication to making events special.

Shannahan said she loves a theme.

“I have always gone full out for birthdays and holidays,” she said.

The piñata project started when her eldest son had his first birthday. Going with a Minecraft theme she made a piñata in the shape of a creeper with its signature pixel face.

“The piñata got smashed within seconds,” she recalls. “You have to be willing to part with the things you make. Not everything is meant to last forever but the memories they help create are.”

When she made another piñata for her other child she started to get more positive feedback from people who encouraged her to branch out.

Shannahan and her family moved to Creemore in the summer of 2024.

“I realized very quickly how supportive the community is,” she said.

That and a motivational talk with her mom just before she died led her to launch The Piñata Patch, offering custom piñatas and piñata-making workshops.

A busy mom of three, Shannahan has been slowly building a brand package and social media presence. She has developed a method of building the piñatas using ‘chipboard,’ a thick brown paper, and tape. Shannahan thinks of the assembly as a form of active meditation, which she does in the evenings after her children are in bed. The artful decoration is layered with cut streamers and paper flowers. She can also make creative banners and other party decor to suit a theme, upon request.
For more information find The Piñata Patch on

Facebook and Instagram, or email thepinatapatch@ gmail.com.