Mika Matsumoto, a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, first came across tufting while watching a video online. The process looked fun and creative, so she decided to try it herself. After getting the tools and materials, she quickly found herself enjoying the hands-on process and started making hand-tufted rugs in her spare time. As she created more pieces, Mika realized she didn’t just want to keep them at home. She wanted to share them with others. That idea led to the start of her personal brand, PONTRE STUDIO. What began as a casual hobby started to grow into something more meaningful.
Over time, Mika expanded her creations beyond rugs. She began working with materials like Jesmonite to make vases and trays, and experimented with wool roving to design floral arrangements. These new ideas gave her more ways to express her style while keeping her hands busy. To Mika, creating is more than just decoration. It’s a way to bring warmth and personality into everyday spaces. She hopes her work can brighten someone’s daily life and make home feel a little more special. That same mindset is what eventually led her to the FLUX beamo. With this compact laser cutter, Mika found new tools to support her ideas and explore even more creative directions.
When asked about her first impression of the beamo, Mika recalled how excited she felt opening the box. The sleek and modern design immediately stood out to her. Even the packaging and user manual felt thoughtfully designed, which made the unboxing experience even more special.
As Mika began planning a new product line, she wanted to expand beyond home decor and try making everyday items like phone accessories, hair ties, and keychains. To keep the playful and colorful tone of PONTRE STUDIO, she decided to work with vibrant materials like Jesmonite and terrazzo-inspired textures. One of the most helpful features she discovered on the beamo was the built-in camera preview.
Mika also works with Jesmonite, a UK-developed eco-friendly composite material made from natural mineral powder and water-based resin. It’s non-toxic, safe for both people and the environment, and offers the durability of stone with the smooth finish of ceramics. Jesmonite is highly versatile and easy to shape, making it a favorite among designers. One unique feature is how it reacts to laser engraving. When engraved with the beamo, the surface turns white, creating a subtle yet striking contrast. Let’s take a look at how Mika used this material to create a beautiful set of coasters.
Mika doesn’t limit her acrylic creations to solid shapes or single colors. Using the beamo, she cuts a wide variety of small parts and assembles them into accessories like hair ties and keychains. This mix-and-match approach allows her to design playful, layered pieces with unique combinations. As she mentioned earlier, the built-in camera preview plays a big role in this process. Before starting any job, she uses the camera to capture the material’s position inside the machine. This helps her align the design file precisely with the material, reducing the risk of misalignment and minimizing waste.
When asked to pick a favorite among all her creations, Mika chose the wall-mounted Wall Flower Vase.It’s the piece I’m most proud of,” she said. “Wall decor has been really popular in recent years, so I wanted to design something that was both functional and visually fun. Jesmonite is light but sturdy, which makes it perfect for a hanging vase like this.
This item has also become one of her most popular products during pop-up events. Many customers end up buying several at once to decorate different corners of their home.
Among all her creations, Mika shared that her most popular item is the colorful phone strap.“I think adding something playful to everyday items can really lift your mood,” she said. “At first, I worried the design might be too bold compared to other brands, but people loved it!” The feedback from customers has been just as encouraging. Some said that wearing the phone strap instantly made their phone look more stylish, while others bought extras to give as gifts. A few even shared that buying from Pontre Studio helped them feel more confident in their personal style or made their homecoming feel more cheerful. These responses have become a huge part of what motivates Mika to keep creating.
Mika had never used a laser cutter before, but it only took her about a month to start creating products she could sell at local pop-ups.“At first, I thought laser cutting would be really hard. But once I tried beamo, I realized how beginner-friendly it actually is. With the support system and intuitive design, I didn’t feel lost at all. I especially recommend it to anyone who loves design or illustration—you’ll enjoy this kind of creative process.” beamo and the Beam Studio software are designed with a clean, easy-to-use interface that helped Mika get up and running quickly. Looking ahead, she plans to open a physical shop in the fall and hopes to host hands-on workshops using laser-cut Jesmonite kits. With a focus on sustainability and reusing leftover materials, she’s excited to help more people experience the joy of handmade creation.
Thinking about starting your own handmade business? beamo can help you take that first step.
With its compact size and creator-friendly price, beamo saves you time, space, and money—so you can focus on doing what you love.
