Finding Manitoba… from the couch

Royalwood

Readers can now explore Manitoba letter by letter without leaving the comfort of home.

Maria Albo, a Windsor Park resident, recently added a new provincial-themed word search book to her offerings on Amazon and at local craft sales.

“I was inspired to create my latest Manitoba word search as a way to celebrate everything that makes this province special,” Albo said.

“I love Manitoba and I love being Manitoban,” she continued. “There’s so much talent, beauty, and culture here that often gets overlooked, and I really wanted to highlight that in a fun, engaging way.”

Albo established her company, MVA Designs, in 2021, upon completing her degree. After studying 24/7, she admitted that she had no idea what to do with all her spare time.

What began as a fun hobby selling items such as magnets, signs and greeting cards evolved.

“Things clicked for me when I realized there was an opportunity to make word searches more meaningful and personal,” she said.

Albo has had an affinity for the letter puzzles since was little.

“I’m really not quite sure how it began, but I think I just saw them one day and instantly fell in love. There’s something really satisfying about them. They’re simple, relaxing, but you still activate your brain without staring at a screen.”

Her latest word search book is her 13th. Each consists of 45 to 75 puzzles featuring 10 words apiece.

Suggestions for future themes and requests for customized gift books are welcome. Albo recommends advance notice of two-three months for the latter, as MVA Designs is a venture she pursues in addition to her regular job. The best way to reach her is via her Instagram page @_mva.designs or by searching “MVA Designs” on Facebook.

Albo is looking to expand her publications to support a local charity.

“I am an animal lover and have something in the works right now in relation to dogs and cats. I attend a lot of pet and animal events, so the goal is to combine my love of animals and word searches,” she said.

Motivated by current events, Albo encourages supporting Manitoba makers.

“Lately, it’s more important than ever to focus on what’s happening closer to home, appreciating Canadian identity, and taking pride in Manitoba specifically. There’s a lot of noise coming from elsewhere that doesn’t always reflect our values,” she said. “So, this felt like a small way to shift the focus back to what truly matters here.”