Archive for the 'BECOME YOUR DREAM' Category

Become Your Dream: Arminho

March 28, 2013

Arminho Self Studio Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

Arminho Whale Poster Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

I first discovered Arminho on Etsy and fell in love with their Whale Poster and overall their vintage approach to art and creating. Naturally, I just had to learn more about them and their story. So here they are…

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

Hello! We are Arminho – Stationery Boutique managed by the couple João and Raquel, we are currently living in a portuguese city called Caldas da Rainha and we are adoptive parents of two cats called Pipo and Jójó. We have met in University while studying Art and Design courses, soon we started planning projects for the future and in 2011 we started Arminho – Stationery Boutique, working with letterpress printing and also using our illustration and designs skills to came up with our nature and vintage inspired Posters and Notebooks.

Arminho Labels Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

algas poster arminho canvas Bceom Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

Armniho Cookbook Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

Arminho Notebooks Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

Arminho is a stationery shop and also a space were we can use our creativity, we do not like the idea of doing always the same thing. We letterpress print our notebooks, also illustrate our posters and design them. We don’t think that we have to set apart from anyone, we are very passionate by what we do and we really take it seriously, we hope that comes through our work.

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

Work, we are workaholics! Always thinking, searching, drawing, painting. We are just so thrilled when we have something new in mind, we can only rest when its done! We also love the vintage aesthetics and we are very inspired by it, we love not only the ancient techniques like letterpress and book binding but we also love the vintage designs, illustrations and materials.

4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

Our future home! We always get excited when we have to redecorate a room, or when we get a new object to our house. Now that we are about to move to a great house with a lovely garden we day dreaming about the decoration, planning how every room is going to be.

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

Everyone! We don’t have any “profile” for our customers, they are all different people, some of them are sending a gift to a friend who loves whales, some of them are having vacations and want to take a little journal with them, the only thing they probably have in common is the desire of having something unique and the appreciation of handmade work. In the end when we read the feedback from our costumers is just amazing to know that that person in another conner of the world now has something that we have carefully created, and that now is part of someones life.

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

The biggest challenge is to manage our daily life and work, to keep with schedules while working from home and to know when stop working, although is great working from home we do have to manage the boundaries between working and our family life.

7. Where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

Maybe in a different city and home! In a few months we hope to have the house and the studio that we are dreaming off! In 3 years from now are hope that we have more time to dedicate to the ideas that we have in mind, to expand Arminho project but most importantly to continue doing what we love to do.

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

It will be 30 seconds facing each other, looking at us and planning things for the future, telling each other how much happy we are because we are together.

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

Probably we will be doing just this, something that we love! We would travelled a lot more and would eat out more often but beside that we will be just like we are, just having a luxury now and then! We would probably like to have our own dream house with the little details that we dream of, beside that we were making things, involved in projects because we are 24h creative minds.

10. Any words or wisdom you would like to share with others looking striving to become their dream?

Do it! Don’t wait, don’t plan, don’t make excuses, work, try the hardest that you can to make it truth! This may sound a little hard, but sometimes all that it takes is moving from your comfort zone. We have already some people complain that they don’t have the materials, that it takes a lot of money to start something, not true, we have started this project with almost nothing, some sheets of paper, cardboard and a few ideas, that time we were already at University and did not have time or money but we knew that this was something that we will love to do.

Arminho Studio Process Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

Arminho Herbarium Become Your Dream Become Your Dream: Arminho

Fun facts

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I am currently listening to: ”Os sobreviventes” – Sérgio Godinho

My favorite book is: One vintage Botanical book from our collection

My favorite business tool or piece of equipment is: Our letterpress Machine!

My favorite quote is: “Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life” – Confucius

….

Thank you Arminho for being a part of my series! To find more on Arminho, shop at their Etsy store here and read their blog here.

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Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

March 21, 2013

Meet photographer, Heather McKay Bowes (yep, that’s her playing in the snow). I asked Heather for an interview for my Become Your Dream series. When I received her interview with her images, I was reminded how much I love her work. Her works tell a story, which I wanted to share with. A story of love, adolescence & family, a story I want to remember and hold onto. These pictures remind me of what it felt like to be a kid, so happy, full of imagination and wonder. And what it might feel like to be a parent. I had a hard time limited or editing Heather’s images because they are that amazing, so here they are in full glory.

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 1 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

1) Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

Hello! What a wonderful treat to be interviewed here at Hazel Wonderland. When I first came across HW while looking for a logo designer I completely fell in love with the art and vision that it is.

I live in Epsom, NH in an 1850 farmhouse with my husband and our two children Jack and Maggie. We live surrounded by farms and forests and a great community of neighbors. We have been here less than a year, having moved from Park City, Utah.

2) What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

I am a photographer with the majority of my work being commissioned portraits of children and their families. I have also photographed intimate weddings, birthday celebrations, family reunions, and some commercial and editorial assignments. You may also find me backstage bumping elbows in the photo pits of some pretty incredible concerts. In the last year I have begun mentoring artists and photographers in helping them find their true vision, using nature to find their path. It has been so inspirational.

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Music Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

What sets me apart? Well, there are so many incredible portrait photographers out there and I suppose that I have set myself apart by following my heart. My love of nature is as strong as my love of photographing people, they seem to have become one. Some have described my work as more of a Naturalist photographer than a Portrait photographer. I use simple composition with a sense of serenity between my subjects and the natural world asking my clients to allow me to photograph them as they are, their everyday ordinary events. I also avoid much of the pomp and circumstance in the social media world of forums and such, try to stay off the grid as much as possible. Doing this while running a business is a tricky bit, but I feel it more important to do what I need to stay grounded.

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 3 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 7 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 9 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

3)What is your passion in life and/or business?

My passion in life is to raise my children to find inspiration, peace, and wonder in the simple beauty which surrounds them. To find joy not in the material things but rather in life experiences and the people they share them with. In business my passion is showing others through photographs, the beauty they each possess. To allow them to see that they have a truly magical and wonderful life no matter how simple, chaotic, or uncertain it may seem.

4) What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

Being outdoors with the people I love. Climbing mountains, a tent by a river, laying under the stars with my family on a warm summer night. I am always inspired by just how small we are and just how grand the world is, how perfect it is, a true masterpiece.

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 5 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 6 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 11 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

Heather McKay Bowes Photographer Family Children 10 Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

5) Who are your dream customers/clients?

My dream clients are the ones who trust me and push me. It is a give and take, my work is always a collaboration.

6)What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

Having the confidence to charge what I ought to. I give too much away, and then that is time away from my children, my family, which I can’t get back. Learning that time IS money and that I need to sometimes remove my heart from my art when it comes time to make a profit, to pay our bills. It has taken much discipline to keep my numbers visible and firm. Something often difficult for those of us who work in the creative field.

7) Where do you see yourself in three years from now?

This is usually an ongoing list which gets revised monthly and sits on the right side of my desk. Here is a bit of the less immediate list:

bigger vegetable garden and more canned storage space in the basement

flower garden

4 beehives (I get my first package of bees this April!)

learning the art of encaustics and using it with my photography

filling more pages within our passports

more mountain tops reached and national parks explored

more nights under the stars

increased editorial work

more portrait clients across the country

a published book

8)30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

John Muir. I would say “thank you”.

9) If money were no issue where would you be and what would you be doing?

Dream time! I like this question.

First I would purchase the 150 acres surrounding our home for the dairy cows down the road and to be sure it doesn’t get developed. A small cabin in Tollgate Canyon, Utah outside Park City so that we could visit our friends and be in the mountains often. Spend a month camping, hiking, photographing Big Sur with my family. I just drove the 17 mile Highway in CA last week in a hurry and promised to return to be under those trees. My husband would be home more, working less. Most certainly I would be exposing more film and gifting more prints to those who can’t afford to have portraits made. And teaching, teaching children, artists, and anyone who has lost their vision and could use the help of a few nights under the stars and among the trees.

10) Any words or wisdom you would like to share with others looking, striving to become their own dream?

My immediate words are simple. Go Outside

Don’t compare yourself to others, don’t compare your work, your process, your art or your dreams. Stay humble and stay curious. Do what you can with what you have. Remember, THIS is where it is beautiful. Right here, right now.

Heather Mckay Bowes Stuio Photographer Become Your Dream: Heather McKay Bowes

I am currently listening to: DeVotchka

Favorite Book: Gnomes by Poortvliet/Huygen

My Favorite Business Tool: other than my camera it is my Field Notes. (www.Fieldnotesbrand.com) “an honest memo book worth fillin’ up with good information”

Favorite Quote: “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, I was really going in.” John Muir

Find more on Heather here at her portfolio, tumblr and blog. And Heather, thank you – you have reminded me how grateful I am to be here.

Picture of Heather by Dan Campbell

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Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

March 15, 2013

There is nothing more present than the sense of calm and beauty when I look at Christine Lindstrom’s work. I have admired her work for the past few years and finally had a chance to connect with her by inviting her to be a part of Become Your Dream. The lovely, talented and inspiring Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn welcomes us to her world of serenity & simplicity through every stroke of the brush and humble word. I am elated to have her here.

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

My name is Christine Lindstrom and I am currently in the lovely little beach town of Ocean Grove, NJ. I am such a nature lover, and my work is so very inspired by the feeling of calm I get when I can grab a second to just relax outdoors – whether it’s for a cup of tea on my porch, a bike ride around town, or a long walk on the boardwalk to clear my mind. I often think of myself as similar to a plant, in the sense that, if I don’t have sunshine, I wouldn’t be able to live!

Mai Autumn Bird Painting Flowers Calm Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

I am an illustrator and designer, and I like to think that my business is an ever changing, constantly growing expression of my creativity. I love all things pretty, and my goal in life is to simply keep making, sharing and experiencing things that make a person feel delighted at the sight of them. I have always made it a point to stay true to my own vision and intuition when I make my work, so I suppose my business is unique because of my own personal taste and vision. I have never been good at this question when I’ve read it in business books, except to know in my heart that I am unique because I stay true to what’s in my heart at all times. Not many people live by that guiding light so stubbornly as I do

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

My passion in life thus far has been to inspire people and to bring a little beauty into their lives. I used to work as a pastry chef for a cake decorator, and the feeling of satisfaction I got from knowing that I had created a memory of happiness, just through something I created, was amazing. I am passionate about our connection as human beings and I feel that art speaks to this connection and brings all of us closer in a world where we are often so alone in our own minds. It may be a small contribution, but I have had many experiences when one piece of art, whether it be a song, a book, a movie, or a painting, has changed my trajectory so drastically, that I know deep down that I am doing something worthwhile.

Mai Autumn Studio Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

Mai Autum Bird Painting Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

It’s the little things that always make me happy and inspired – a sunny day, French macaroons, buying new art supplies, a quiet moment in my garden with my sketchbook, watching my cat enjoy a spot of sunshine, grocery shopping, fresh flowers. The list of little things that inspire me is endless. I find that happiness comes easiest when one pays attention to simplicity.

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

I’m obsessed with Anthropologie, and my dream would be to sell some of my stationery or future home decor designs in their gorgeous stores. Other than that, I don’t really know if I would weigh any other customer as more of a dream than any other. All of my customers are so lovely and the messages they send me about my work is always such a dream in and of itself!

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur/artist, and how did you learn from it?

Dealing with the ebb and flow of business has been a challenge from day one. Even years later, I find myself worrying that one day this will all just come to a complete stop. I always need to keep myself balanced, calm and confident, though, knowing that I have created this business and I have structures in place to continue its growth. Reminding myself that all of this has come from hard work, and not luck, has been a good mantra to live by. Also, keeping a healthy work/life balance is a constant struggle when you work from home and your to do list beckons you at all times. Actually scheduling in down time and time to see friends and family has been helpful at evening that out lately.

7. Where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” – Bob Dylan
As long as I’m still living by that statement, then I’ll be happy. From what I can tell now, that would mean painting, eating good food, having people in my life that I love, and experiencing all this world has to offer. I don’t need much, what can I say?

Mai Autumn Stationary Flowers Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

This is interesting, because the universe has somehow brought some of my role models into my life and turned them into actual mentors. So, I suppose any new role models that I come across in my life would probably simply get me saying something like, “I’m a big fan of your work. How’s it going?” That has worked out pretty well in the past.

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

I would definitely still be painting, but would probably experiment a LOT more than I already do. I have always wanted to spend my summers here in New Jersey with my friends and family, and spend winter someplace warm (as much as I love nature, I can’t stand the cold for more than a few days). I would also travel a lot – spending time someplace different for a month or so at a time would be fantastic.

Mai Autumn Painting Painter Flowers Become Your Dream: Christine Lindstrom of Mai Autumn

10. Any words of wisdom you would like to share with others striving to become their dream?

Be authentic to who you are and listen to your intuition. Also, it’s good to remember that life is constantly changing and often comes in cycles of good, bad, stressful or blissful. Learning to accept the shifts and changes as they come is important to keeping the balance.

Fun facts
————
I am currently listening to: I can’t get enough of Lana Del Ray lately!
My favorite book is: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Or The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle
My favorite business tool or piece of equipment is: Romantic answer: My Russian watercolor set, or a new panel or canvas to paint on. Practical answer: My iPhone. It does everything!
My favorite quote is:
“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
― Steve Jobs

Find Christine’s work here: Shop, Blog, Pinterest and Facebook. Hey Christine, let’s meet- we only live 4 hours from one another!

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Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidala’s

March 7, 2013

Heidi Brown Designer Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidalas

Meet Heidi, a beautiful, talented and strong woman. I first met Heidi a few years back and asked her to design and construct my wedding dress from recycled material. After dozens of drawings and fittings, we landed on the perfect dress. I call Heidi strong because I know that designing a wedding dress from scratch, for a neurotic Bride like me, couldn’t have been easy. So, thanks Heidi, you helped make me feel beautiful while allowing me to wear a dress that was locally and sustainably made. You are an inspiration to me and I am so grateful to have worked with you. Enough about me, here she is:

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

I’m Heidi Brown, a clothing designer, step-mom, and fabric hoarder. I spend my days in my studio sewing, patternmaking, designing graphics, planning photo shoots, and being generally productive. I spend my evenings doing mom stuff. My nights, often very late nights, are spent conceptualizing collections or at the sewing machine.

I’m lucky enough to live just outside Ithaca, NY in Slaterville Springs (although my address says Brooktondale). My family and I have a house on top of a hill with lots of forestland surrounding us. It’s a pretty wonderful life.

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

I’m the proud owner of sustainable design company, Heidalas. I’ve always thought that what sets my clothing apart is the equal emphasis on style and sustainability. I don’t sacrifice either in my designs. I like to think that my clothes speak to a style that is fresh, fun, and just a little different. I use all organic, renewable and recycled materials in order to be nice and respectful to Mother Nature.

Heidelas ClothingDesigner Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidalas

Heidalas Clothing Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidalas

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

My passion in life and business is the same: to create. I like to make things, using my brain and my hands. Really, it’s more like a need. A compulsion. The sustainability aspect is such a part of my day-to-day life that it never occurred to me to design in another way. I buy organic and recycled fabric for the same reasons I buy organic food and recycled clothing for my kids: it just makes more sense to me to live that way.

4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

Nature. Nature and silence. In a moment of silence the city can be almost as enchanting as the forest. Both settings seem to bring out a feeling of awe in me that often compels me to be creative.

Heidalas Inspiration Image Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidalas

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

My dream customers are the ones that keep coming back! But really, I like to think that modern women like Summer Rayne Oakes (Source4Style founder, activist, and model) would be drawn to my style. Classy, adventurous, conscious, women that take the world by the reins. An expendable income sure helps, too!

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

My biggest lesson came when I approached my second store. The owner tore my designs apart, and rightly so. It was terribly humbling, embarrassing, and totally opened my eyes. I realized that I wasn’t really designing anything new, that I was embellishing the used. I went straight to work and have spent the last five years learning to drape (for real), make patterns, and build a sewing repertoire. I’ve been testing designs at craft shows and local clothing stores throughout that time and finally, with Spring/Summer 2013: Simple is Better, I feel like a real designer.

7. Where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

Three years!? I barely plan 3 weeks ahead! But by 30 years of age, I would like to have established my brand with a couple dedicated team members and be working on one of the other 50 or so sustainability or fashion related projects I’d like to see happen here in Ithaca, NY. Maybe another little human running around the house, a few more rooms painted, another garden up the hill. Pretty standard, I think.

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

30 seconds in an elevator with Betsy Johnson. I’d say what are you doing for the next meal/do you want to grab a drink. And then I’d ask her to tell me everything and promptly shut my mouth.

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

I’d be traveling all the time and sewing only when I feel like it, or can’t help it. My studio would be it’s own building next to the house with separate rooms and unlimited supplies for painting, drawing, designing, sewing, and maybe stained glass (my Mom does it, I’ve always wanted to try). We’d be adding tons of ridiculous additions to the house, paving the driveway, and generally sprucing the place up.

10. Any words or wisdom you would like to share with others looking striving to become their dream?

Trust yourself, don’t give up, don’t give in, and only believe half of what everyone tells you. The trouble is learning which half.

Fun facts about me:

I am currently listening to: The Lord of the Rings (I can’t listen to music while I sew; dancing at the sewing machine is dangerous!)

My favorite book is: The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and Little Altars Everywhere

My favorite business tool or piece of equipment is: My serger.

My favorite quote is: Life is 1% what happens to you and 99% how you react to it.

……

And just in case you were curious about my wedding dress, here it is.

Heidalas Recycled Wedding dress Eco Become Your Dream: Heidi Brown of Heidalas

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Become Your Dream : Katie Decker of Laura Catherine Photography

February 28, 2013

It is with great pleasure to introduce my next interview with Katie Decker of Laura Catherine Photography. Katie and I met almost 2 years ago and became fast friends. I’ve had the wonderful pleasure of working with Katie on her business branding and most recently, her wedding paper design (she’s getting married in April!). Katie has helped me build this blog and website, photograph my portfolio work and overall offer advice, support and love when launching yourself into the world as a creative entrepreneur. Thank you Katie, you inspire me to no end.

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

- Hi there! My name is Katie Decker. I am a photographer, editor, graphic designer, vintage junkie and sometimes I dabble in website design. I love ice cream, Italian food, and my giant Labrador -Yellah Dog. I’m originally a Texas girl, but I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

- I own Laura Catherine Photography and I am a vintage curator at Inherit Supply on Etsy. I believe in doing what you love completely and fully. I think my ability to wear so many hats, has given me the advantage of a seeing things in a different light. I can use my passion for vintage and design in my photographs and vice versa. It really helps to cultivate my eye.

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

I feel blessed everyday to get up in the morning and do what I do. That in itself gives me happiness and passion. But, my true passion is film photography. You really have to slow down and focus on what you’re doing- I just love that.

4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

I think my ulitmate inspiration are my friends, family, and surroundings. But, my favorite thing to do is go for a walk with my dog and fiance. It really helps to clear the mind and give way to some great inspriation.

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

I really love clients who completely hand over their trust to me. It really shows their faith in my skill or product. Personally, I do my best work with these types of clients as my creativity knows no bounds.

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an
entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

I’m a competitive person by nature, so I am guilty of constant comparison. For me, that has been my biggest challenge by far. It took me a good year of anxiety and stress, to realize that I cannot compare myself to others and their successes. I learned to slow way down and take my time with everything and trust in God that he knows when it’ll be my turn. Since then, life has been a lot easier and a lot more fun!

7. Where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

To be honest, I’m not sure. There are so many different directions I could go. My goal is to be in a different Southern city and maybe travelling more. I love learning about other cultures and documenting my adventures through my lens.

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who
would it be and what would you say?

I have a few role models, but my ultimate role model is Tec Petaja. He’s a film photographer out in Nashville and will be photographing my upcoming wedding. So, I guess if I were to meet him in an elevator, I’d say, “Thank you for inspiring me to become something more and do something more with my life.”

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

- Oh, geez, so tough! Well, I’d split my time travelling between Texas, Charleston and Italy. My dream is to own a little flat in Tuscany and a historic home in Charleston in the French Quarter. Oh, and I’d probably by another camera.

10. Any words or wisdom you would like to share with others looking
striving to become their dream?

- Don’t be too hard on yourself- it’s a steep hill that we have to climb and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture. Take it one day at at time and find people you admire and look up to. Surround yourself with them- they will encourage and inspire you. And, know that everyone has their own path. It’s very easy to compare yourself to others and measure their success to your own. Try not to let that influence you- your time will come.

Fun Facts:
I am currently listening to: Trent Dabbs and The Lumineers
My favorite book: anything by Pablo Neruda
My favorite tool: Contax 645
My favorite quote: from my dad, “better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick…”

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Become Your Dream : Kara Lunzer of Geometric Ink

February 18, 2013

Today, I introduce Kara, of Geometric Ink as our next Become Your Dream storyteller. Kara offers cards, original art and prints that combines delicate washes of gray and black, with the occasional color, on white paper.

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

When I was a little girl I knew that I loved to create and would be making things with my hands and imagination my entire life. My watercolors are modeled after images and colors that I love and would hang in my own home. My love of geometric shapes has always been with me, but my rural life in central Arkansas has transformed my paintings of shapes into paintings of geometry mixed in with natural elements like birds, deer and diamonds.

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

I sell my original, hand painted watercolors mainly thru the wonderfully creative Etsy community. After searching thru hundreds of pages of artwork on the Etsy site to hang in my new home, I realized that there was nothing quite like my art available. I specialize in large, modern, hand painted and most importantly, affordable watercolors. I created a series of large, beautifully simple watercolors so that everyone who desires an original piece of art can afford one.

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

I can easily say that my one true passion besides parenting my two amazing children, is painting. Pure and simple. There is something truly soul satisfying after you create a piece of art that a complete stranger finds beautiful and wants in their home.
4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

If I could spend a day doing whatever my heart desires I would take my children to a beautiful woodland park and just spend the entire afternoon taking photos of all the wonderful things nature has to offer and eating decadent desserts, picnic style. Then I would paint the night away with no thought about how late it is and how early I have to get up the next morning. My inspiration comes from all the things I see around me, whether that be a gorgeous geometric throw pillow, or a hand painted vase dug out of a southern flea market. Also, if it can be captured in nature with a camera, then it could and probably has, inspired one of my paintings.

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

I recently sold a painting to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the Emmys). My painting now hangs in their New York office. It was exciting to sell a piece to an organization that is so influential. Honestly, I sell to my dream customers weekly. The people I meet thru my shop constantly surprise me with their kind words of encouragement and mutual love of art. My current customers are a dream come true.

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

Conquering my professional grade printer and scanner has been the most challenging thing I have tackled in years! Being able to offer my customers prints as well as originals is important to me. Selling super affordable prints will allow my work to be more accessible to an even wider array of people. Technology and I do not mix. I really should just stick to mastering a paint brush!

7. Where do you see yourself 3 years from now?

In the future I hope to be selling my original designs on everything imaginable, clothing, pillows, mugs (since I am a coffee addict and adore my favorite mugs), stationary and anything else that will lend itself to my designs. When someone stumbles across my shop I want them to be able to find something that they simply can’t live without.

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

If I had a few brief moments with anyone, I would love it to be Bob Marley. I would first thank him for keeping me company with his music on countless sleepless nights while I stay up for hours and paint. If Bob wasn’t available, then Jesus for obvious reasons!

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

If I had my way I would be in Africa climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I would then paint using inspiration from all of amazing photographs I had taken along the way to the top. Seeing the world would give me a lifetime of inspiration.

10. Any words of wisdom you would like to share with others looking striving to become their dream?

For me, my dream is creating and painting. Once I became my dream, my life, soul, and spirit opened up just a little bit more. I smile more, laugh more and have never been happier. If you strive every day to get just a little bit closer to becoming your dream your life will always be full.

Fun Facts:
I am currently listening to: Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones Angie is on repeat right now, and The Beatles.
My favorite book is: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. I am a secret History buff and love war movies and novels.
My favorite business tool or piece of equipment is: Small, oval tipped sable paint brush.
My favorite quote is: Explore, dream, discover

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Become Your Dream : Colleen Ellse of Letter & Lark

February 11, 2013

LL1 Become Your Dream : Colleen Ellse of Letter & Lark

I am thrilled to announce that today marks the beginning of my new blog interview series Become Your Dream. Fueled by my passion to help inspire others to turn their dreams into a reality, Become Your Dream will feature artists and creative entrepreneurs that I admire. I believe that by them sharing their story with the you, perhaps we can inspire each others (and myself) to fulfill our dreams, learn more and aspire greatness.

My first interview today, is with Colleen Ellse. Believe it or not Colleen and I met through Instagram. Colleen is my go-to gal for letterpress. Her simple approach to design and letterpress is what I love about her style and work. Not to mention she is super smart, professional, sweet and inspiring to watch. Learn more about her below and see what I see via instagram here.

And on to the interview:

1. Tell us about yourself and where you’re located.

Hello! My name is Colleen Ellse – I’m a designer and letterpress printer. I grew up and live in Massachusetts, just south of Boston. I love period films, a good cuppa tea, doing yoga or going for a run or hike, and am a bit of a crazy cat lady.

2. What is your business and what sets you apart from others?

I’m the proprietor of Letter & Lark, a custom letterpress studio which focuses on creating beautiful work through thoughtful design and quality printing. I believe in having an attentiveness to my customers needs, producing high quality design, and am extremely meticulous over the execution of my work. I’m very much a “details person”; I think my thoroughness in every facet of a project shows – as it should especially since so much of my work becomes cherished keepsakes from important life moments (a wedding, a new baby, an entrepreneur getting their first business cards).

LL4 Become Your Dream : Colleen Ellse of Letter & Lark

3. What is your passion in life and/or business?

My Mom said growing up my grandfather would say repeatedly, “if you’re going to do a job – do it right.” I really try to live by that mantra (in my professional and personal life). Some would say I’m “type A,” but I just like to say I’m a perfectionist. At the same time as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been really striving to live a simple, but full life: eating organic, nourishing food, spending time with close friends and family, and taking lots of breaks to be with nature. I think being more mindful everyday has helped me worry less and appreciate what I have more. Both things filter into my personal and work habits.

4. What brings you ultimate joy and inspiration?

I really love being able to take the time to bring a project to it’s fullness; designing and tweaking till things till they’re just right, spending time creating palettes of color, texture, and type, then finding just the right paper, envelopes, or materials for a project. When I’m able to delve into every aspect of a project, it seems like that’s when people notice those projects the most. It’s reassuring to get positive feedback on the details that had so much thought put into them; I love seeing people that value craft as much as I do. And when I work with custom clients for really important moments in their lives, it’s such a neat feeling to be a tiny part of that experience. I’m honored whenever I’m chosen to work with them.

LL2 Become Your Dream : Colleen Ellse of Letter & Lark

5. Who are your dream customers/clients?

I love when clients are open to suggestions but at the same time have an idea of what they’d like. Sometimes not knowing what you want causes more of a problem to trying to pin a direction down. I love when I get to really collaborate with people and bounce ideas off of one another. Being able to do something out of the box and research design and materials gets me inspired too!

6. What has been one of your biggest lessons or challenges as an entrepreneur, and how did you learn from it?

Learning that just because one path has worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. I’ve realized that with advertising, craft fairs, marketing, bookkeeping, design – literally every part of my business. You just can’t compare yourself or your business to someone else entirely and think if you do what they’ve done, that it will magically all come together. I’ve been lucky to have worked for other women small business owners and they’ve inspired and guided me along my way, but much of my own success has been in carving out a path for myself. Also, I’m still surprised at no matter how much you analyze and plan for things, sometimes the best thing to do is just listen to your gut instinct and take a leap of faith. I’ve had instances where I wish I listened to my gut instinct and did things differently, and I’ve also had some of my biggest successes by doing things that logically my brain thought couldn’t work. I really like how running a business involves being well prepared and thorough, but also being nimble, flexible and leading the way with your heart as well.

7. Where do you see yourself in 3 years from now?

My goal is to have a small studio where I can hire one or two people to lighten the load a little bit, and not have to always “wear all the hats” for the business all the time. It would be really great to have help on things that I’m not so great at (a.k.a. bookkeeping!) so that I can focus on the tasks that I’m really good at. Also, I’d love to be able to continue to grow the business but also start having a family, being able to have a reasonable work/life balance… but isn’t that what everyone is trying to accomplish these days?

8. If you had 30 seconds in an elevator with your role model, who would it be and what would you say?

Wow! That’s a tough one. I’m guessing I’d be “starstruck” and have a hard time knowing what to say. I’d probably just tell them how much they’ve inspired me, and knowing how hard you have to work to get what you want out of life, that I really admire them for what they do. That – and maybe see if I could take a photo of them with me!

9. If money was no issue, where would you be and what would you be doing?

Are we being completely honest? In my dreams, I’d be in the countryside of the UK or France, in a rural village. Still letterpress printing, with several gorgeous presses belonging to my name – and also being a small organic farmer, living in an amazing, refurbished old farmhouse with a separate building for my studio on the property, a baby on my hip and other little ones running around, helping me feed the chickens.

10. Any words of wisdom you would like to share with others striving to become their dream?

It takes work: a lot of hard work (they say it’s a lot, but seriously – I never dreamt how much it would take). But it also takes a ton of heart. Never give up, no matter how tough it gets. If you’re going to do this, you have to be passionate about what you do! Living and breathing it everyday, putting in the time, being really proud of the work you do. It can be exhausting sometimes, but it’s also the most rewarding work you’ll ever do. When you’re meant to do something in life, you’ll just know in your gut that it’s the right path for you.

Fun facts
————
I am currently listening to: Tuning into Spotify – currently playing Philip Glass.

My favorite book is: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.

My favorite business tool or piece of equipment is: Hands-down, a Vandercook press. Such a beautiful piece of machinery.

My favorite quote is: ”It’s never too late to be what you might have been,” by George Eliot. And I like one from Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back, “Good luck… you’re gonna need it!”

LL3 Become Your Dream : Colleen Ellse of Letter & Lark

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Become Your Dream

October 31, 2012

Have a motivational quote or phrase you’d like to see on your wall or share with the world? Enter today to receive a chance to have your quote created into beautiful prints for all of the world to see. Your prize will be a high quality print of the original work of art and the joy of knowing that your quote will be shared with the world!

No purchase necessary and its free to enter. Simply submit your quote, first and last name and email to [email protected] . Soon after your submission, you will be informed if you have been chosen as a winner! Drawing is ongoing till Christmas with many chances to win.

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