Interview from Freya's Studio

One of the other giveaways I won recently was a dog collar from Freya's Studio.  You all know how much I love Louie and so I was so excited to give him a fancy new collar.  Breanna even custom sized one for me since the pattern I loved didn't come in a small for my tiny pup...great customer service!

Meet Breanna and her pup Freya:

What Inspires You?I would have to say my dogs.  If I can show the patience, kindness, and honesty that my dogs show me everyday I think I'll be the person I think I should be. 
I also get inspired by going into fabric shops!  It is so much fun to look at all of the fabrics and see the potential collars that could be made.  It's even more fun to see the finished product in use and a smile on our customers faces (whether they're fury or human!)

What motivated you to start your own business?
Freya Dog and I are both very accident prone.  Unfortunately, both of us have had injuries that prevented us from playing at agility, freestyle, or other dog sports.  Luckily, I picked up sewing again and found a passion for creating collars.  Freya is very hard on things so she's the perfect test subject.  I wanted to make collars that were beautiful and fun but wouldn't fall apart.  I'm happy to report that I think we've succeeded!  I only make Freya a new collar when we feel like it rather than out of necessity.  This was a welcome change for my pocket book and it's great to know that others can enjoy the same benefit too! 

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What advice would you give to someone starting their own creative business?
Find something you love to work on in your spare time and then look at the other folks out there offering it.  See if you can find a special niche that will help you stand out.  For us that niche is durability and the fabrics we use.  I try to use fabrics that I haven't seen used before (while also keeping in mind current styles and color coordination).  We're still very small fish in a very big pond so we're always learning more!
My other advice is to not try and do everything at once.  Focus on one thing and then branch out as you find what folks like/dislike.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would love to have the opportunity to go to Europe, I've never been out of the USA (not even Canada and I live in Montana)!  It would be fun to put my French Language classes to work!  I'd especially love to get to learn some traditional Irish Music, as a flutist this would be a dream come true.

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Anything else you'd like to share?
One thing I always tell folks is to look into activities to do with their dog.  Whether it be dog freestyle (dancing with your dog), Agility (obstacle course performance), Rally (jazzed up obedience), or just getting out on more walks there is a ton to do!  Just because they're older or a hard to train breed doesn't mean you can't do more!  Look at Freya Dog, a lab/coonhound/heeler, she's as wild as they come but she's a joy to work with.  Every success we have is even better because of the journey to get there.  Even five minutes of positive training a day can change you and your dogs life.

I love Breanna's philosophy and passion for dogs.  So far the collar has held up really well and looks super snazzy on the Lou Man. 

Don't forget to also visit Breanna's blog

Interview from Beautiful Blendings

I recently won a few giveaways which is amazing since I never win ANYTHING...I'm thinking of playing the lottery.

Anyway, the women who sponsored these giveaways were so sweet, and I was so pleased with their products that I just had to share them with all of you!  First up is Tara from Beautiful Blendings.  She sent me the cutest headbands and a pretty flower clip

What Inspires You?

 I am inspired mostly by all the beautifully talented people that are around me and I feel as though seeing what others can create only motivates me to work harder at what I do to make it better or more exciting. I have also been working with children my entire life and creating pretty items for them that are also functional for the adults in their lives is a huge goal for me!
What motivated you to start your own business?
I decided to start my own business only four months after joining the blog world because I knew I had found my sense of community. This was the place where I could express myself creatively and receive the feedback I needed in order to grow myself artistically. And honestly when I turned 25 this year I got the bug to stop waiting for the world to hand me out a better life. If I wanted change I had to make it happen for myself. I would say the same to anyone wanting to start a business.  Just start with what you know and find people (in your day to day life or virtual friends) that will give you support and feedback. It's fun and rewarding and a lot of work but TOTALLY worth it!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
This list grows everyday!!! My fella and I talk about it all the time because we really LOVE to travel but don't have the budget to support it all quite yet! I need to see New Zealand most definitely though. It's where I  already know I want to be married. ;)
Anything else you'd like to share?

I just want to tell everyone that the most important thing you can ever do in life is to be true to yourself. My days don't always run smoothly and sometimes (all times) I wish I were working on more items for my shop instead of grocery shopping; but it's a balancing act. I could never imagine my life now without my blog and business and the sense of happiness it gives me. And no one can take that from you. And I promise this: nothing beats the feeling if seeing something sold that you created and knowing someone out there WANTED that. Makes my heart happy every, single, time.

Tara is also offering a discount code in her shop: 10% off using the code sunshine10.  Happy Shopping!f
And don't forget to also check out Tara's Blog!

Interview with Stephanie Fizer

I am so pleased to feature my first interview today!  The lovely Stephanie Fizer, who did all the artwork for my blog, agreed to answer some questions about her creativity, and what it means to run your own business.  All the images are Stephanie's original work and can be found on Her Website.  Take it away, Stephanie!

What is your life story in a nutshell? 

Well, I work as a full time freelance illustrator and have for the past three years.  I run an Etsy shop, license my artwork on products, and do freelance illustration for children’s products so as you can see, I like to stay busy.  I live in a small college town, Huntington, WV with my husband, Seth, and our dog, Leia.  We live in a cute little house that was built in 1953 so it contributes to keeping me busy as well, I’ve always got a home improvement project in the works. 



How did you get started as an artist? 

 I actually only started drawing back in 2003.  I studied dance in college for three years and then ended up finishing my degree in history instead.  Being a bit lost after getting my BA, I spent a few years working a series of awful jobs, not quite sure where to go next.  A good friend gifted me a sketchbook and a book on drawing cartoons in 2003 and the rest was history.  I found the thing that I’m truly passionate about and I worked day and night at it until eventually it grew into a full fledged business and I no longer had to rely on those awful jobs I had been working!  I’m entirely self-taught, I’ve never actually taken an art class, but learned instead by drawing constantly, reading every art book I could get my hands on and studying the work of other artists and illustrators. 

Where do you find inspiration?

 I grew up in a rural area and still live in an area where I am surrounded by trees and flowers, so I’m often inspired by nature.  I also find inspiration in vintage children’s illustration and I am deeply drawn to patterns and bright colors, which definitely shows through in my work. 

What do you find most challenging about running your own business? 

 I love running my own business!  Having always had issues with authority in my old jobs, I find that being my own boss is the best situation for me.  And of course, I get to do what I love every day, which is just amazing.  The most challenging thing for me is drawing the line between my business and the rest of my life; it’s a tough line to draw when your work is also your hobby and passion.  My business requires me to work a lot, so for me drawing that line just means paying attention to the signs that I’m in need of  break.  It’s difficult sometimes because there is literally always something that I need to do or could be doing, so sometimes it’s hard to stop working.  But I’ve learned recently to accept that there is no such thing as being caught up on all of my work and that working myself to the point of being absolutely stressed out just ends up being counterproductive :)

Who is your role model? 

Tough question, but I’d have to say my mom is on that top of that list.  After working with my father in their business for 15 years, my mother had to return to the workforce.  My father started having heart problems and insurance was too expensive for their small business, so my mom went back to get a job to help out in that respect.  It was a tough decision for her and she truly had a hard time getting back into the swing of working for someone else, but she’s an incredibly strong woman so not only did she work through it but she excelled at her job and even gained a couple of promotions.  All my life, when something tough has gotten thrown at her, she’s just met it head on and won out in the end.  She’s truly amazing and I hope I can be half as awesome as she is!

If you could have any other job, what would it be? 

Truthfully?  I don’t want to be do anything else; I absolutely love being an illustrator and feel quite passionately that I’m doing exactly what I should be doing.  I’m already working my dream job! 

What's some advice for those who are starting out in pursuing their passions? 

 If you’re thinking of turning your passion into a career, make sure that you absolutely love it because to succeed in a creative business you’ll be working long hours!  I’d also say be patient and persistent, you may not succeed at first but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again and again.  And finally the piece of advice I always give is:  just be yourself, that’s really the most important thing! 

Anything else you'd like to share? 

You can check out more of my work at my website: http://stephaniefizercoleman.com/  or catch up with me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephaniefizer