March Featured Seller - The Little Chick

 

Tell us a bit about yourself.  

In my previous life, I owned Designs I.C., a corporate aviation interior and residential design firm.  I traveled a lot and when I had my daughter I didn’t want to leave her so……I refocused my life.  I now devote my time and attention to her, my husband, two dogs and The Little Chick Boutique.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?  

Aside from working in my studio, I spend time with my daughter at the zoo (where if she had her way, we would go every day).   I do a lot of volunteer work with the Junior League of Little Rock and I am training for my second half marathon, which will be in two weeks……

What would be the title of your memoir? Why?  

“Crazy, Hectic, Fantastic Lady…….I mean Life.”  I wouldn’t change anything in my life, unless I could win the lottery, then I might make one or two changes.  My life is crazy, hectic and fantastic…..I think I’m pretty fantastic too most of the time.  I only have that confidence because I juggle my daughter, my husband, a small business and a household.  I think most who can handle this are pretty fantastic and there are a lot of us out there.        

Where does your inspiration come from?  

My inspiration comes from fabric.  I love to look at and imagine all of things that I can make with it.  I love to weave together different patterns and colors.  Not one thing ever looks the same when you mix fabrics so it’s inspiring to see all of the things one can come up with. 

What does handmade mean to you? 

Handmade to me means exactly what it says “Hand Made.” My items are all completely handmade except for the obvious items; such as, fabric, thread, etc.  Buying an item; i.e., a backpack, shirt, burp cloth, etc and monogramming a name on it is not handmade…..its partial made.  I have a separate website besides Etsy for those items that I carry that are not handmade.    

Who has been most influential in your craft?  

My mother!  She sewed all of my clothes growing up and even though she always wanted to teach me how to sew, I never wanted to learn until I was older, but I must have paid attention more than she ever knew. 

When did you know you were an artist/maker?  

I always felt like an artist when I was doing design work with aircraft, even if I was just designing and watching other people make it, but I truly felt like a “maker” when people started wanting to pay me for things that I made. 

How would you describe your creative process?  

Scattered…..I wouldn’t call it a process at all.  I have a journal beside my bed because most of my ideas come in the middle of the night and I have to jot them down before I can go back to sleep.  It’s always fun to wake up in the morning and see what I thought about because lots of time I don’t remember. 

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?  

Rachel Ashwell because her shabby chic style is right up my alley.

                                                                                        

What handmade possession do you most cherish? 

The clothes and blankets my mother made for me when I was a little girl.  She kept a few of them and they are special to me because my daughter has actually worn a few of them.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?  

Running…..it never fails when you’re on mile 2 or 3 of a 4 mile run, you will think of something creative and have nothing to write it down.

Where would you like to be in ten years?  

In ten years, I won’t say how old I will be, but my daughter will be in school so I hope to have more than two days to really devote to my craft.  I hope to be doing more tradeshows and quite possibly have my own brick and mortar shop….the last one is on the lottery list so I’m not holding my breath. 

  

To Find The Little Chick Boutique check out their Blog, Facebook, Etsy Store, and their Web Page.