*There is an awesome giveaway at the end of this post...but don't miss the goodstuff between this line and that one!! :)*
Years ago, when I first entered the scrapbooking world, there were few people as generous and genuine as my friend Christy Tomlinson.
I've always admired Christy for so many reasons. Her style blows me away, not just her pages and her impecable interior design skills, but also (and especially,the way she treats people...the way she lives her faith...the way she makese me laugh. Christy is doing amazing things, and I feel so honored and a little bit in awe that I get to witness it...even from a few states away.
I wanted to take this chance to interview my friend because I think her perspectives on art and family and business are inspiring.She truly is one of a kind.
Plus, she's one of my very favorite artists and one day I'm going to buy a CT Original to hang in my new home!!
Grab your coffee and pull up a chair...I'm so happy to share a little deeper look at my friend, Christy Tomlinson.
[Courtney] In a world with so many visual images, how do you think an artist can develop a style that's uniquely their own?
[Christy] The great thing about art is that we have all a history that we bring to the table. We have experiences and relationships that are unique only to us. Each of those experiences and relationships translate into art and so that is what each person creates that is uniquely their own. It's not necessarily about style...it's about the story being told.
[Courtney] I love that...telling our stories...Do you find you have voices of self doubt? And how do you silence them?
[Christy] Um.. heck yeah! I do everytime I start a new adventure in my life...but honestly...having good friends and a supportive husband keeps me grounded. I have to remember that if I don't try, I can't fail. And I would rather try a million times over and have one fantastic experience then never try and never have one.
[Courtney] And you've definitely done lots of amazing things! What advice do you have for someone wanting to turn their creativity into a business?
[Christy] Remember the internet and social networking are your friend. Millions and Millions of people are on the web so creating an online business is probably one of the KEY things to our success. We live in a small town, only 4000 people.There is no way our business would ever survive a "store front". But online, I have access to millions of customers and most of those customers have come from free or inexpensive advertising like social media networks, blogging, facebook. and twiter. Remember to be yourself. I TRULY believe it will work out, if it's meant to be. If it doesn't, it might not be the right time, or the right format.
[Courtney] For an artist, inspiration is so important...What (or who) inspires you?
[Christy] My life inspires me. Life experiences... friendships, deaths, celebrations, heartaches, fun memories...they inspire me. I can't imagine creating art without a purpose in mind. I mean I can, but wow, when there is emotion involved...it just has so much more meaning. you know? I have alot of favorite artists.Melody Ross is someone who inspires me emotionally. She is a TRUE gift. She can brings out the best in me. I also LOVE Somerset Studio magazine...so much inspiration in that magazine!
[Courtney] So once you're inspired, how do you get motivated? You're so busy! How do you do what you need to do even when you don't feel like it?
[Christy] My family motivates me. But honestly,it's a scary position to be in...the creative ideas, concepts, new products, new workshops...all of those things are what support my family. My husband supports me and helps run our store and is a WORKHORSE, but the concepts and ideas FALL on my shoulders. So my family motivates me. I have 6 kids, my husband and I work out of our home, so THIS is my livelihood, our full-time business. I admit there are days that I just need a break {like ANYONE who has a job or a stay at home mom taking care of kids) Oh my heck! We all need a break right? So I spend time doing things I love to do too. Read a book, have a get together with friends, Watch tv.. sleep. Sleep and more sleep. It's important to take time for ourselves.
[Courtney] As a mom, I keep wondering, how on earth you do it with SIX kids??
[Christy] Well, first off remember my husband is home full time. He works with me, so I guess we are both really busy, BUT our kids are extremely self sufficient and mature and they're hard workers. I grew up in a family of 13 and my husband a family of 8,so from the time we could talk we were doing chores to help keep the house clean and organized. Our kids do their own laundry (ages 6-15). They each have a dish night. They each have a night they cook (the younger ones pair up with the older ones). Don't get me wrong, my husband and I do too, but we ALL share in the responsibilities of the home. We are also the type of people that don't feel the need to be involved in EVERYTHING just because everyone else is. We don't push a ton of "extra" activities on our kids unless it's something they REALLY want to do. Why? just because the Jones' do? We do our own thing. Some people think we are weird, but we like to think we are low key! LOL
[Courtney] Ok, so what's a typical day life for your low key self? Be honest!!
[Christy] Ben and I up at 7:30, come downstairs and have prayer before my husband drives the kids to school. After they're gone, I go right into my office and start working (in my pj's, without my hair brushes or a bra on, etc). It's not usually until someone stops by unannounced or it's lunch time, that I realize I am still sitting in my pj's and haven't even put my contacts in and that's why my eyes hurt from squinting). That's when I go get dressed. We work until usually 5:00 PM. Just like most normal people. I am either ordering product for the store, working on an art piece for the blog, or my licensing agent. Or shooting video for an online class. Blogging, editing video, answering customer service emails... that's my day.
My kids get home around 3:00 and when they do I always take time to stop and make sure they are doing their homework, their afterschool jobs, that they are getting to scouts or other meetings they have. After diner, we either just hang out as a family, or go to "meeting" like games, or church things that we have as a family.. and then bedtime is around 8:00! We read scriptures and have prayer and then after the kids are in bed my husband and I snuggle on the couch and watch tv. It's SO important for us to have down time. AND to have a relationship outside of "work". We work together 24 hours a day. Never apart. We have for 14 years of our 17 years of marriage. So we have a very awesome and productive business relationship.. but it's important for us to really take time for our "personal" relationship too. Same with my kids.
[Courtney] If I had to describe you in three words, I would say "Inspiring, creative and genuine." How would YOU describe yourself?
[Christy] Motiviated, Funny and Low key.
[Courtney] You're so positive and encouraging. What do you make of the negativity and criticism that's out there in the creative world?
[Christy] Honestly, I don't hear it...I do my own thing. I do this because it's my life and my job and it supports my family. If I let myself get caught up in catty message boards or mean websites, I would NEVER move forward AND I would question every decision I make worrying if those decisions would end up on those "message boards or websites". So I don't. Really honestly, we are all just wonderful people trying to do wonderful things... so I LOVE and support everyone.
[Courtney] I know you, like me, have a strong faith...I'm curious how it influences your daily life? Your relationships? Your art?
[Christy] My faith IS my life. It always has been. My husband and I live our life around our religion (we are LDS) and we believe every opportunity, every idea, every "break", every good thing that happens to us is a blessing from God. We also believe every heartache or trial or hardship is also a gift from God... in that we can grow and learn from those experiences and it makes us stronger. I believe there is a beautiful life waiting for me after this one, and my relationships and knowledge and life experiences are ALL I get to take with me. I believe I have the opportunity to be with my family forever depending on how I live in this life. So my life is centered around living so I can be with them forever. So It has a huge influence in every part of my day to day. It does. Wow. That was intense! LOL.
[Courtney] I love your passion, so much...but since I also know you as a fun girl, let's end on a goofy question. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life...what would it be?
[Christy] Ham, mashed potatoes and frozen peas. YUM.
Do you see why I love this girl? If you missed her She Art mixed media workshop, I'd highly recommend it! And ...this is the best part...I'm super SUPER excited because Christy has a new workshop...This time, she'll tackle art journaling...a subject near and dear to my own heart!
So today, Christy is giving away a seat in her new class, it's called "She Had Three Hearts."
You can read more about this class HERE, but trust me, Christy's workshops are amazing and it will be well worth the $35.
If you'd like to win a spot in this awesome online class, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post before midnight (MST) on March 30th. In honor of my daughter's tenth birthday, I'll draw a winner on Thursday, March 31st!
Facebook, blog or tweet about this giveaway and you can enter up to three more times! How's that for spiffy?
And don't you dare click out of this without commenting and say "I'm not creative." None of that crazy talk on this blog, missy.
Special thanks to Christy for sharing so much of herself, with this interview and just with her life in general. Now, what are you waiting for?
Leave a comment!!
*All images are property of Christy Tomlinson
