Welcome to the 1st installment of Portraits of Home Made! Thanks for visiting and I hope you will stay in touch each month for future posts. I figured it was appropriate that I share a bit of my story here to begin the series, so I hope you will enjoy.
Wendy Heagney-Bakewell is the owner of Tiny Brushstrokes who creates colourful, contemporary paintings & artful products for little ones (and their parents!) She is Mom to a son named Kai (2 yrs) and lives in Mississauga, Ontario.
Q: In 3 words, describe your business.
A:Colourful, Contemporary & Custom
Q:Did you start your business before or after becoming a Mom? If before, how did having children affect your business?
A:I started Tiny Brushstrokes (then under a different name) in 2007 before I became a Mom. I think that having a child has definitely inspired my business and given me a different outlook on life. Having a child does wonders for reconnecting with your playful & creative side which is a big part of my business. One of the things that having a son has taught me is the importance of wheels and vehicles which have slowly found their way into some of my paintings. Above all though, becoming a Mom with a business has shown me that the concept of 'free time' is an elusive one!
Peekaboo Birthday Card, 5" x 7" acrylic on bamboo card
Q:Mixing business & motherhood can be a balancing act! What is your approach to making it through the day accomplishing growth in your business alongside nurturing your little ones?
A:Of course, my son is priority during the day so I rely on weekday evenings and weekends to dedicate to work. I am thankful to have such a supportive husband which allows me to keep up with the responsibilities of running my own business! Also, I love to-do lists and rely on making weekly goals to get me focused so that I spend my working hours in the best and most efficient way. It is a challenge sometimes to balance family time, business time, social time and everything else, so some days I get more done than others but as long as my family is happy and my business is happy, that's is all that matters!
Play with Tricycle Painting, 12" x 12" acrylic on canvas
Q:What do you consider the biggest perk to having your business in your home? What is the biggest challenge?
A:The biggest perk to having my business at home is the convenience - its great to work in your home at anytime; late into the night, early in the morning, whenever you have a spare hour or so (nap time). The biggest challenge though is finding the space - to work, to store your supplies, etc. - my studio workspace is in a small multifunctional room: work space, storage, computer area, guest room and developing little art corner for my son.
I love white Ikea boxes for storage!
Q:What is your favourite social media platform to use to share and connect with your customers and why?A:I love instagram because it is visual, quick and simple. Facebook is great too because it is a popular site that easily allows you to share photos, announcements and links and is a great way to get instant feedback! I also use my blog to share my work and a bit of my life with my dedicated followers!
Red, White & Blue Ball from 100 tiny brushstrokes - the childhood memory project
5" x 7" acrylic on canvas board
Q:If you could add another element/extension to your business what would it be?
A:This is a tough one for me! I would love to use my design skills and add an interior design extension to my business; to design complete nursery, kids room, playroom spaces and of course, create custom artwork for the walls. I would also love to illustrate children's books. Yet ultimately I would love to have my own Tiny Brushstrokes Studio - a creative space for children, teens and their parents which would offer art classes, workshops, special events, supplies for sale, handmade items for sale, a cool cafe and have a gallery space to showcase their work!
detail of 1..2..3 Hot Air Balloons, 8" x 10" acrylic on canvas board
Q:Please name a Canadian artisan you would like to collaborate with (if anything was possible) on a creative product/project.
A:I think it would be super fun to paint portraits of cute plush characters such as the pals from Monster Factory - those stuffies have unique personalities & character traits! It would be interesting to reflect that in colourful, contemporary portraits!
Q:If you had an unexpected afternoon of free time, how would you spend it?
A:I would likely head into Toronto, grab a coffee to go and explore shops & galleries. Or I would take some time to catch up on some DIY projects around the house - paint some furniture, hang some artwork, etc.
view of Woodland Family Art Block Puzzle, set of 2 acrylic painted birch puzzles
Q:Is there a creative skill you wish you had?
A:Yes! I would love to be able to sew really well - there are so many projects I have seen that I would love to make. Thankfully I have a sewing machine so that will be on my wish list of skills to develop (!) when I have some time to dedicate to experimenting.
Quick 3:
1. coffee or tea? coffee!
2. music, movies or podcasts while you work? a little of all 3
3. name a book that has inspired/informed your business? there are a few that I have enjoyed including: Craft Inc, Mom, Inc., the Handmade Marketplace & Shift (how to reinvent your business, your career and your personal brand) by Peter Arnell.
Q:What's next for Tiny Brushstrokes?
A:I'm working on a new product - a colouring block puzzle, combining
a bit of an art activity with the fun of a wooden puzzle. Look for it soon in my etsy shop. Here's a peek at one of the designs...
I hope you have enjoyed meeting me & learning more about the life of Tiny Brushstrokes. Stay in touch online...
Stay tuned for the April Portrait of Home Made!
Are you or someone you know a work from home Mom creating an amazing product or offering an awesome service? I want to meet you - email me to find out how you could be featured!
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