Long before I had ever even given any thought to opening my own business I was a recent university grad (a degree in Fine Arts, need I say more?), unemployed and broke. Christmas rolled around that year and I didn't have any money for Christmas presents or groceries or rent, so I started looking around my apartment for ways to make things that I could give as gifts. That is when it occurred to me that I could probably make some colouring books that were decent enough (I had taken one 3 hour bookmaking workshop in my second year). I sat down with my sketch book and a marker and started drawing cute animals that were all saying nice things. I really needed some encouragement and positivityat the time. Then I scanned, printed, cut, and bound the books all from the comfort of my bedroom studio. The first run of the colouring book was only 6 copies and had the title Colouring is Awesome.

I was so excited that I had managed to pull them off that I immediately snapped a photo and posted it on Facebook. By the end of the day I had orders for an additional 20 or so books. I couldn't believe it! I thought that maybe I was really on to something, so I pursued it (casually at first) but now, three years later, here I am. I started by doing the craft fair circuit, opened an online shop, selling at consignment shops and eventually wholesale. I went to conferences and workshops, learning about small business accounting, networking, and website design. Now my company is about to launch, I'm working in the studio full time and really putting all my hard work and belief into the idea that I can design products that really touch people. I still have so much to learn and so much to do, which is exciting and terrifying. It feels surreal to be able to work on this project every day (and every evening....and weekends). I love the feeling that my success is entirely dependent on how hard I work (also terrifying) and on who I choose to partner with professionally. I can't wait to grow the company to a point where I can offer work to other artists, designers and professionals. I know what it's like to be starting out in business/in life, I'm living it now, and I would love to have a company that supports young professionals and emerging artists.

These are my hopes for the future and they are all growing from one desperate attempt to turn a really crappy year into a less crappy Christmas and now it's my whole life. When you look at your copy of Colour Your Heart Out you can know that it was the seed of an idea that changed my life and that will bloom and grow into a very real place where ideas are nurtured, creativity is valued above all else and where I can support myself (spiritually, creatively, or financially) as well as many others, whether they are my business partners, my students, or the people who crack open one of my books and get what they need from the illustrations, messages, and authentic love they find in those pages.