Our Stick Of The Week! is Kimberly Mathews. Kimberly is in the NOW as Owner and Designer of Westmama Designs, whimsical designs printed on materials that are kind to the earth and the people that make them.
Kimberly Mathews
Kimberly Mathews is "a total sci-fi geek, Doctor Who?" She's also a reformed runner learning to find enjoyment in other forms of exercise. And....she adores her kids and husband.
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall).
I am the owner and chief (i.e. only) artist/graphic designer for Westmama Designs. I screen-print my creations on apparel for grown-ups and kids. I also create nerdy greeting cards and fun party favor bags.
I am the owner and chief (i.e. only) artist/graphic designer for Westmama Designs. I screen-print my creations on apparel for grown-ups and kids. I also create nerdy greeting cards and fun party favor bags.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
Depends on the week, but mostly I am either simmering or al dente. I am not quite where I want to be professionally, but in order to maintain my work life balance I am where I should be. I’m constantly struggling with going full speed ahead (a rolling boil) and then boiling over some and turning the heat down a bit.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
It’s so cliché, but find what it is that you love to do and focus on that. When starting, I struggled with the pressure of coming up with designs I thought would be “marketable” versus the quirky/nerdy designs I had a passion for. I made the decision to focus a chunk of my designs on the nerdy and quirky stuff I like and was pleasantly surprised when they became my most popular. I also spend a lot of time researching what’s already out there. I strive to be unique and look for ways to do things differently.
Depends on the week, but mostly I am either simmering or al dente. I am not quite where I want to be professionally, but in order to maintain my work life balance I am where I should be. I’m constantly struggling with going full speed ahead (a rolling boil) and then boiling over some and turning the heat down a bit.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
It’s so cliché, but find what it is that you love to do and focus on that. When starting, I struggled with the pressure of coming up with designs I thought would be “marketable” versus the quirky/nerdy designs I had a passion for. I made the decision to focus a chunk of my designs on the nerdy and quirky stuff I like and was pleasantly surprised when they became my most popular. I also spend a lot of time researching what’s already out there. I strive to be unique and look for ways to do things differently.
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
I wouldn’t say anything motivated me, it was just something I HAD to do, this creative energy was bursting out of me and I needed an outlet, I sort of stumbled upon the screen printing side of the business. I had the ideas, I wanted them on shirts and taught myself how to get them there. It was a steep learning curve.
I wouldn’t say anything motivated me, it was just something I HAD to do, this creative energy was bursting out of me and I needed an outlet, I sort of stumbled upon the screen printing side of the business. I had the ideas, I wanted them on shirts and taught myself how to get them there. It was a steep learning curve.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
My kids are my biggest inspiration. I also love science and nature and create designs that reflect that.
My kids are my biggest inspiration. I also love science and nature and create designs that reflect that.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
Juggling is the hardest part. As I mentioned above, it’s easy to get out of balance. I work from home and sometimes that means putting a movie on for my oldest while my daughter naps so I can get orders done. I am often up late working on new designs and spend a lot of time on weekends finishing up things. It’s hard. I am striving very hard this year to take things down a notch. Last year was a HUGE growth year for me but it came at a cost. This year, I’m focusing on taking the scenic route, or to keep in line with the blog, simmering.
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Ultimately, I’d like to triple the amount of stores I’m in and move my products off Etsy to a stand alone website, but I need the exposure I get on Etsy to reach those goals.
Juggling is the hardest part. As I mentioned above, it’s easy to get out of balance. I work from home and sometimes that means putting a movie on for my oldest while my daughter naps so I can get orders done. I am often up late working on new designs and spend a lot of time on weekends finishing up things. It’s hard. I am striving very hard this year to take things down a notch. Last year was a HUGE growth year for me but it came at a cost. This year, I’m focusing on taking the scenic route, or to keep in line with the blog, simmering.
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
Ultimately, I’d like to triple the amount of stores I’m in and move my products off Etsy to a stand alone website, but I need the exposure I get on Etsy to reach those goals.
Westmama Designs is also on ETSY
RSS Feed
