Our Stick Of The Week! is Colleen Gardner. Colleen is in the NOW as founder of The Project Cottage, making coastal inspired handmade designs for the hip cottage. TheProject Cottage combines color, texture and dimension to create unique, stylish products for the artful home. Their retail business is doing great and they are currently branching out into product and art licensing.
Colleen Gardner
Colleen Gardner is a wife to an amazing and supportive husband and they have two incredible children. Colleen decided in her late thirties to completely change her career path and it has proven to be the most challenging and rewarding journey her family has ever taken.
"Not only has the creative outlet brought me a happiness I didn’t even know was missing, this venture has strengthened our family bond in so many ways too."
"Not only has the creative outlet brought me a happiness I didn’t even know was missing, this venture has strengthened our family bond in so many ways too."
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall)
My Noodle On The Wall is my business, The Project Cottage. I design, make and sell home décor and gift items. I have a website, two Etsy shops and a local retail shop - which are all doing great! All of our handmade items and graphic art prints are designed and made in my shop and studio, which is the ground floor of my home.
My Noodle On The Wall is my business, The Project Cottage. I design, make and sell home décor and gift items. I have a website, two Etsy shops and a local retail shop - which are all doing great! All of our handmade items and graphic art prints are designed and made in my shop and studio, which is the ground floor of my home.
Graphic Art Prints
Surfboard Coat Rack
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
I would say that my NOW is still simmering but getting close to a full boil. It has grown exponentially since I started almost three years ago, with the fastest growth taking place in the last eight months. We have a strong online retail business and our biggest challenge has been keeping the growth at a manageable pace. We've been very fortunate with some good press, including one of our Surf Board Coat Racks featured in the March issue of Coastal Living Magazine. Ultimately, the plan is to have The Project Cottage front and center in the market place, so we’ve had to make some pretty big decisions concerning the direction of the company. Because of the demand for the product, we either had to expand and relocate to a bigger facility, or license our designs and let other companies make and sell the products. So, we are currently meeting with wholesale companies that have their own manufacturing facilities and are excited with the response to our designs. We hope to start licensing within the next few months.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
I think a dash of gumption goes a long way. I am a firm believer that if you have the confidence to go for it and the willpower to stick it out through the tough times, you might just make your dreams come true! I have worked far too many hours, lost too much sleep opting to read about anything and everything pertaining to this industry and have had to readjust our already tight budget. However, I feel like I have slowly mapped out how I really want my life to be, which includes taking charge of my own destiny with my business and home life. As I work hard toward a prosperous future, what's most important, is that I am also home with my family.
I would say that my NOW is still simmering but getting close to a full boil. It has grown exponentially since I started almost three years ago, with the fastest growth taking place in the last eight months. We have a strong online retail business and our biggest challenge has been keeping the growth at a manageable pace. We've been very fortunate with some good press, including one of our Surf Board Coat Racks featured in the March issue of Coastal Living Magazine. Ultimately, the plan is to have The Project Cottage front and center in the market place, so we’ve had to make some pretty big decisions concerning the direction of the company. Because of the demand for the product, we either had to expand and relocate to a bigger facility, or license our designs and let other companies make and sell the products. So, we are currently meeting with wholesale companies that have their own manufacturing facilities and are excited with the response to our designs. We hope to start licensing within the next few months.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
I think a dash of gumption goes a long way. I am a firm believer that if you have the confidence to go for it and the willpower to stick it out through the tough times, you might just make your dreams come true! I have worked far too many hours, lost too much sleep opting to read about anything and everything pertaining to this industry and have had to readjust our already tight budget. However, I feel like I have slowly mapped out how I really want my life to be, which includes taking charge of my own destiny with my business and home life. As I work hard toward a prosperous future, what's most important, is that I am also home with my family.
Graphic Art Prints
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
I wasn't motivated to throw my Noodle until a few years ago. I had spent sixteen years as a Real Estate investor and managing a restaurant group. I began designing out of necessity when I was asked to oversee the interior design of the restaurants. I began making some of my products because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Soon I was getting a lot of requests for products and interior design jobs. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had a new passion.
I wasn't motivated to throw my Noodle until a few years ago. I had spent sixteen years as a Real Estate investor and managing a restaurant group. I began designing out of necessity when I was asked to oversee the interior design of the restaurants. I began making some of my products because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Soon I was getting a lot of requests for products and interior design jobs. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had a new passion.
Surfboard Bottle Popper
I quit my job and we sold most of our real estate so I could focus on starting The Project Cottage. My husband and I designed a home with a 2000 sq. ft wood shop, paint studio and office on the ground floor. Two months after we moved in, Allyson McFarlane, a dear friend and talented graphic designer extraordinaire, bought the house next door. Although Allyson maintained her full time job as a graphic designer for the first eighteen months of the business, she still handled all of my marketing and graphic needs.
Allyson and Colleen
In January of this year, I finally convinced Allyson to quit her job and partner with me so we could pursue art licensing. Having my best friend to share this venture with has only sweetened the deal and because our same age children are close friends, we often juggle carpools, babysitters, camps and even a couple of dinners a week together. It's a truly unique situation that works so perfectly because we have similar values and an understanding that the well being of our families comes first.
Graphic Prints and Whale Coat Rack
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Most of our designs are coastal inspired and because we’re lucky enough to live on the coast, it makes for a great creative backdrop. Sometimes Allyson and I have our best design meetings sitting on the beach with a sketch pad while the dads are surfing with the kids. As a mother, I am just so overjoyed to have beautiful, happy, healthy children. It’s inspired me to dream big, not just professionally, but with family happiness as the ultimate goal.
Most of our designs are coastal inspired and because we’re lucky enough to live on the coast, it makes for a great creative backdrop. Sometimes Allyson and I have our best design meetings sitting on the beach with a sketch pad while the dads are surfing with the kids. As a mother, I am just so overjoyed to have beautiful, happy, healthy children. It’s inspired me to dream big, not just professionally, but with family happiness as the ultimate goal.
Star Fish Plank Frame
Riley and McKenna
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
With the help and support of my friends and family, including my parents, sisters and my husband’s family, we have been able to handle the extra stress of two self employed parents pretty well. It was a huge adjustment for us when I decided to start the company because of the time I had to invest. The first year was really tough for me because I had “mom guilt.” I had to become very efficient with my time and ask for a lot more help from the kids and my husband. More than they were accustomed to. But they rose to the occasion.
My husband travels often so my ten year old son, Riley and eight year old daughter, McKenna take care of a number of daily chores, pack their school lunches, take care of the animals and more often than not, tend to go out of their way to help. I am still amazed at their willingness to lend a hand and support. They are happy that I’m
here when they need me and they are still understanding that I have to work. They’re both very creative and are thrilled when they have a craft or project and get studio time with mom!
With the help and support of my friends and family, including my parents, sisters and my husband’s family, we have been able to handle the extra stress of two self employed parents pretty well. It was a huge adjustment for us when I decided to start the company because of the time I had to invest. The first year was really tough for me because I had “mom guilt.” I had to become very efficient with my time and ask for a lot more help from the kids and my husband. More than they were accustomed to. But they rose to the occasion.
My husband travels often so my ten year old son, Riley and eight year old daughter, McKenna take care of a number of daily chores, pack their school lunches, take care of the animals and more often than not, tend to go out of their way to help. I am still amazed at their willingness to lend a hand and support. They are happy that I’m
here when they need me and they are still understanding that I have to work. They’re both very creative and are thrilled when they have a craft or project and get studio time with mom!
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My ultimate pasta dish would have to be lasagna. Let’s face it, homemade lasagna takes time and preparation but in the end, the layers of so many different ingredients come together to make the perfect dish.
My ultimate pasta dish would have to be lasagna. Let’s face it, homemade lasagna takes time and preparation but in the end, the layers of so many different ingredients come together to make the perfect dish.
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