Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Daams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
I had an internship in college working at a private gallery/gift shop. I learned a lot from the owner/artist that lived above the studio and shop. I really liked the idea of living and working in the same space. This was in the days before Etsy. I like the idea of people wandering into my little store. Visiting with customers was a pleasure. In exchange for the internship I was allowed to have a student art show at this gallery and anything I sold I could keep 100% of the proceeds. I sold a painting for $100. It made my day/week/month. Although I do not have my own little brick and mortar gallery and gift shop, yet…. It is something I hope to have in the future.
Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I feel like since I’m in between full time artistry and full time homemaking – in this in between space I do a bit of this and a bit of that honing in on different aspects of what I hope to achieve as a creative designer of characters- including a full line of toys, stationary and books. So in this in between stage of life I collect toys, stories, and raise my children. I am involved n community- first having ran a small in-house preschool, then I offered together with another mom – free children’s classes at the Farmers Market, then I organized a family friendly Christmas tradition and I took over the planning of the St George Gingerbread Tour, after four years of running that, I have scaled back to focus more on my craft.
For several years now i have been crocheting small toys, dolls and keychains and selling them at local gift shops.
But now I’m ready to develop my own patterns and original designs. I hope to gear it towards children and toy collectors.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Earlier this year I volunteered with the local Chamber of Commerce to develop a program for young entrepreneurs. I feel that if many different local organizations from the cities, schools, business chambers and other nonprofits can develop programs for young entrepreneurs and creatives – then we can give this next generation the support, courage and business resources they need to be successful. It takes interest from the teachers and successful business owners in society to want what’s best for everyone. We can’t keep these ideas and successes to ourselves. It’s best to share what we know with others.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I first started my in-house preschool program it was an exciting time for me. I went in head first and loved many parts of the business from actually teaching the pre-k children, designing and preparing the curriculum, investing in materials was a lot if fun… but the hardest part was advertising. In my first year I had 5 students which was perfect for me. But then the very next year, after I had already designed the next year’s curriculum- my own children started having difficulty in elementary school. I had to pivot back to full time mom and homeschool. I couldn’t do the pre-school. I had to close up. It was sad but my kids come first. During that time is when I started crocheting toys. Before that time I only made blankets. Soon thereafter the requests came in for custom crochet bunnies… and I have been addicted to toy making ever since.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.whimsywinkel.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/melissadaamsart
- Facebook: Facebook.com/whimsywinkel
- Other: https://whimsywinkel.etsy.com