We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Bumgarner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chelsea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Living a life as a full time creative maker comes with ebbs and flows, like any other career choice. I began my creative journey back in 2014, after leaving my job with a gut instinct to follow my dreams. Those dreams were slightly unclear at that moment, but I knew I did not want to work for anyone else, and yearned to live my life for myself, on my own terms. Sweet Thyme Design sprouted and blossomed over time in a very organic and natural way, as I began to let my heart and skill set lead the way.
Fast forward 8 years, and both my business and I have grown in ways I never could have predicted. When I look back on all the different stages Sweet Thyme has gone through, it is evident to me that those stages were a direct reflection of who I was in those moments. My business is my baby, and now at the age of 34, having survived a nation-wide pandemic, and finally taking charge of what my definition of “success” is, I know I am exactly where I am suppose to be.
The thing that people don’t tell you is that being a creative at heart and building a business around that passion is one of the hardest and most emotionally draining experiences one could face. The past two years have been a perfect storm of self-doubt, burn out, frustration and panic. When I think back to pre-pandemic life back in 2019, I was riding a high. I had my most profitable year to date with plans of opening up a retail store in early 2020 and felt the most motivated I’ve ever been. When the pandemic hit, like for so many, it felt like the floor was pulled out from under me and I was forced to pivot and pivot quickly. I dove head first into survival mode, trying my hardest to keep our brick and mortar from crumbling, while also transitioning from having 80% of my income revenue derived from in person sales to 100% online. I put my head down and I worked… and worked, and worked, and worked. It was the only thing I could do to feel like I was in control and even as I realized my tough work ethic did, indeed, work (the online support in 2020 was UNREAL), I didn’t stop until the inevitable happened; burn out. I found myself physically, emotionally, and mentally depleted and began to question if I was even happy with this life at all. I began to envy my family and friends who clocked in and clocked out, perfecting the ever-so-challenging work/life balance I deeply craved. After much encouragement from my husband, I shut down my business for an open-ended and much needed break to rest and reflect on what was most important to me.
I spent two months doing whatever I wanted. I went on vacation with my husband and pups, took a road trip with my best friend, and visited family in both the Northeast and Northwest coasts. I gardened, did house projects, and at times did absolutely nothing at all. It was bliss and I did all of that until I began to feel myself again. Sweet Thyme was out of commission for two months, and when I reopened in July, I had a new understanding of what “success” meant to me at that moment in my life. I knew I wanted Sweet Thyme to continue and flourish, but I did not want Sweet Thyme to be who I was as a human.
It has been exactly one year since I took time for myself away from Sweet Thyme Design, and looking back on this past year, I can’t help but be proud of what I have accomplished both as Chelsea the business owner, and as Chelsea the person. I have stayed true to my new goals of balancing both life and work in a more manageable way, and as a result have felt more at peace with my pace. In a world where we are constantly plugged in with social media, I have found staying grounded with myself, for myself to be a true gift. When we can quiet the noise around us, we can better hear that little voice in our heads that remind us of why we are on this path to begin with.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Chelsea and I am the owner, creator and hands behind Sweet Thyme Design. Creating a life I love has been my main focus over the last 8 years, and what a growing experience it has been. To wake up each day knowing what I put out into the world is genuine, authentic, and my own is truly a privilege.
Sweet Thyme Design is a reflection of my passions and taste. I have married my love for rust & dust, simple living, the great outdoors, and words into one heartfelt parcel of hand stamped vintage flatware. I believe in making items with meaning and heart. I make each piece with the intention of it becoming an instant heirloom to be enjoyed for generations to come.
I specialize in mindfully designed, hand stamped vintage flatware to serve all of your life’s moments, no matter how simple or grand. Each piece is truly unique and special as it is specifically designed with you in mind. I am happy to work together on custom pieces, personalized from the heart. My wares are made to bring a daily dose of comfort, kindness, and unexpected beauty into your routine; a combination of sweet and salty wit that I hope will help carry a bit of happiness throughout the rest of your day.
Each spoon, fork, and spreader is foraged and then stamped by my own two hands in my home studio located in Austin, TX. My tools of the trade include individual metal stamps, an anvil, hammer, and a good old fashioned wooden stump. I love that my creative process goes back centuries, hammering each impression one swing at a time, all while adding a modern twist to the story and journey of each piece.
When I began my journey as a maker back in 2014, I was one of the first metal stamping artists to hit the market. I try to keep that authenticity going through my original designs, and stamp from my heart, which I hope shines through my work.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Hands down, the most rewarding aspect of living a life as a maker is that it is a direct reflection of who I am as a person. Sweet Thyme Design is so personal to me because it is me. I touch every single detail from start to finish and I love that about my products and what I offer to my customers. I am my successes, I am my failures, and there is no hiding or shying away from either.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Something I am [still] working on is my confidence when explaining what it is that I do for a living. The inevitable question that we are all always met with when meeting new people is, “What do you do?”, and I dread it every time to this day. It is hard for me to efficiently pinpoint exactly what I offer to the world in one short, perfectly packaged job title, because I am both Sweet Thyme’s CEO and intern (lol) and EVERYTHING in-between. I wear all the hats within a very real business that to some may not seem like a real business at all. As a result, what I am often met with is a confused, “oh, how cute, good for you” glance before moving on to a more mainstream topic. I think we as creatives are almost always underestimated when it comes to business and success.
Contact Info:
- Website: SweetThymeDsgn.com
- Instagram: @SweetThymeDsgn
- Facebook: Facebook.com/SweetThymeDesign
- Twitter: @SweetThymeDsgn