We recently connected with Christie Lynch Ebert and have shared our conversation below.
Christie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
As a former educator and administrator, I know the importance of planning, practicing, and preparation. You may have heard the expression, “Prior proper planning prevents poor performance!” As a teacher, I had to have my lessons planned to a “T,” and ready to share with anyone who walked in my door – especially the students. I practiced different set-ups and procedures for my classroom to ensure every student could access the materials, move safely in the space, and learn. I had to map my plans for the week, the month, the year – working with other teachers to ensure a cohesive plan that addressed all of the standards AND made authentic connections for students across the curriculum. As an administrator, I had to plan for meetings, presentations, deadlines, trainings, projects, deliverables, etc. I had to have a work plan for the year for myself and the team I managed. I had to practice presentations to ensure that they were clear and could be presented within the given time frame to the board, legislators, adult learners/educators, or whoever the intended audience may be. I had to prepare – equipment, handouts, room set-up, sound equipment, technology, back-up plans if technology failed, websites where participants could access the information, etc. So the lesson is – plan for whatever your situation may be. Think of every aspect of what is involved and have a plan for it! Plan your year, how you will market, communicate, make your craft, thank customers, set up your space…. Practice, practice, practice! I often “practice” my layout whenever I am going to a new venue. Will you have people back to back on either side of you, spread out, will you be on a corner, beside a band, food truck, or bathroom? Practice your layout, your presentation, your visual aesthetics – take pictures and ask for critiques from other makers – seek continuous improvement! Prepare – for the year, for taxes, for budgeting, for materials and equipment, for taking payments, issuing refunds, emergencies, for the weather, for the venue, for setting up and taking down your booth, for staying warm/cool, for eating, and every other aspect of running your small business.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am a trained musician and lifelong participant and supporter of all of the arts. I have always enjoyed making special gifts for family and friends. In October 2021, I opened my small business, CLE Heartstrings.
In March 2020, I began creating handmade items, painting, and crafting as a form of therapy while homeschooling our kids and navigating a new normal during the pandemic. After leaving a high-stress career, it was a welcome relief to be able to use my creativity and energy in new ways.
Creating art and handcrafted items, making music, cooking, and writing are some of the ways I honored my heartstrings tied to all those who I love and who have gone before me. What started out as “therapy” soon became a way to express myself and connect with others by creating handmade pieces with the intent to “lift spirits, connect hearts, and bring joy”- the mission of CLE Heartstrings.
In 2021 I formally registered and learned all of the processes and requirements for running a small business as a sole proprietor. I started with selling things that I made online – creating an e-commerce online store and marketing through social media business accounts. In the fall of 2021, I did my first face-to-face event at a church festival immediately followed by weekends at “The Raleigh Market” at the NC State Fairgrounds. This market is recognized as one of the finest flea markets in the southeast, with hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors each weekend. In December, I joined a juried group of artists under the organization, “Art-n-Soul NC,” and have participated in various markets as a vendor.
Beginning in 2022, I continued with face-to-face events at the Raleigh Market, as an Art-n-Soul NC Vendor, and applied for and became a vendor for the Cary Downtown Farmers Market as well as the Downtown Cary Food & Flea Market. Currently, I alternate weekends at venues such as these and have added some festivals and other events to my calendar.
I use wood that would otherwise go to a landfill, jars, vases, some vintage pieces, and fabrics such as burlap, twine, rope, cotton, lace, and woven fabrics. I have made wreaths out of wisteria and grapevines, and use other natural items such as pinecones of all kinds, NC seashells, and other found items. Types of items I create include rustic wood figures (seasonal, such as hand-painted wood pumpkins with molded twine stems and acorns in the fall, winter angels made with wood and greenery/berries and pinecones, rustic angels using wood, vines, and various textiles; spring bunnies made from wood, moss, twine, vines, and florals, and a number of other items inspired by a season, event, person, or holiday). Many items have stories or associations that go along with them. I also love fulfilling custom orders – for example, a memorial rag wreath incorporating sweaters and clothing from a family member; a custom oyster roast sign using NC seashells; a new baby wreath customized to the client; or other special creations. Rustic wood and fabric angels, seasonal items made from natural materials, and old-fashioned fabric/rag wreaths are particular favorites of many customers.
My rustic angels are the most unique item for which I am known. Angels often are considered messengers and represent spiritual beliefs inspiring comfort, strength, intelligence, understanding, and peace. Every person who looks at them says, “I have never seen anything like this – they are so unique!” The angels are my own design – using irregular triangles, wood, fabric, paint, twine, vines, burlap, lace, and a variety of textiles – no two are alike. I make these in all different sizes – from tiny to large – and with different bases, finishes, and embellishments. Originally designed to sit on a shelf, mantel, or table, I began making angels that can be hung on a door, porch, or wall, as well. The angels speak to people for different reasons – for decor in their home, to hang on their front door, to give as gifts, or to join a collection of angels, often in honor of or in memory of a cherished loved one.
I recently designed a patriotic angel (the traditional design and one that can hang) – She is perfect for patriotic celebrations, to honor our country and those who serve or have served the United States of America, or for whenever you want to give the gift of an angel to send messages of peace, hope, love, energy, warmth, or comfort, especially for our country and the world. I have also designed angels specific to family members and their heritage, harvest and sunflower angels, and Victorian rag angel ornaments and dolls.
My old-fashioned fabric/rag wreaths and rag bows are other items for which I am known. I will often create a design or theme and then create multiple variations in size, patterns, shapes, and materials. It is not unusual to find a variety of textiles in my wreaths – including rope, yarn, ribbon, lace, burlap, muslin, cotton, and even fur! I also create wreaths using handwoven vines combined with textiles and florals. Multiple layers of varied textures and materials are a trademark for my wreaths, as are long, trailing tails, representative of our heartstrings that bind us together.
My greatest hope is that I can sell enough of my handmade creations to supplement my retirement income and help to support our family; my greatest joy is knowing that something I have made will touch heartstrings – bringing meaning and joy to someone else. As I become more established, I plan to donate a portion of my proceeds to a worthy cause, which will allow me to serve others beyond what I make and sell.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One day in February of 2022, I carefully set up my tent at “The Raleigh Market,” an outdoor venue at the NC State Fairgrounds. The market includes indoor and outdoor permanent and guest vendors. My tent was filled with all of my new creations I had been working on for the new year and upcoming celebrations, such as Valentines Day, St Patrick’s Day, and the coming of spring. I had practiced the set-up and had everything beautifully in place. My tent was weighted – 40 pounds on each leg – and tied down to anchors in the pavement (a must for outdoor events)! I had a backdrop, special hangers, and frames for my handmade wreaths, tables and a rack, a long shutter, and several small displays with carefully placed items. The market ran all day, from 9am – 5pm. I began setting up at 7:00am and was ready to greet my first customers at the opening. Within the first half of an hour, a huge gust of wind swept through and destroyed my tent! It somehow ripped up through the middle and pulled down all of the metal framing into a crumpled heap on top of my displays. It was a total loss on the tent but my merchandise survived. I was going to hang it up, pack everything up, and go home defeated – not even making my rent to be a vendor that day – BUT – my neighbor encouraged me to stick it out. So I first found some folks to help me remove my destroyed tent. It just happened that some of the staff were driving by in a truck just after this happened and I waved them down. They helped me walk the destroyed tent out of the space and compress it to be hauled off in the back of their truck. Once the tent was removed, I began gathering and re-organizing all of my things. The wind was still terrible and I was struggling with getting anything to stay in place, as well as coming up with a new way to present my items sans tent. Another kind neighbor (who also sells handmade items as well as vintage jewelry) came over and helped me move what remained of my displays into a configuration that worked with the wind. I had wreaths hanging in new and inventive ways, using what was on hand – the rack, shutter, and hooking onto the front of the tables. Where I had been in shade, I was now in full sun, which presented additional challenges, but I persevered because I was committed to seeing this event through to the closing. As the day went on, I ended up having terrific sales (though not enough to pay for a new tent, I did recover my rent plus enough to significantly contribute to a replacement tent). I met an art teacher (who bought one of my angels for a meditation area in her home) and we discovered mutual connections – that her mother had been a student of my father many years ago and that we also had many connections through the arts education world. I met others who responded to and purchased angels, wreaths, or other items I had made. One customer bought a St Patrick’s Day wreath and invited me to become part of a pop-up community hosted by her business. Another maker came by and invited me to be a collaborator with her. Another customer placed a custom order to be made in the week ahead. February is not traditionally a great sales month, but I came out ahead and cherished the relationships that were formed that sunny, windy day!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is the connection with people and the community. Knowing that I have made something that speaks to someone and brings them joy brings me joy. Being asked to create something especially for a customer or someone they love is rewarding because I know how it will be used and that it will touch someone’s life. A wreath for my Godbrother and his wife’s new baby girl; an angel lovingly placed in the middle of the table to remember someone’s mother who had passed; an angel in memory of a pet named “Angel;” a wreath made from the clothing of a loved one; a garland to use as a valance over a window with the wedding dress of the wife displayed just in front – a cherished reminder of their wedding; a wreath specifically to match the colors of a new home; a set of angels for book club members – each one a little different; bunnies of all kinds to decorate a customer’s Easter table; a rustic set of pumpkins or Christmas trees for someone’s new home – even a tiny set of pumpkins for a tiny home – or, stacking pumpkins for a toddler to have her own set to arrange! These are a few examples of the rewards I experience as a maker. In terms of community, I can not say enough how rewarding it has been to meet other makers or vendors and connect with them, as well as the customers who visit my business or contact me through my online store. Every person has a story and connections are constantly made. The people I have had the pleasure to work with or meet through my business are not just colleagues or customers but are considered cherished members of my extended family!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clehearstrings.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cleheartstrings
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cleheartstrings
Image Credits
Christie Lynch Ebert