We recently connected with Heidi Catherine and have shared our conversation below.

Heidi, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I think about having a regular job all the time! The thoughts range from “thank goodness I can go to a dentist appointment at 12pm on a Wednesday” to “wow, I really gave myself 5 jobs when I started a business, huh?”.

Happiness is such a complicated emotion! For me, the battle for happiness is always financial stability vs. personal fulfillment. I’ve never been happy working a normal job doing the same thing, at the same place, at the same time every day – but knowing how much money I could count on every month was comforting. As a business owner, I get to choose exciting projects, change up my schedule as I please, and express myself through art every day – but all year I am thinking of the winter months when I will have next to no income.

I am struggling with this issue right now, as my husband and I start the home buying process. Would it be better to have a regular job to be able to contribute a consistent salary, or should I be excited for future business growth that could allow me to pay off the house early (fingers crossed)?

Am I happy? Yes (most of the time)!

Heidi, 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?

Learning floral design started as a complete accident! I had just moved to a new city and was looking for a job. I have an art background (B.A in art studio) so I decided I would apply at a local florist that was doing a summer training program. I learned so much and realized I had a real talent for floral design. Unfortunately I also learned that I hate working in flower shops! I became a business owner to give myself creative freedom and to be my own boss.

I pride myself on design that is beautiful but also sustainable! I prioritize buying flowers from our amazing local growers. All cardboard and plastic used in the shipping process is reused or recycled. All green waste is composted in my backyard! No plastic floral foam ever. The wedding industry is extremely wasteful as a whole, my clients can be confident that their wedding flowers aren’t contributing to the problem.

I gravitate to flowers for reasons that turn some people off of them! I love that they die. I love that I can help people give gifts that don’t become a burden – like ugly sweaters you keep cause they were a Christmas present from you mom. In event work, the beauty of flowers sets the tone of the entire evening. Just like good food, you will remember being delighted by the colors, textures, and the way it made you feel. Flowers celebrate nature’s imperfect beauty and help us accept ourselves as mortal, beautiful, and flawed.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to build a life for myself and my family while being creative, having fun, getting my hands dirty!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We should support each other’s endeavors! Community over competition in your local market. Clients, if you’re happy with a creative service you received, tell a friend or the whole internet! And a big one going forward, don’t use AI to replace creative people and their work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.floralsbyheidicatherine.com
• Instagram: @floralsbyheidicatherine

Image Credits

My portrait photo is taken by Kathryn @wiitchfiingers , kathray.com

all others are by me.