We recently connected with Maddy Eberhardt and have shared our conversation below.

Maddy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

“Nobody left behind”

I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, and a very stubborn eating disorder for as long as I can remember. For a long time, how weak and alone I felt completely dominated every single aspect of my life. I hit a very very low point and finally allowed myself to quit my job in order to start something of my own so I could start to get my mental and physical health under control. As I fight for my health, happiness, and safety, one of my main concerns is the health, happiness, and safety of the rest of the world. It’s my goal to make every single person that encounters my art and products feel as welcome, wanted, and seen as possible. Its important for people who feel stuck in a mindset or struggle that they are in to hear that growth and healing are possible. Just as I refuse to leave myself behind anymore, I want so much for anybody who feels like giving up to know that they are not alone :: NOBODY gets left behind.

Maddy, 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 am an artist. That’s not always an easy thing to define and especially not the way I do it. I work with many different mediums including but not limited to :: mugs, cups, keychains, acrylic paint, oil paint, vinyl, beads, string, and stickers.

Most products, digital pieces, and paintings have some sort of inspirational theme//message to remind people ((and myself))that bad moments aren’t bad days and bad days aren’t a bad life. There is nothing we can’t fix or change in our own lives if we have the courage to keep trying. I fully believe even the most bleak and desperate of times can become our absolute dream lives if we just keep pushing forward with self love, patience, and open minds.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I jumped into this whole thing completely blindly. Truly, I didn’t go to art school or anything like that, I just knew a little about working with my hands from random projects I attempted at home here and there and from my experiences working on sets, costumes, and lighting for various plays and musicals I was involved with.

I highly recommend following your gut and believing in yourself above all. Many people will tell you what you can’t do, many people will tell you what you’ll never achieve. You have to tell yourself that your dreams will not just be dreams.

When it comes to finding materials and beginning to manufacture your own products, you’ll have to do a lot of research. Don’t be afraid to watch how-to videos, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, don’t be afraid to ask anyone and everyone you encounter that you admire for advice.

As my Grandpa told me, “measure twice, cut once, and don’t let any ******* get in your way.”

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I landed a great job after college that spent three years promising promotions and raises that never came. I was absolutely miserable and working harder for them than I had ever worked, only to be continuously passed over for people with less experience that somehow needed my help to run things. I trained several new managers before realizing I would never officially get the title, paycheck, or respect myself and left to pursue my health and happiness.

I had been told from a very young age that what you do for work will define your adult life. You’ll spend a lot of time and energy in your future career so make sure even if your unhappy, it at least pays well.

I don’t disagree with this advice at all because money is a very real factor every single day for most of us, but its become abundantly clear very to me that I need a lot more than a salary to be happy. Money definitely buys happiness if you’ve got enough of it, but happiness needs to come first for me or the money means almost nothing at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.makingofmee.com
• Instagram: making_of_me_