We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stacy Kenny Mitchell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stacy, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve been on an artistic path since I could pick up a crayon. Pursuing that professionally took a bit longer. I considered going to art school, but felt I’d miss academics too much (I love math). I have a degree in English literature from Bryn Mawr College, which definitely helped me to write better, and I looked for creative opportunities so I wouldn’t loose touch with my artistic side. From there I kept flip-flopping between jobs that were tangentially creative and full-on creative, never quite finding the right balance.

In 2000, I opened a quilt shop, leaving a fairly lucrative but unfulfilling computer consulting gig. To sit and sew all day, create quilt patterns, and help others choose just the right fabrics for the project – nirvana! At least until the business of running a quilt shop overshadowed the creative part. But I stuck with it for 16 years until I felt it was sucking more from me that it was giving.

I wanted the freedom to create what I wanted to create. I turned to surface pattern design. I love it! I have my own line of stationery that I launched last year. The artistic side of me gets to create nearly every day, and the entrepreneurial side gets to develop a business that sells wholesale and online retail. I control the balance. And I finally feel I can legitimately call myself an artist.

Stacy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist, author, and entrepreneur. A life-long artist and crafter, I create patterns and designs for stationery, embroidery, fabric, home goods, and accessories. I also love to help other crafters and artists learn new skills.

I’ve been making and selling things since I was 10 years old when I made felt Christmas ornaments and sold them to teachers at school. I knit, sew, crochet, quilt, embroider, weave, and make lace. I love to learn new crafts – and design for them. I’ve had knitting patterns published in national magazines. I’ve published quilt, sewing, and embroidery patterns.

As an artist, I’ve dabbled in acrylics, watercolors, and mixed media. I’m happiest creating digitally in Adobe Illustrator. It’s such a powerful tool and I enjoy exploring the ways I can use it to create what I imagine. It can also be intimidating to learn, so I recently launched a Design Confidence Membership to help surface pattern designers master Adobe Illustrator and hone their design skills.

I use my own designs on my line of stationery I launched last year. I’ve always loved stationery – all the pretty prints and designs, like tiny works of art. Because most of my cards and notecards are blank inside, I compiled The Little Book of Nice Things to Say. It’s a tiny handmade book of messages one can write inside a card. I include one with each set of notecards. Individual cards get a sheet of message suggestions included, appropriate for the theme of the card. I have found that many people don’t know quite what to say when they need to send a card or note to someone, and I thought this would be a good way to give them a starting point.

That explains the artist and entrepreneur aspect, but what about the author? I’ve self-published a few books. A couple on positive affirmations (Positive Affirmations: Change Your Mindset. Change Your Life and Positive Affirmations for Teachers). Last year I published my first non-fiction book: Clear the Heir, A Montgomery Sisters Cozy Mystery. The second in the series is in the works. All the titles are available on Amazon.

I love the idea of spreading joy and positivity. I want people to associate happy, positive vibes when they see my art, send my cards, and read my books.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Positivity and happiness. For a brief time I was a Health and Happiness Coach, helping people not only live a healthier lifestyle but also a happier one. I was working on myself as much as helping others. As I pivoted to more creative endeavors, I carried the positive philosophy with me and it shows in my work. One of my most successful designs when I started surface design incorporated the saying “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” My hope is that my designs can help spread a little joy and kindness and positivity in the world.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron has helped me tremendously in shifting my mindset about art and artists. It gave me confidence and power to proudly say, “I’m an artist” and get past the “starving artist” or “hobby artist” mentality. I went through the book several years ago, and am currently hosting an Artist’s Way workshop online (with plans to offer it again next year).

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan which helped me prioritize what actions will have the bigger and better impact on my journey.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek which helped me shift my mindset from the what of something to the why and how I could use solving for why to better connect with my customers/audience. Besides the book, there is a Ted Talk by Simon Sinek on this theme.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://StacyCreatesStuff.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacymitchellcreates/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacycreatesstuff
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/stacymitchellsuccess/
• Youtube: https://bit.ly/StacyCreatesStuff-YouTube
• Other: I just joined Threads (@stacymitchellcreates)!