It’s September – my month of refresh. Just as I need a bit of a reset so does my stationery collection. That’s where Whimsy + Wild’s sweet cards come in. They’re pretty and cheery and bound to make your penpals smile. With cooler nights and earlier sunsets I’m finding more and more time to add letter writing to my evening routine. You too?
Julie of Whimsy + Wild shares some of her background >
Where do you live?
I live in Belding, Michigan which is a small city about 40 minutes NE of Grand Rapids (where I’m originally from)! There isn’t a lot here, but I’m grateful for a good coffee shop around the corner and the slowness of a smaller town.
How did you start Whimsy + Wild?
I always thought about starting up a shop of my own because I’ve been very interested in art throughout my life and working for myself felt right. My husband and I temporarily moved to Arizona for his schooling, and while there I started learning hand lettering + became infatuated with stationery and paper. I originally thought about getting into wedding stationery but quickly decided I loved creating products more—I personally love the freedom of creating exactly what I want to make. When we arrived home I started planning for my online shop, and the following spring I finally opened it up!
What are you reading?
I recently started The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. I’ve always wanted to be a bit more of an early riser because I love slow mornings, and I started taking small steps earlier this year to make that a reality.
Where do you live?
I live in Belding, Michigan which is a small city about 40 minutes NE of Grand Rapids (where I’m originally from)! There isn’t a lot here, but I’m grateful for a good coffee shop around the corner and the slowness of a smaller town.
How did you start Whimsy + Wild?
I always thought about starting up a shop of my own because I’ve been very interested in art throughout my life and working for myself felt right. My husband and I temporarily moved to Arizona for his schooling, and while there I started learning hand lettering + became infatuated with stationery and paper. I originally thought about getting into wedding stationery but quickly decided I loved creating products more—I personally love the freedom of creating exactly what I want to make. When we arrived home I started planning for my online shop, and the following spring I finally opened it up!
What are you reading?
I recently started The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. I’ve always wanted to be a bit more of an early riser because I love slow mornings, and I started taking small steps earlier this year to make that a reality.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m a pretty big homebody, so in my spare time you’ll often find me at home hanging out with my husband and our two dogs, probably watching something on Netflix. And on Sundays, my family always gets together to hang out. I really enjoy simple pleasures like that, spending time with the people I love. I also love grabbing coffee and chatting with close friends. And I’ve been trying to get out more and enjoy nature, even just on walks, because I don’t do it as much as I’d like to!
I’m a pretty big homebody, so in my spare time you’ll often find me at home hanging out with my husband and our two dogs, probably watching something on Netflix. And on Sundays, my family always gets together to hang out. I really enjoy simple pleasures like that, spending time with the people I love. I also love grabbing coffee and chatting with close friends. And I’ve been trying to get out more and enjoy nature, even just on walks, because I don’t do it as much as I’d like to!
Where did you last travel?
I recently went on a small camping trip with family just an hour north of my home, but it was so nice to get away for a short time and relax. I’ve been itching to have a little getaway with my husband somewhere further north in Michigan because I just love this state so much, and I think it’d be nice for the two of us to slow down and get into nature.
What are your influences/inspiration?
I’m deeply inspired by nature—particularly sunlight, water and flora. I’m often noticing the way the sunlight is dancing through my windows or shining through leaves. I’ve also noticed more recently how inspired I am by the water and being near it—how it moves and how the light hits it. These give me a really good feeling, and the resulting happiness is very inspiring for me. And of course, I love flora of all types, and I’ve been trying to incorporate more of that into my work this year. I’ve always been an admirer of the little things in life, and I find myself very inspired by them in my everyday life.
My work in particular is also inspired by simple designs and minimal colors. I love trying to convey something using such limited means—it can be challenging at times, but also fun to see what I can create with them.
What's your favourite podcast?
I’m not a huge podcast listener… I’ve tried to be, but I’m so bad at it! I would be listening while trying to work and realize minutes later that I had not actually heard what they said. However, I do still try to listen when I’m doing work that doesn’t require a lot of thought, so I can focus on the podcast. The new Proof to Product podcast from Katie Hunt of Tradeshow Bootcamp is amazing — she interviews business owners and it’s so inspiring to hear about their processes, inspirations, struggles and achievements!
I recently went on a small camping trip with family just an hour north of my home, but it was so nice to get away for a short time and relax. I’ve been itching to have a little getaway with my husband somewhere further north in Michigan because I just love this state so much, and I think it’d be nice for the two of us to slow down and get into nature.
What are your influences/inspiration?
I’m deeply inspired by nature—particularly sunlight, water and flora. I’m often noticing the way the sunlight is dancing through my windows or shining through leaves. I’ve also noticed more recently how inspired I am by the water and being near it—how it moves and how the light hits it. These give me a really good feeling, and the resulting happiness is very inspiring for me. And of course, I love flora of all types, and I’ve been trying to incorporate more of that into my work this year. I’ve always been an admirer of the little things in life, and I find myself very inspired by them in my everyday life.
My work in particular is also inspired by simple designs and minimal colors. I love trying to convey something using such limited means—it can be challenging at times, but also fun to see what I can create with them.
What's your favourite podcast?
I’m not a huge podcast listener… I’ve tried to be, but I’m so bad at it! I would be listening while trying to work and realize minutes later that I had not actually heard what they said. However, I do still try to listen when I’m doing work that doesn’t require a lot of thought, so I can focus on the podcast. The new Proof to Product podcast from Katie Hunt of Tradeshow Bootcamp is amazing — she interviews business owners and it’s so inspiring to hear about their processes, inspirations, struggles and achievements!
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