FEATURE: Julie Wylie of whimsyandwild
I am so excited to share with you our first ever featured creative who gave us her time to be part of BLOG WITH LOVE's Featured Creative Series.
With all the talented artists out there, I am amazed by Julie's artwork with her witty and tasteful take on hand lettering and illustration. She started her Etsy shop not too long ago, but she has already captured the hearts of many customers who keep coming back longing for her whimsical style.
It's such an honor to introduce to you all, Julie Wylie of Whimsy and Wild. Read on and be inspired ...
Can you give a little background about yourself?
I am 23, born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI but now living in Belding, MI with my husband, Nicholas. I attended business school for a year before switching to art school (focus in illustration). I learned a lot in 1.5 years of art school, but I ultimately decided school really isn't for me, and I left to pursue this path on my own. In my free time, I love to hang out with my husband and our two dogs, Penelope and Suzie. We are currently fixing up a 150+ year old house that we inherited from my husband's grandparents. It has been a long, hard road (that is far from over) but it's finally starting to feel more like home each day. I really love plants and want to fill my home with them! I like relaxing and watching Netflix, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with my family. I love coffee dates with friends. I have made it a goal to live my life slowly and to enjoy each moment I'm in.
Can you give our readers an overview of your Company / Brand and tell us how it started?
Whimsy and Wild is a stationery and paper goods brand with a focus on hand lettering and illustration. I started Whimsy and Wild in 2014 after long wanting to open up my own shop. I love snail mail and handwritten letters, and I really want to help keep that movement alive with beautiful designs and thoughtful paper goods that people can give to those who mean the most to them.
The goal of Blog With Love's Featured Creative Series is to spread inspiration to everyone with the same passion and craft, where do you get your inspiration from?
Generally speaking, I am influenced by life. More specifically, I'm heavily influenced by neutral colors and simple/modern design currently. Nature is also a big inspiration of mine, and I'm currently working on bringing more of that inspiration into my work. In terms of where I collect inspiration, I really enjoy looking at a wide range of photos on both Instagram and Pinterest. There are so many beautiful things in this world begging to be seen, and I want to see them all. This year, I also want to focus on spending more time out in the world to really collect inspiration from nature firsthand.
Do you have favorite tools that you use on a daily basis that you cannot live without?
My lettering pens/pencils, basic printer paper, computer, Photoshop, and Bamboo tablet are my top tools. I also love my LightPad which is perfect for tracing designs or working in layers. And I'm a big fan of my Day Designer to keep track of all of my to-dos!
Can you give us a peek of your average workday?
Honestly, right now every single day is different. I don't have a set routine which is a little rough, and I look forward to creating one when my life is a little more routine itself. However, I always start my day with a good breakfast and from there I'm either working on new designs, posting to social media, emailing, or packaging orders!
Do you have new projects or products you are working on right now that you’d like to share to our readers?
Right now I'm working on some new card designs to be added to my line for spring/summer. I'm also trying to amp up my game in terms of products outside of greeting cards, so I'd love to add more notepads and prints moving forward.
Blog With Love’s Mantra is "Do What You Love, Love What You Do”, what is your personal mantra?
I have two (the first of which is tattooed on my arm): "Happiness only real when shared." It's from one of my favorite movies, Into the Wild, which is based on a true story. I won't go into detail on what it's about (I totally recommend you check it out if you haven't!), but basically this man learns that the happiness in his life is only real when he shares it with others. My interpretation is basically that: I am meant to share my happiness with my loved ones who really fulfill my life. Without them, my happiness wouldn't feel whole. My second mantra is "This above all: to thine own self be true." which is a quote from Shakespeare that has always resonated with me. I have long been an advocate of doing what you love and nothing less, and I firmly believe you should live a life you really want to be living. At the end of the day, it is your life and you are the one who has to live it, so do it the way you want to.
If you were going to give one final advice to our readers, what would it be?
Find something you're passionate about and focus on that. It doesn't even have to be work related, just give attention to the things in your life that matter the most to you. People are always waiting to do things later, but the fact of the matter is that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Live your life right now. Even if things aren't the exact way you wish them to be, embrace this moment. Be here now.
Thank you so much, Julie! Thanks for sharing your inspiring story with us today.
Follow along and be inspired by all other creatives I have on my line-up coming up on BLOG WITH LOVE. Next month's featured creative is Jella Roson Woodward of Honey My Heart.
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