I’m very honored to have Anna Smith guest posting for me today. Anna is the owner and head designer of Busy Day Studio, a handmade home decor and baby boutique, based in Greensboro, NC. Anna is extremely talented (her sewing skills and story are an inspiration!), and her creations are so adorable, unique and heartfelt.
She has collaborated with Saltbox, among others, and her creations can currently be found at Daisy’s Designer Alley in Greensboro, NC.
Okay – Take it away, Anna!
A Little Background
I graduated in 2001 with a degree in Interior Architecture and my specialty is kitchen and bath design. So, what does a degree in Interior Architecture mean? I asked myself that same question many times. It’s not quite interior design and it’s not quite Architecture. It’s a mix of many things two of these being product and furniture design. In design school I quickly gravitated to these two areas. I took as many studio classes as I could that featured product and furniture design. Later in college I had an internship with a construction company and found a third love, construction. The designer that I worked with specialized in kitchen and bath design. JOCKPOT!! This combined product and furniture design and construction all in one package.
Fast forward ten years, one marriage, two kids, three companies, a bad economy and it was time to reinvent myself and my career. During a trip to the home and gift show in Atlanta my love for product design was stirred up again. But, what product? Lying in bed one night it hit me. I would start with pillows. After all, it’s what I know. So, here I go to the store with vague idea and a passion. I started with a pillow and a blanket that I donated to a Habitat for Humanity event I was involved in. I also put a few in the design shop where I was working. Later that year, I used a connection I had with a showroom at the High Point furniture market and designed a line that was featured in CR Laine’s spring showroom. After a very successful three markets it was time to branch out and have a place to show my work and sell long term. I rented a booth and started making pillows like mad. Simple, right? I definitely could not do what I do today without the experience I gained from my varied background in construction, design and retail.
So, that’s how I got to where I am today.
The Creative Process
I get inspiration from many places, such as magazines, websites, packaging, my kids, everyday objects and places, just to name a few. I love fabric and color. I love textures, patterns and dimensions. I am always on the lookout for objects I can use in different ways. Sometimes I start with one of the found objects and have a very specific design in mind. For example, I found some pots made of wood and had my husband cut hem in half. I then appliquéd them to a pillow and made flowers out of felt coming out of the pot. Sometimes it’s not that easy. I start with a base fabric and pull in coordinating felt, buttons and my patterns. As I am playing around with the arrangements a design will begin to form.
My Design Style
I would definitely say that my design style has dramatically changed over the last few years. It varies from simple, sophisticated, clean lines to whimsical and fun. Sometimes it’s a little bit of everything all rolled into one. The one constant is color. I love color! (Growing up with an artist as a mother and being surrounded by color my entire life how could it not rub off). As much as I love and use color it always needs to be balanced. Neutrals are as much a part of my style as color. Every once in a while I will throw a curve ball and design something entirely with neutrals. That usually doesn’t last long and I am craving color again.
Handmade
Lastly, I really wanted to offer my clients handmade products. Growing up, I remember helping my grandmother make quilts. I treasure them now. There is something to be said about someone making something by hand. In this day and age of disposable everything and mass production it really sets my products apart from the crowd. They are all one of a kind, small works of art. Even if I make the same item again no two will ever be exactly the same. You are definitely not going to see the same thing in every house in your neighborhood or on every kid at your kid’s school.
That is pretty much everything in a nutshell. I want my clients to enjoy their products as much as I enjoy making them. I never truly understood the saying “if you love what you do you will never work a day” until I started this business. I could stay in my studio and design all day (and some days I do). It is more than a business it’s a passion, a passion to design the next thing. Whether it’s pillows, bedding, quilts, or clothing I am always thinking and dreaming up the next design and can’t wait to watch it all come together.
Visit Anna :: Booth at Daisy’s Designer Alley / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Linking up with Still Being Molly, Rolled Up Pretty and Because Shanna Said So.
This post is part of the Promote Local / Small series on this blog, which I created simply to encourage other small businesses like mine. It’s a privilege to share the work of other creatives I admire / support. Find more Promote Local / Small posts here: Promote Local / Small.