Spotlight on a Sponsor.....{Kasiabear Designs}

So I {and you} can get to know my sponsors a little better, I've decided to do a 'feature interview' with each of the business/blog owners!! Today's SPOTLIGHT is on.....the lovely Kasia from Kasiabear Designs!

Tell us a little about your business/job:

Kasiabear Designs is still in its infancy and I am continually working on building the brand and stock. It is where my love of  photography, design, art, paint and kids intersect.  Kasiabear Designs is an eclectic mixture of screen printed t-shirts, design, art prints and handcrafted one of a kind clothing. 

What/Who inspires you?

The very few times I now drive in peak-hour traffic and see peoples sour faces as they head into work, or watch mothers drop their kids off to childcare and leave while they are still sad, upset and screaming, rather than staying those extra couple of minutes. Being able to do my grocery shopping during the day when the shops are almost empty is what drives me to build my business and work for myself. 

When I look at small businesses like Lil Blue Boo, Paint the Moon or artist Stephanie Corfee, and receive my little emails from Tara Gentile or Seth Godin, I get seriously inspired. These people do what they want, love what they do and are so ridiculously good at it.

So with examples like this around me, I strive to do what makes me smile both in my work and family life.  

What do you love most about what you do?

Its all the little things combined that make me love my little business. 

I am my own boss which I love.. I'm a pretty full on boss, but a boss that allows for the needs of family to come first. 

~ I love the flexibility

~ I love creating a new design while sitting on the couch chatting to my hubby

~ I love shopping for fabric with my little girl so she can pick out out what fabric she wants her next outfit made of.. 
~ I love being able to make a screen print to match a fabric she has picked out
~ I love making personalised tees

What has been the highlight so far since starting your business?

Two highlights really stand out.. first being featured in "handmade living - a designer collective" and second, getting my first order from someone I've never met in America.

Explain a 'normal' day in your life:

oh dear.. here goes.. 

my day starts between 5am-6am each day..

~ wake up.. usually with the help from my little man..

~ put the kettle on

~ make breakfast for everyone

~ make lunch for my hubby

~ dress the kids

~ jump in the shower

mumma's taxi sign.. engage..

~ drop kids off if they are at childcare or drop ella off to kindy then zaccy off at cc

~ pilates

~ grocery store.. for top up

~ bank

~ post office box

~ quick tidy of house

~ put on a load of washing

~ check email

~ hang out washing

~ work on orders

~ list new items on etsy

~ take down washing

~ pick ella up from kinder

~ make dinner

~ pick zac up

~ have dinner with kiddos

~ bath kiddos

~ hang out with kiddos while they have their milk

~ read kiddos bedtime stories

~ clean up after dinner

~ put away laundry

~ sit down and work on new designs

~ blog 

~ hang out with hubby

~ sleep part 1

~ 2am feed

~ sleep part 2

On the kiddos are home, the work part gets scrapped and replaced with gardening.. doctors appointments..playground visits.. mums group.. and I try to get in an hour in the evenings to check emails and blog.. 

Your Favourite Quote/Motto:

do what you love ~ love what you do

What are your goals for 'Kasiabear Designs' where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Wow!! I've been thinking a lot about this recently.. 

The kids will both be at school at this stage so I will have a regular pocket of time to spend working. 

I aim to have my website set up which includes an online shop and blog.

The areas I want to focus on and establish are:

~ Photo Art Prints

~ Custom invitations, birth announcement cards, greeting cards and name prints

~ Screen printed tees

~ Eclectic OOAK clothing pieces which include a lot of recycled fabric and are made from my own patterns which I am currently working on.

~ Free printables and downloads section for designs that didn't quite make the kasiabear store but others might love.. cyber recycling type concept..  

Do you blog? If so, why do you blog & What do you blog about?

Yes.. I'm somewhat addicted.. 

My blog started in august 2009 when I was going through PND as a place to write and focus on what I loved about motherhood.. It started off being called 'the love of motherhood'. 

When kasiabear started and PND subsided it shifted to a place where I write about all aspects of my life including motherhood, art, craft, my reno projects, photography.. everything I love really. My blog is now called 'kasiabear.. A little bit of me' and it truly is a collection of little snippets of my life. 

I love the blogging community and I'm here to stay.. 

3 Things you are:
Self Motivated.. if only I didn't need to sleep... if only.. 

Impatient.. one thing I really need to work on.. 

Caring.. when someone needs me.. most things get shoved to the side.. 

3 Things you aren't:

Negative.. I'm a bit of an optimist and I cant stand negative people around me.. 

Athlete.. in fact far from it.. but this year i'm trying to move a little bit more.. 

A pilot.. I always wanted to be a pilot when I grew up.. maybe in the next life.. 

Anything else you'd like to share with my readers:

Thanks so much for this interview Claire.. it was fun!! And thanks to everyone for reading through it.. 

And some of Kasia's GORGEOUS tee designs:

Thank you Kasia for supporting my business & blog!

You can support KasiaBear by heading to her BLOG, Facebook or ETSY store.

Comments

[Maxabella]

Thanks Claire, I LOVE Kasia and it's so fun to learn more about her and her business. She is definitely 'on my list'. x

[Samantha]

Whoa, she fits so much into 1 day. I envy her energy :-)
I love those strawberry tees.