As many of you who have read my blog for a while know...I love featuring my favorite artists from Etsy. And today's post covers an artist who's work embodies all that I love about the ocean. Meet Heather from Simple Daisy.
Heather's blog was one of the first that I started reading on a regular basis...and her humorous, authentic and creative posts always kept me coming back for more. I just love how this Indiana girl reminds me so much of the quintessential California girl. When you read her blog - you would think she grew up on the shores of the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean...she just exudes that warm sunny beachy feeling and you really see it reflected in her work.
I recently purchased the Jamie bracelet from Simple Daisy's Etsy Shop....and just loved how she packages her jewelry. Her attention to detail is amazing and I couldn't help but feel the swoosh of the ocean breeze when I opened up the box.
Heather's always been a "water girl". She grew up with a pool and enjoyed boating on the local lakes...but it was when she was in 4th grade and visited Florida - that she fell in love with the ocean. "The color of the water, the sea life, the sunshine...I loved it all and I have ever since". Don't you see the inspiration she received way back when she was a little girl?
Heather works on many projects at the same time and loves to spread all of her "messes" everywhere. For those of you who visit her blog - you know the great studio she has.....
She has journals full of ideas...and her mind never stops thinking about all the possibilities to create. Her inspiration comes from everywhere as she is always looking at things through a creative lens, especially when she is outside enjoying nature. She loves the color of the ocean...driftwood, sand, rocks and once she starts working with these mediums, all kinds of ideas come into her mind.
Her passion for making things started at an early age, learning from her Grandparents. Her Grandpa was a home builder and when she was a little girl, she would take his prints and the JC Penney catalog and "design and decorate" her home. She would put all of her ideas into binders and just dream of the day when she would have her own home to decorate. Her Grandma sews beautifully and when she was growing up, Heather used to take all her leftover material scraps and try to make things.
So it's no surprise today that her house is full of pillows she made herself (although she says she is not that great at sewing..I bet she is)....and she loves to build out of scrap wood, having learned that from her Grandpa. It makes her so happy to be building in her basement workshop as it brings back wonderful memories of all the things he taught her.
Some of her most favorite projects are those that can be finished quickly, especially making wreaths and beachy signs. She loves decorating and makes things she can put in her home and is fearless about trying new things. Power tools, sewing machines, torches...whatever it takes to create...she's open and willing to try anything once.
When I asked Heather why she named her shop Simple Daisy, she said.."I decided on Simple Daisy because daisies are my very favorite summer flower and I like things to be simple and uncomplicated. One day when I was thinking about names...I knew I wanted something Daisy...and simple just entered my mind. I think that Simple Daisy very much describes me....A Simple Summer Girl". With a Happy Heart.
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| An Indiana Girl who's heart belongs at the Sea.... |
