Etsy shop find...a chat with Tuesday Schmidt!

I've got a corker of an etsy interview for you today; the amazing work of  Tuesday Schmidt 

Tuesday is a super talented illustrator and I adore her work.
She has a lovely style and the storytelling within her artwork is great.
I particularly like her 'very important ballet moves' print and 'lets make pancakes', sooo yummy!
Pop on over to her etsy shop and take a look at her website too!

They'd make great Christmas pressies for your little folk.

So, lets get to know Tuesday...

1. Can you tell us a bit about you and your background…

I currently live and work in Kansas City, Missouri. 
I am a designer and illustrator for Hallmark Cards Inc. 
When I'm not working, I love, love, love making fun stuff for little people. 
I particularly love making patterns for decor and textiles and quirky artwork for their rooms.
My career path is a little unconventional. Especially for the field I'm employed in. 
I went to a few different colleges and graduated with a degree in Intaglio Printmaking. Which translates to : cool old way to make prints from metal plates-but not a cool way to get a job or make money. 
I ended up where I am because I was constantly working, making things, networking and putting myself out there. I was lucky enough to have people who liked my work steer me in the directions I needed to go. 
My first real job was for K&Company designing all those cool scrapbooking papers and journals. Years later I left to go to Hallmark. I get to work in one of the largest creative communities and draw all darn day. 
The irony is, I have never even taken an illustration class once in my life and it's basically what I do for a living. 
So, if ya love something and do it non-stop, the planets are bound to align. 

2. Do you have any design heroes, and what keeps you inspired?

As I mentioned, I work in a very large creative community. 
I am inspired daily by artists I work with. 
But outside of that community, my favorite artist is Oliver Jeffers. 
I love everything he does. I'm incredibly inspired by storytelling-especially children's books. 
I have a daughter and I may have more children's books than she does. But I'm nice and share them with her.

3. Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

I usually get ideas before I fall asleep at night. I joke that it's the curse of a creative mind. Never stops! 
But then I'm usually excited the next day and feverishly sketch out the idea. 
This happens all the time and sadly, since there are a lot of ideas that come-not all of them get to make it into the world. 
I seriously have like 10 projects, unfinished, tucked away in my office. Which makes me sad but I'd need to employee a factory to make all those abandoned ideas come to life. Lately my creative process has entailed me cranking away at my computer listening to hours and hours of podcasts and audio books. And coffee. Lots of coffee.

4. What books/ magazines are currently on your coffee table?

I have a toddler. There's nothing on my coffee table. 
Oh, how I miss art books and magazines. 
We have children's books around here these days. And my very favorite is Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown. I love it so much. I also love Jon Klaussen books. 
And the Baby Lit books. So good.

5. What makes you laugh?

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. I've joked that Tina Fey is my spirit animal. Only I'm not joking. That woman is a hilarious genius.

6. Describe yourself in 10 words or less…

Look at that hot mess making stuff--but mainly messes. 
That sums it up. 
And it's exactly ten words. 
Yes!!!

7. What are your ‘big loves’ and what’s the first thing you think about when you wake up?

My big loves are my little girl, my super cute husband, my monster mutt dogs, horrible spring storms, snowy winters, Christmas night, the mountains ( but not driving on mountain roads--death traps), French food and making things that make people happy. Oh, and dark chocolate. That's a no-brainer.

8. Tell us about a typical day for you…

I wake up to a baby bouncing happily in her bed. I work part time, so if I'm going to work it's a mad-dash to get this whole family out the door. I hit the cafe at work, grab my coffee, get to my desk and plug in. 
I typically browse Pinterest and blogs to start off. Then I get to work. I draw and design all day and have lunch with my funny girlfriends pretty much every day. At the end of the day I head home, get my baby, have dinner with my family. Then I play with my daughter and read her stories. When she's asleep I run a few miles, then snuggle on my couch and watch a show while drawing. Then I try to go to bed and get bombarded with 1000 new ideas. 
On the days I don't work I'm home playing with my daughter pretty much all day. I'm very lucky that I get the best of both worlds.

9. Whats the best thing about being an illustrator?

I love making up people or characters. That is fun stuff. And I get to drink coffee and listen to creative stories on podcasts while I do it. It's an entertaining gig.

 10. What is your favourite piece for sale in your shop?

I love "Let's Go Canoeing." The little buffalo in the canoe with canoeing supplies. I love buffaloes. And canoeing. So he makes me happy. I just recently added a few Fancy Girl wall hangings. Those were so fun to make. And they're super girly, which I surprisingly love. 

11. Do you regularly read any blogs? If so, what are your top three?

 I do. I love Pinterest but I think that has kinda stolen thunder from the blogs. I love Pikaland, 100 Layer Cakelet, Lay Baby Lay, The Boo And The Boy, Designlovefest.

(All above images are copyright of Tuesday Schmidt)

Thanks to Tuesday for taking some time out to share a bit of her world with us!
You can follow her here:

pinterest | facebook | website | etsy | blog

x x x