Featured Artist Lauri of Straight from My Heart Greeting Cards

What a joy to be able to spend your life doing what you love! For Lauri, that is exactly what she has done.

From the time she was little, she waited for a chance to babysit and found her first passion….kids! She loved looking after them and finding fun ways to play and learn and was never afraid to try new things thanks to her parent’s encouragement.  This later led to her 37 year long career as a teacher in Georgia.  Never having any children of her own, she fueled her creative passion finding fun ways to for each child to learn.  This passion required long hours but her love for her job and “her” children made it all worthwhile.

When Lauri eventually retired she had to find a new creative outlet for her energies. One night, unable to sleep, she found herself watching a TV program about making greeting cards and that creative fire was lit.  Playing with color and pattern, Lauri knew that she had found her new passion!  What began as a few cards soon became a full line; everything from birthday to thank you to baby to invitations.  What an amazing idea, send each guest a different invitation rather than those impersonal stock ones from the stores.

Lauri was encouraged to try to sell her work by family and friends and Straight from my Heart was born.  Full of enthusiasm, she soon learned that selling, either in person or online, was a different world from her cozy craft area.  She did not, however, let this stand in her way!  She shows her work at a local gallery currently and is always willing to show off her portfolio to any shop owner with a space to fill.  Realizing that she needed to branch out, Lauri decided to give online selling a shot and our world is better for it!

While Lauri is still learning the ins and outs of online selling, she is still willing to offer some advice to new artists that are considering selling their own handmade work.  She tells others to follow their passion and create…then advertise yourself!  While approaching a shop or a new selling venue may be out of your comfort zone you may find that you love it and will have just made your comfort zone that much wider!

Are you ready to see what this talented lady who traded stacks of graded papers for stacks of beautiful cards can create?  You can find Lauri and Straight from My Heart Greeting Cards on HandmadeArtists as well as on her own Website.  I can’t wait until you feast your eyes on all the wonderful ways Lauri has made possible to send a little love to someone else.

Tags: baby shower, birthday, card, Handmade, paper, straightfrommyheartgreetingcards, thank you

Posted in Featured Vendor, Handmade Artisans