Balancing school while running my small business has taught me so much about creativity, discipline, and staying inspired. I started designing simply because I loved art, and over time it grew into something I wanted to build a life around.
Let’s rewind to the beginning! Back in 2019, an empty building downtown was being renovated, and the owner—knowing I had a knack for all things creative—asked if I’d be interested in renting the space. After a quick conversation with my husband, we jumped headfirst into opening a retail gift shop called Blackboard Mercantile. I filled the shelves with products and brands I personally loved and wanted to bring to our small town. The shop was an absolute hit, and the community support was incredible!
At the time, I had two kids under six with flexible schedules, so I didn’t fully grasp how demanding a brick-and-mortar would be. We spent nearly all of our free time in that shop. We handled sales, marketing, merchandising, inventory, maintenance—you name it. As much as I cherish those days, things changed as my kids got older and travel sports filled our weekends. It became harder to give the storefront the time it needed.
Shifting Online & Finding a New Creative Path
The online side of the business was doing well, so we eventually made the tough choice to close the beautiful storefront and go fully online. Around that same time, rising costs of goods made wholesale buying more challenging. But something interesting happened: the products I designed featuring our hometown of Hillsboro were a huge hit. That sparked something in me. I felt a pull to explore digital art more deeply, and I loved the idea of creating products that were truly my own.
The funny part? I hadn’t taken an art class since junior high. I craved learning the principles of design in a real, structured way. After some late-night Googling, I found an online Art & Design program through Lindenwood University, and something in me said, “This is the next step.”
So here I am—taking things slow, learning as I go, and feeling more confident than ever that this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
