Today's meet the maker series is featuring Kate from Quiet Willow Signs. Kate and her husband started out with painted wood signs which is still primarily what they do, but since the summer they have expanded and launched a line of cake toppers and some wooden toys.
Do you have kids? If so how many & age?
We have a two year old daughter
Are you a stay at home mom? No, I’m actually a civil engineer, Quiet Willow is my side hustle and creative outlet
What is your favourite thing to do for yourself?
Treat myself to a latte and go window shopping for things I don’t really
need, but occasionally come home with
What is your favourite date night activity?
Dinner out at a good restaurant, can’t beat good conversation and good wine
What's one thing you couldn't live without?
Coffee
Who's your IG inspiration?
I love following so many small shops, seeing their creativity, passion and behind the scenes peaks at real life are so inspiring
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small stuff and stop over thinking things
Where is business located out of?
We run out of our home just outside of Fredericton, NB
How did you choose the name for your business?
My husband and I just started brainstorming about words we liked and things that made us happy. We both thought about the beautiful willow trees on the banks of the river in our city. We just started throwing around adjectives until we came up with Quiet Willow. Painting has always been something I found relaxing and Quiet Willow seemed to fit with that.
How do you balance having kids & running a business?
It’s a constant struggle honestly and I’m still figuring out how to fit everything in. Being present and focused on whatever the task at hand (whether that be working my day job, playing hide and go seek or painting for the shop) has helped make the most of my time. Where can people find your products?
In store in Fredericton, NB at Enchanted Woods Play Café or Jumping Jacks Children's Boutique, on Etsy or through Facebook or Instagram (send us a message if you’re looking for a custom sign or toy)
What advice can you give someone looking to start up their own business?
Find something your excited and passionate about and go for it!
What sets your business apart from others alike?
I think the level of customization we offer, a lot of business have standardized sizes and maybe even colours they’ll work with and while the signs we make for our stock all have a consistent look we are always up to go in a completely different direction for a custom piece. We always give clients a digital proof to approve before we start painting any custom order so they know exactly what to expect. I find working with people to make they’re design completely tailored to their preferences so rewarding.
What is the most challenging part of running your business?
Social media and time management
What does a typical day look like for you?
Wake up, rush to get ready for work and daycare, out the door…usually 10 minutes late, work a full day at my day job occasionally meeting a client to drop off a sign or doing a supply run at lunch hour, daycare pick up/drive home, get something pulled together for dinner, relax and enjoy time with our girl in the evening, bedtime routine for her and then once she’s in bed (when I should probably be cleaning) I paint.
Favourite song: that changes every week, but you can close your eyes by James Taylor holds a special place in my heart Dream Vacation: Anywhere on the coast of the Mediterranean, we visited Italy on our honeymoon and I’m dying to go back and explore more Dream Job: I’ve always wanted to be designer/architect (which is somewhat related to what I do now), but also a flower farmer/wedding venue operator/photographer/creator of beautiful things….I’m still trying to narrow it down Favourite Podcast: I’ve only just recently discovered podcasts (I don’t know where I’ve been for the last couple years) I listen to a bunch of things, most anything from CBC, RISE by Rachel Hollis, local ones like How to be more human by East Cost Chiropractic. I’m discovering more everyday, I love them! Dream Car: As long as it runs reliably it doesn’t matter to me too much…4 wheel drive would be nice for Canadian winters though Favourite Smell: chocolate cookies fresh from the oven Favourite item of clothing: a cozy grey sweater
Instagram: @quietwillowsigns
@Camara.Crew Stamp of Approval:
We received the colour matching peg people set from Quiet Willow Signs. Mason and Lily were so excited to open it up and started playing right away. I loved how Lily immediately started matching up the peg people with the coordinating bottom. Then her imagination expanded and she was pretending they were bottles, people, Paw Patrol Characters and so much more. It is amazing how something so simple, can challenge a child to use their imagination so wildly.
For Mason he took on the challenge of using his fine motor skills to place the peg people inside the wooden container. These pieces are quite small so I would no recommend allowing your children to play with them unattended. Mason did try to put them in his mouth but with a reminder stopped. It was just challenging enough for him to put the peg people inside the wooden containers. He sat and played with Lily the entire time. I look forward to using these to teach Mason his colours and letting his imagination run wild with them too!
The opportunities for play and exploration are endless with this set. They would make the perfect stocking stuffers for your little ones!
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