Jen of Squiddy Design Co. has created a beautiful biz created by combining her own love of upcycling and succulents, with her sons’ love of dinosaurs! The result is a colourful and quirky collection of animal planters, troll planters and children’s lamps. We caught up with her this week to chat about how she manages the craziness of motherhood that comes with raising two boys, with running her own handmade business…
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m a 30 something, Melbourne bayside-residing mother of 2 boys Alby & Madden (2 and 1). Self confessed succulent addict. Lover of upcycling and spending my very rare ‘Mummy Time’ at op shops to find treasures.
How did you get started with your biz?
My partner was FIFO for a couple of years which meant in between my eldest sleeping as a infant I had a little bit of time on my hands and I was wanting to use that creatively. I’m naturally a crafty person.
My two boys absolutely LOVE dinosaurs and I love my succies. I made a sensory dino garden for my eldest who is autistic. It was such a great success that I did some for friends and the rest is history.
What (or who) are your biggest influences?
Everyday living, patterns and colours.
As a biz mum, do you experience mum guilt and how do you tackle that?
This is something I struggle with every. single. day.
Being a parent to child with special needs is pretty full on as is at the best of times stressful and chaotic. When I combine that with also having to share my attention with a 1 year old who has just started walking… I’m surprised I haven’t lost all my hair!
All my work needs to be done once the kids are asleep, that often means long nights or usually I get up fairly early in the morning and try and get it all sorted before the craziness begins for the day.
Busy, Messy, Chaotic.
What does your workstation look like? (share a photo if you’re brave enough!)
Eeep! We are in the middle of renovations so most of my work is completed in the kitchen as its the only place in the house I can fence off from the kids! Think Chaotic Dino-World with everything EVERYWHERE 😉
Give me your best kid distraction strategy:
TV. We have 2 kids obsessed with Lightning McQueen. The amount of times we have ‘seen’ this movie… However I am forever catching myself saying ‘Oh I haven’t seen this before’.
Most embarrassing moment as a mum, or in your biz?
Hmm lets see my courier driver telling me I look like a different person in clothes… I just didn’t make eye contact, did this weird nervous ‘oh haha’, shut the front door and realised he has only seen me in my PJ’s for 6 months. What can I say… I’m one of those ‘Hot Mess’ mums!
What are you most proud of achieving biz wise?
Staying in business. It’s a tough gig! Being a SAHM and having a business. You attain what I would consider semi super powers to get everything completed, but you know what?
It is so worth it. I am eternally grateful to have the opportunity to be able to do something that I love and be able to use it for good. Feedback from customers and seeing kids faces at Markets I attend makes it all worth it.
What are your big goals for the next 12 months?
To be stocked in bricks and mortar stores would be excellent. The ultimate for me.
Exclusive reader offer
Jen is offering Nestling Collective readers 10% off all purchases (including custom orders) from Squiddy Design Co. – just use the code NESTLERS at checkout!
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