On Balancing Motherhood with Creative Work: Erin Inman of Blue Ink Moon
What does it look like to pursue your creative side-hustle alongside your daily professional and personal work? As we gear up for our fall craftHER Market Week, we’ll touch base with a few of our vendors to share their stories around the creation of their small businesses.
Today, we’re spotlighting Blue Ink Moon owner Erin Guevara-Inman, an Austin-based embroidery and ink artist. In this interview, Erin chatted with us about battling imposter syndrome, finding community through her art, and juggling motherhood with her creative side-hustle.
This interview has been conducted and compiled by Divina Ceniceros Dominguez.
Photo Credits: Erin Inman of Blue Ink Moon
MEET THE MAKER: Erin Guevara-Inman of Blue Ink Moon
In 2018, Erin launched Blue Ink Moon, an Etsy shop where she creates embroidered botanical designs with ink and fiber.
You can find over a dozen colorful botanical hoops, vinyl stickers and prints in Erin’s Etsy shop and on her Instagram.
When did you start your business?
I started Blue Ink Moon in 2018. I'm a fiber artist specializing in modern embroidery. I create botanical designs and minimal landscapes by using traditional stitching methods and a batik-like dyeing process with ink.
What motivated you to start?
I'm a stay-at-home parent for my two young children. I needed to supplement our income with a part-time job that allowed me to have a ton of flexibility. Selling my art seemed to be the (almost) perfect scenario for our family. I was also in a place in my life where I needed to push the edges of my comfort surrounding the creation and sharing of my art. I had always been mediocre in several mediums and wanted to concentrate and excel in one. I started dabbling in embroidery and quickly became obsessed. I haven't put down the needle and thread since.
Looking back, what were some challenges you experienced that you weren’t expecting?
Being a person who struggles with imposter syndrome, I knew that marketing myself would be a challenge, but I definitely had no idea just how difficult it would be. I've had to lean into my fear of vulnerability and learn how to trust the joy that comes with sharing my art with other people. I also cannot tell you how wonderful and uplifting the Austin makers' community can be. Sometimes you just need a little help from your friends.
Embroidered botanical hoops from Blue Ink Moon.
Embroidered botanical hoop from Blue Ink Moon.
Embroidered botanical hoops from Blue Ink Moon.
We’d love to hear more about your artistic process. :) How do you make things and get into a creative mindset?
I come from a long line of skilled gardeners, so botanicals are a natural subject that easily flowed from my hands. I practice drawing the flowers in my neighbor’s yard and the succulents on my window sill. Texas’s native plants are just so beautiful and unlike anything I had seen growing up in the Midwest, so much of my art is inspired by the local landscape here in Austin. Playing with color is what inspired my minimal landscape hoops. I love the simple lines and emphasis on hues that compliment each other.
As far as getting into the headspace of creating, I think the nature of being at home with two young kids makes way for creativity. So much of the work I do at home is never-ending. Laundry, dishes, cooking… at the end of the day, all I want to do is create beauty for beauty's sake. There's also a start and a finish to my art. It feels so satisfying to package up a hoop and send it off to its home. The headspace is a necessity to shape and grow other parts of my being.
Let’s talk about time management—how do you find work/life balance as a creative business owner?
Ha! Oh, this is a funny question. I'm not sure my life is exactly balanced. Life is very much mixed in with my work. I squeeze in work between school lessons, baths, naps, meals, bedtime. Everything is done in tiny spurts. One thing we did this year was dedicate an afternoon/evening for Blue Ink Moon. My partner made room in his schedule to come home early one day a week so I can have a concentrated block of time to work. It's been life-giving!
What are some of the key advantages and disadvantages to working on a side hustle versus working on your business full-time?
Working a side hustle allows me to pursue my other dream, which is being with my kiddos and creating a loving home for all of us. I hope that as my kids get older, I'll be able to concentrate more time on my business, but right now it's the perfect combination for us.
Embroidered landscape hoop from Blue Ink Moon.
Embroidered hoops from Blue Ink Moon.
Embroidered landscape hoop from Blue Ink Moon.
What’s been the most rewarding thing about owning your own business?
Showing my kids that their mom is a creative, strong woman of color has been an unexpected gift. Also finding community among other Austin makers has been a very lovely experience and one of my favorite things about living in this city.
How have you pivoted or adapted to the current COVID-19-related changes happening? What did this pandemic bring up for you?
It's been a real bummer, because a majority of my income comes from markets. My two biggest markets of the year were canceled, so I'm now trying to do more online content and finally figure out how to gather an audience on Etsy and Instagram. I suppose it was a good push to get out there on media platforms, but it's definitely been a challenge.
Is there any final advice or lessons you want to share with other women and nonbinary creatives that are looking to start their own business or take that leap from side hustle to full-time?
Just start. Small steps, lean into fear, don't be afraid to fail. Once you get your first "failure" under your belt, you'll realize that it's not nearly as scary as you thought it would be, and you'll gain confidence to keep moving. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to other makers! You'd be surprised at how many of us have the same challenges and insecurities, and while we may not have all the answers, we can definitely provide encouragement and levity.