BY TARA AND CAILIN BURKE

Happy!

Today we’re featuring Bridget, of MadebyBettyB. We came upon her dreamcatchers on Instagram and were blown away. They are so gorgeous! We love how Bridget creates her own future and goes after her dreams. The fact that one day she just picked up a needle and thread and decided to start embroidering, without any prior embroidery skills, is a testament to both Bridget and the power of believing in yourself. When Cailin and I were little we always used to get cross-stitch kits at the craft store, but I always remember lettering being particularly difficult to do. It just goes to show that if you can set your mind to something, you can find a way to make it happen. Keep reading to daydream away while you gaze at MadebyBettyB’s awesome dreamcatchers and learn more about their creator!

: Explain what you do at MadebyBettyB?

: At MadebyBettyb I create the ability for good dreams. Dreams make up such a large part of our beginning life and only get more memorable as time goes on. Dreams are the driving force that keeps us going and pushing ourselves. I embroider and create unique dreamcatchers from vintage doilies.

: When did you start selling your pieces? Did it start out as a hobby?

: I started selling in December of last year, it did start as a hobby as my grandmother passed away and left me a huge amount of her jewelry and old linens. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to create from such pieces, as half of them were broken or unwearable, and it just occurred to me, dreamcatchers.

: Describe your design aesthetic?

: I create from the beauty of color! I love vintage, bohemian and cardigans. I love thrift store-sifting and handlettering. I love the outdoors but I love to watch a good Wes Anderson film or being curled up on the couch with a good book. So my aesthetic comes from all over.

: How did you learn how to embroider?

: One day I just picked up a needle and said, I can do this and did it. I embroidered the words You are Loved and that was it. I realized that in the hoop art world that people weren’t embroidering them and I created one with my grandmothers favorite saying and it was a big hit with friends and family… So I kept going.

: What caught your interest about dreamcatchers?

: My grandmothers name is Cubina Mahota, she is of Chickasaw decent and it was just one of those things I grew up learning, the art of Native American culture. I had a friend give me one for my birthday over 10 years ago and it is still there, reminding me of my grandmother every day.

: Have you created any pieces that you weren’t able to let go/kept for yourself?

: Yes. I have created quite a few with my grandmothers pieces that are impossible for me to give up. I also have created some that I have given to family members and friends I know who will cherish them.

: What inspires you?

: Life. Its as easy as life inspiring me. Everyday we wake up and we struggle to get by and we create or work when we don’t want to. We are forced into this daily lifestyle that I forbid to be apart of. I have worked my life to create an environment for myself that doesn’t involve uniforms or bosses. I am the boss, everyday I wake up and love my job and I work and in between my work I create dreamcatchers.

: What was the most memorable feedback you’ve ever gotten about your work?

: Someone once said, “I am absolutely blown away by every gorgeous detail of my custom dreamcatcher. She beautifully hand-embroidered a quote that is very special to my son and I onto the dreamcatcher and I couldn’t be happier with this keepsake for him. You can tell a whole lot of love go into each of these pieces, I absolutely recommend this shop.”

Because it is true, every piece I create with so much love as if I were going to keep it and hang it up on my own wall. I know I want quality and details into when I buy something custom and that is exactly what I want people to expect.

Actually it has been my most recent feedback.

: Where do you see your creative career going? Biggest dreams?

: I see myself really moving forward with my designs, I want to include embroidered posters and prints, I really want to push myself. I have picked up weaving and have completely fallen in love with it and creating round weaves to start offering dreamcatcher weavings, but that will be another few weeks of practice before I start working on them. Its something not being done and I would love to be able to combine the two arts.

: What challenges and successes have you gone through in running MadebyBettyB?

: Well I am a fulltime graphic designer so the balance of working and producing dreamcatchers is an everyday struggle. As far as successes I can say I have made some amazing friends in the crafty world that alone is the biggest success.

: Tell us a little bit about who you are.

: I am a freelance graphic designer and I sometimes work 5 hours a day and I sometimes work 15 hours a day. I create everything from logos to illustrations to web designs and everything in between. I recently got married to the love of my life and we have a super adorable rescued olde English bulldog named Ledger, after my accountant husband!

: Any advice?

: Stick with it! It takes months of dedication to become a small business owner. It takes 100 fails to get one thing right… everyday is a struggle for everyone! Always support Small business owners!