The Story Behind InnerWhim
It started with a box of crayons.
Creativity has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother was an artist and writer, my father a musician. With music always playing in the background and a seemingly endless stash of art supplies, creativity was woven into daily life.
One of my earliest memories is of creating art that felt like it really mattered. It was a drawing I made for my grandmother called the "Huggy Kissy House." Lying near our cozy fireplace with a spankin’ new box of Crayola crayons, I began my masterpiece. The entire house was built from the words "hug" and "kiss," bringing it to life with bright colors and whimsical scenery. Man, I wish I still had it; perhaps I'll recreate it someday soon! I poured my whole heart into that piece, and she proudly talked of it and displayed it for many years. Seeing the continued joy it brought her was the first time I realized art could make a meaningful connection.
Following the creative path
That passion for creating led me to study art at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where I earned a B.A. in Studio Art with a minor in Psychology, later completing coursework in Graphic Design and Marketing. Together, those experiences shaped a career blending fine art, design and branding, primarily in the nonprofit sector.
I've learned the best creative work isn't just something to view, it can help people feel something. Over the years, my creativity has taken many forms. I painted a wide variety of whimsical murals for families and community spaces. A dream come true was creating murals for organizations like Make-A-Wish, a children's museum, and an entire daycare center. Alongside my mural work, I built a career in senior living, where I had the privilege of creating meaningful experiences for older adults before expanding into branding, publications, websites, and other creative work that helped strengthen those communities. I also had the joy of leading children's art classes, sharing the same love of creativity that first inspired me.
When everything changed...
I've spent much of my life feeling deeply. As an empath, I often experienced emotions intensely, both my own and those of the people around me. I always wondered if I was "too sensitive." Today, I see that sensitivity as one of my greatest strengths. Those feelings eventually found their way into my art during one of the most challenging moments of my life.
While waiting in the ICU during my husband's unexpected open-heart surgery, I turned to art as a way to process everything I was feeling while also trying to keep my mind off the extreme worry. At the time, I was completing an illustration assignment due the next day for one of my graphic design classes. What began as a class project and a distraction during hard times, unexpectedly became the foundation for my first character collection: Sweet Emotion Bakery. (Yes, the Aerosmith song was in my head when the idea originally hit!)
These sweet characters are among the first to emerge. My husband is a professional chef and baker, and my family of "foodies" made desserts feel like a fun and perfect way to explore emotions and connect with others through something comforting and a little whimsical.
While these characters hold a special place in my heart, they're just one expression of InnerWhim. I look forward to exploring new ideas, new collections, creative collaborations, and projects still waiting to be imagined.
Thank you for stepping inside the studio. I'm so glad you're here, and I can't wait to share what comes next!
