I have been drawing and painting off and on my whole life and have been working as a graphic designer for the past 25 years. When I was in college I took several painting classes. One of the classes I took was an oil painting class. I found myself painting with so much turpentine that it created an almost watercolor effect. It was then that I decided that I was a watercolorist. In the early 1990’s, I started creating individual greeting cards for the young women in my church for their birthdays. There were up to about 25 girls some years. One of my friends, who was a real fan of my cards, encouraged me to sell them.
In 1997, I started StellArt with the idea that I would sell the greeting cards, Bear Eloquence, that I had created. Egg Noodles was created in 2002. I had committed myself to go to the National Sationery Show in New York and had been trying to create some new cards to take. I hadn’t been able to think of anything. The show was about a month away and still I hadn’t thought of anything new. About three weeks before I needed to get on the plane, the dam broke after much prayer and the ideas started to flow. I painted, designed, layed out, and printed for about two weeks straight, with little sleep mind you, and was able to create 23 new cards from start to finish. The night before I needed to leave, I realized that I needed a new name for the line, since they were so different than my Bear Eloquence line. My daughter had cooked dinner for us that night and she suggested Egg Noodles. She said that “it was pretty random and that the cards were pretty random”. She drew the type and I created the images and Egg Noodles was born.
I have a wonderful family. It is a “Yours, Mine and Ours” family. My husband had two boys, I had 2 boys and a girl and we have one boy. The four oldest are now married and we have 13 grandchildren, 7 girls and 6 boys.
1. Why did you start your company and what was your motivation?
I had been creating individual Birthday cards for each of the young women in my church for their birthdays and was encouraged by my friends and family to sell them. Selling them also generated more motivation to create new ones.
2. Was there a niche' you wanted to fill?
When I created the Egg Noodle line it was shortly after 911 and I wanted to provide some encouragement cards with a little bit of humor as well as the normal occasion cards.
3. What do you like best about this industry and how long have you been in business?
I like creating something that makes someone laugh and/or feel good as well as the creativity of everyone else. I have been creating greeting cards to sell since about 1998.
4. Where do you get ideas for new cards? What is your inspiration for new art or ideas?
When I first started I would create the card with a specific person in mind and illustrate it with what he or she liked to do, an event in their life, etc. I often get inspiration for the Egg Noodle line from common sayings, friends, and family, then illustrate them in a simple, humerous way, often with a play on words.
5. Are you looking for ideas, new inspiration?
I would love to know what type of cards people would like; if there are any specific cards they need; any special sayings, thoughts, or greetings, anything that would help me create a better card.
6. How does your family or friends play a part in your company?
I receive many of my ideas from my family and friends as well as their suggestions on how to improve the cards. Many of the cards were originally created in response to specific situations.