Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Dickson.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started my small business 6 years ago. As a military wife, a new mom, and having relocated across the country and away from family, I needed a creative outlet that inspired and motivated me. I chose to lean into the fiber arts which include weaving, felting, embroidering, spinning yarn, and knitting.
Over time my specialty has become embroidered and felted portrait artwork.
Each human on this planet is beautiful and unique and I absolutely love capturing that in each piece I create. My little family is no longer in the military, my daughter is no longer a baby, and moved back west much closer to family, but I continue to explore and express myself with my woven and embroidered artwork.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing a small business as an artist is a lot of work and a slow process. Marketing through social media and local pop-up shows can be a rollercoaster.
It can be tricky to find the right audience who appreciates the value of handmade, original art. When my clients do find me, I know they are my people and I adore working with them and sharing my talents.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in the fiber arts. My artwork ranges from weaving, felting, and embroidery. I use one or a combination of these techniques to create wall art and sometimes throw pillows and jewelry.
I love combining felting and free-motion machine embroidery to create portraits of people, pets, and bouquets. The lines, textures, and colors create a unique and interesting style. As I’m creating my artwork I feel like I’m drawing with my sewing machine and painting with wool.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I do not consider myself a risk-taker, but in reality, any entrepreneur must be willing to take some risks so I guess that puts me in the middle category. I believe that you have to put yourself out there and try if you want to succeed. If you don’t take any risks then you have nothing to lose and you also have nothing to gain.
Personally, every risk I take is evaluated and calculated. I always weigh the possible worst and best-case scenarios before taking new risks. And there are always surprises so that keeps it fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurakdickson.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lauradicksonstudio
