Welcome back to our What Creativity Looks Like series. Every week this summer (and now fall!), I’ve been introducing you to some amazingly creative women. My hope is as you read these interviews and virtually meet these ladies, you’ll be inspired to create more in your own life.
Let’s get started!
What’s your name (and business name, if you have one)?
Hey! My name is Julie Fuller, and my shop name is Tokyo Blossom Boutique.
Tell us about YOU. How is your creativity expressed?
For me, creativity is a way of life. I’ve dabbled in a variety of arts, but I use paper and wool the most for my shop. I love getting to feel the the textures of the various fibers.
How did you get started in your creative practice? (“Practice” is just a fancy word for all the fun creative things you do. :))
When I was about 9 years old, I really struggled to focus in school and my daily activities. My mom sat me down and taught me to crochet to help channel that energy and focus on something productive. A year later, I taught myself to knit from a stack of vintage craft magazines that had belonged to my maternal grandmother. I had no idea that years later I would be using those skills to start my company!
What keeps you going?
Knowing that I’m not doing this alone makes all the difference for me. I am a solopreneur, so in that sense I do work alone, but surrounding myself with other entrepreneurs and supportive loved ones has really helped me to keep going even on some of the hardest days. We share our dreams, goals, and even pray together, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
What is your greatest joy?
Answered prayer. While creativity comes naturally for me, business has not. Over the last several years, I’ve have had to learn hard lessons along the way and ask the Lord to give me wisdom. I love seeing Him work things out along the way that I would have never been able to dream up or imagine.
What’s a “typical” day (or week) like for you? In other words, how do you incorporate creative projects into your life?
Because I am a mompreneur, a typical day varies quite a bit depending on what time of year it is. During the school year, I try to reserve the mornings before my son goes to school for creative projects we do together. We do everything from finger paints to melting those perle beads you melt with an iron. He loves it so much, and I love seeing his variation on whatever we happen to be working on. While he is at school, I generally work on things that I need to concentrate on, such as marketing or replying to emails, and nap time is when I get to be really creative. I pull out my inventory of wool and either knit products or design new ones that will eventually be introduced to my shop!
What would you say to someone who wants to be creative but can’t find the time?
I hear a lot of people say “I’m not creative” or “I don’t have time to be creative”, but I think that’s because sometimes we think creativity is going out and making some sort of masterpiece. Creativity isn’t just about a craft, it shows up in every aspect of our life. Some people are creative in how they put their outfit together this morning, while someone else might have gotten creative with dinner tonight.
What do YOU think creativity looks like?
Creativity is just adding a little extra imagination to what you already do.
I’m so glad Julie mentioned that creativity shows up in various ways in our lives. Maybe you’re not a fiber artist, but you are a creative person! That variety of what creativity looks like is what makes so much beauty in this world, don’t you think? Thanks so much for being part of this series, Julie! You can check out more of her beautiful work in her Tokyo Blossom Boutique shop on Etsy. 🙂
Have a lovely {and creative} day!
