I've been passionate about art for as long as I can remember, always doodling in the margins of notebooks, striving to be creative in every aspect of my life. I have been giving sketchbooks and artwork as gifts to friends for years, but it is only recently that I began selling them as a way to raise money for a trip to Cambodia in July. It started simply as a way to fundraise for the trip, but has grown into something I never thought possible.
Since becoming an artist myself, I have been more conscious of supporting local artists/entrepreneurs. I think that supporting artists allows you to see life in a different light.
I come from a background in freelance illustration specializing in pattern design, book covers, children’s books and editorial work. When I started selling my art prints and greeting cards at craft fairs and markets around Vancouver, I found immediate success and knew that this was something I needed to pursue. The joy I felt in sharing my illustrations through thoughtfully designed paper products inspired me to launch Linden Paper Co.
It all started in our kitchens! Like many people, we were creating our own DIY skincare products from ingredients found in our fridge or pantry, such as honey face masks, coconut body butters or moisturizing olive oil blends. These DIY products resonated with us, and many others, because they used ingredients that we can trust. With that sentiment of trust, we focused on formulating skincare products derived from food ingredients that are commonly safe to consume.
My art is my main source of fun, and creating things keeps me sane. Making things helps me to feel accomplished in my day because I was able to bring something to life. My husband is also in the creative industry and it affects the way we see the world around us, the way we notice colour, light, or just the beauty of everyday life and simple things.
As a child I would entertain myself for hours with a box of pencil crayons and a stack of paper. Also throughout my entire life I have never bought a greeting card. I have always illustrated my own hand made cards. That need to be creative has always been a part of me.
Both us have been painting for most of our lives. We often paint together on weekends. One day we were painting watercolour plants and just had an idea of buying some watercolour blank cards and see if people would be interested in buying them. We started it out at a local artisan market and people loved the cards.
I have always loved candles. I had a partner that was terminally ill and we eliminated all candles due to toxins, which I was pretty upset about but it needed to happen. I ended up doing a lot of research around the different kinds of wax. I then started tried out making my own and that’s where I started my company.
I remember myself painting and drawing from very small age - in kindergarten, then elementary school. One summer day during the school holidays when I was 10 years old, my mom came into my room. I was painting by myself, as usual, and she looked at me suspiciously and said: "Come on, get dressed. We are going to sign you up for art school!" This is how it all officially started.
