Interrogation::: Heidi {Row House 14}

Hello Again!

Our featured sponsor this month is Heidi from Row House 14 who you have all met a couple times now. She is seriously super cool and sweet {alliteration much?}. Make sure you stop by her blog and shop to say hi!

1. Tell us a little bit about you as a person.

   I live in Baltimore with my fiance and our chocolate lab and orange tabby in an old historic row house. I teach middle school kids in Baltimore during the day and run my small business and blog in the evenings. I love great food, traveling, music, art, and coffee. Before I became a teacher, I was a barista for about seven years so I still want to open my own coffeehouse some day.

2. Tell us how/why you started Row House 14

   My fiance and I were in Washington, DC for a weekend away from Baltimore to go see one of our favorite bands and go to some of our favorite restaurants. While at dinner one of the nights, we were discussing how I had been feeling burned out by teaching and that I needed a creative outlet of some kind. He literally listed the things that I was good at and had experience with-- graphic design, photography, crafting with paper-- and said something like, "That's it, you should make cards and stationery." So the next weekend I started my business and blog. Seriously. That's exactly how it happened!

3. What are some of your favorite things about blogging and your blog in particular?

   I've always loved writing, so for me that's what makes blogging fun. But one thing I'm particularly proud of with my blog is the design. I designed all of the elements and learned enough html to get my blog's image to the point it is now. It took a lot of hard work, and it felt so satisfying to accomplish! I also like that I can share what I love with an amazing community of people. I would never have guessed the the blogging world was so big yet so tight knit!

4. What do you do when you're not blogging?
   I love traveling, which I haven't been able to do a lot of lately. I also love exploring Baltimore and the surrounding areas. We try to soak up as many events happening in our city. It really makes us feel as though we are a part of a community. Spending time outdoors is also big. I love going hiking, walking around the city with the dog, or just grilling and relaxing out back on our patio.





5. Who are some other bloggers that inspire you?

   It's so, so hard to pinpoint only a few blogs! I feel inspired by many of the blogs that I read-- ranging from both big to little blogs. I love reading such a variety of blogs too. Some are about teaching, fashion, design, music, or food. Usually, inspiration comes sporadically depending on the posts that I'm reading that day.

6. Tell us about your craft and how you got started

   Ever since I was little my parents encouraged me to be creative. I was always drawing, painting, or creating in some way. I think it's just natural for me to be working with my hands in a creative way. I also just happen to have a love for paper, so that's how I started creating stationery and greeting cards.

7. What has been your best experience through your Etsy shop?

   I love working with clients on custom work. My clients usually inspire me the most. They'll come to me with a request and I love being able to use their ideas to create something original. This may be a cheesy story, but my favorite customer was an Italian man that wanted custom stationery for his on again, off again girlfriend. They had broken up and he was hoping to make one more plea for them to get back together so he wanted to give her one of my cards and some stationery. It ended up not working out for them, but at the same time, I was so touched that he had asked me to help in some way.

8. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

   So tough! Right now it has to be one of my father's day cards. My dad is a luthier and builds guitars for a living, so it just seems so natural to stick a guitar on a father's day card.

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Thanks so much for sharing with us Heidi! You're cards and stationary are just too cute! I've definitely got my eye on your Sun and Rainy Day Clouds Stationery. I LOVE love love it!

xoxo

Janee