Ask the Experts- Casey Leigh

Today I'm continuing "Ask the Experts" with the lovely Casey. (You can read yesterday's interview with Allora Handmade here!) I'm sure many of you read Casey's blog, but if you don't, you must go check it out! It is very raw, real, and beautiful, often written from the depths of her heart. She is a freelance artist, wife, & momma of two (with one on the way!)

What led you to open your shop & how long have you been in business?
I have been a freelance artist for about 5 years now. My husband gave me the courage to take the leap! I went from painting for fun to making it a profession!

 Do you ever deal with discouragement when running your business?
Yes, definitely. I am super hard on myself, but having a supportive husband helps a ton!!   


How important is social media (facebook, twitter, blogging, etc.) in growing your business?
I think it is HUGE. I wrote a post about it awhile back. You can find it here: http://www.thewiegands.com/2011/11/advice.html

Are there any indie biz owners or bloggers that you look up to & admire?
There are tons! All for different reasons! So much drive, encouragement, and inspiration in the blog world- it's amazing!

What have you found to be the most successful way to grow your blog?
Sponsorships and networking!    

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out with a handmade biz, what would it be?
I would say don't be discouraged if it starts out slow... it's a process! Very rarely does something just explode over night.

And just for fun... If you could have a day to put your work on hold and do ANYTHING you wanted, what would you do?
I would go to the beach with my family!

♥ Be sure to head on over to Casey's blog // facebook // twitter and get to know her better! (Her shop is closed for maintenance right now.) Looks like "find a supportive husband" is on my to-do list... kidding!