As a parent herself, Stephanie Breeze struggled to find affordable, original and neutral artwork for her son’s bedroom. She was inspired to get out her paint brushes and create some herself. After years of working to bring others’ ideas to life for her textile design company breezestudio.co., she relished the opportunity to paint for her own joy. At Lion & The Pear, creativity and a deep love for nature and wildlife come together to bring joy to your little one’s walls, and the rest of the home. With a heartfelt mission to provide captivating artwork that nurtures & inspires curious minds, their carefully curated collection of prints combines gorgeous hand-drawn and painted pieces. Here Stephanie talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, her biggest breakthrough, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
Lion and the Pear was born during the first few months of my son’s life. As a textile designer with a decade of experience working for other brands, I felt inspired to create something uniquely mine. I wanted to design gender-neutral prints for his room and for the home, capturing a style that felt playful and timeless with a flavour of scandi style.
Another reason for starting was as a freelancer, my income heavily depended on repeat clients, and maternity allowance often barely covered the essentials. I found myself not wanting to disclose my pregnancy to clients, let alone that I had just had a baby, for fear of losing work. I wanted to build something that could support my family quietly in the background, especially if I’m lucky enough to expand my family in the future.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
My first print-the alphabet print-took nearly six months to complete as I balanced and navigated motherhood, both Leo’s and my own tears, and my freelance work. I illustrated detailed, realistic images to accompany each phonic letter, creating a piece that was ideal for nurseries with educational value as your little one grows. This series, focused on education, laid the foundation, and I soon followed it with Count With Me, Big Little Feelings, and My Colourful World prints.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Although my business is still young, one of the first big moments came when I participated in a local Christmas market last year. Meeting customers, mostly moms like myself, and seeing their positive reactions helped me realise there was real potential in my business that I had had a lot of self-doubt about. Imposter syndrome has been a struggle for me throughout my career, and I often struggle to feel confident in my creations until I get feedback. Building confidence in my abilities has been a journey, and this year, I feel like I’m emerging from the haze of first-time motherhood and rediscovering my sense of self.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balancing work and family is still a challenge, but it’s becoming easier as Leo, who is now three, can express himself more. When he needs my full attention, I try to step away from work, avoid checking emails, and spend quality time outdoors with him. Some weeks, I manage to plan meals and stay organised, which helps things run smoothly-but it’s not always easy to keep up. As my family grows, I imagine this balance will continue to evolve. I also try make sure I carve out a few nights or days a month to do something for myself.
