Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
This is one I am still battling with. It’s an ongoing process and one I struggle with daily but I’m slowly finding my way. As a wife and working mother of two young boys, juggling my side hustle is challenging. I’m very blessed to have an incredible support network behind me and my amazing husband picks up a lot of the slack when I drop the ball. The mum guilt never really leaves though. Am I spending enough time with the kids? Can I really serve fish fingers twice in one week? Will my husband be disappointed if I haven’t had time to do the shopping and he has to eat cereal for dinner… again? 2019 has had some very guided goals set and they aren’t necessarily business related. They are “me” related, because at the end of the day if I don’t look after me everyone suffers, personally and professionally. To get to bed before 11pm on weekdays and make sure I step back and take a breath are just two on a long list. I’m a work in progress, but aren’t we all?
The Drive: What challenges have you overcome?
When I started this venture, the art world was unexplored territory for me so I was the newbie is a very big world. In a way I loved this, but I knew I needed to tread carefully as there was a lot to learn. I’m very lucky that in this time I have met some incredible people. I live in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne, Victoria, where the artist community is wide and varied – I’m grateful to call this amazing place home. Reassurance and guidance has come from the most unexpected places and I am grateful for that. It’s hard for me to pinpoint a challenge as each trial has come with an accomplishment in one way or another. I hit a hiccup early on when I was contacted by another business that was registered under the same name as mine. At that point I felt like giving up as I started to think my lack of knowledge about running my own business was far too lacking and that perhaps I wasn’t cut out for this. Thanks to some wise words from my mum and sister, I pushed through and although a disheartening experience I feel I really learnt and grew from it. I had to reset my mindset and start again. And from there Sullcher Creative Design was born.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I love being able to make my own design and product decisions. It’s all on me and I thrive off that. The creative freedom you get is so satisfying. In saying that, running your own business is always filled with specks of self-doubt and if I’m not careful those little voices creep in and make me question everything.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I participated in the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios program in March 2019 which saw around 1,000 people walk through my gallery studio and view my work. It was a big step for me but I’m very excited to have this opportunity and see where it takes me. Beyond this, I have a couple of things lined up here and there but who knows what’s in store for me. What I do know is I’m excited to find out!
To see more of Stephanie’s work and to get in touch, visit her Instagram and Facebook pages.
