Cartwheels In My Mind: Art Shoppe Interview: Freckled Nest.

Meet Leigh-Ann.

Indie style and International entrepreneur, Leigh-Ann Keffer is a self-taught artist raised and residing in Winnipeg. She started Freckled Nest as a hobby in 2003, mainly selling handmade mini-albums, hand-stitched tote bags, blog designs, and custom pieces. Word spread fast of her original artworks and unique style; and Leigh-Ann is now living her dream with FN as her full time job and life's joy. On her fun, daily blog FreckledNest.com, Leigh-Ann lives her passion for handmade and shares her creative life through photos, moments, craft techniques, and completed works. "When I realized my creative side, I felt empowered and alive; I love inspiring others towards that feeling of discovery and accomplishment!"

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi :) My name is Leigh-Ann (nickname "LA") and I live in Canada. Lola is my black lab & sweet companion and my boyfriend Keith has a dog named Tom (a boston terrier). I own a house where I live and run my company and I enjoy going to our family cabin throughout the summer & fall :) FN was born in 2006 and started off as a hobby & venue for my handmade goods and we now focus Custom Blog & Website Design and Online Craft & Business Classes (and is now my career with 2 additional team members).

I love vintage shopping, cooking late at night, playing with my dog, hanging with friends and taking pictures :) Visit my daily blog at FreckledNest.com :)

Describe Freckled Nest in 5 words or less.

Colorful, Community, Design, Capturing, Sunshine

Name 3 things that inspire you.

- Sitting on the beach picking rocks with my Mom and Sister

- Autobiographies & Documentaries

- Beautiful combinations of color, texture, lighting and font.

Name 3 things you can't live without.

Family/Friends, Technology, Cheese

When did you first discover your creativity? I was a really imaginative kid and teenager but I really discovered my creativity in two parts... 1) when I got my first video camera and made mini-movies all the time as a young adult and 2) when I discovered a local craft store and found all the craft supplies I'd ever need and started making mini albums and other paper crafts. I've found different mediums since then but I've been creating daily ever since!!

What is your DREAM project?I love my work right now but I'd like to *add* three things: 1) live on a small farm right outside of the city and have a mini horse and lots of wrinkly dogs 2) invite women and girls to my home/studio to spend creative time together and share stories, skills and quality time 3) I want to be a mom.

If your studio was on fire what is the first thing you would grab? My laptop!!

If you could look like any celeb who would it be? Tegan Quin

Can you do a cartwheel? I loved doing them as a kid, but when I tried to do one today for the picture... I discovered, I'm really really bad at cartwheels! lol!

Any words of wisdom you care to share with us? If it's all about completing what you're making and you're not enjoying the process along the way, slow down... the best part is the creation not the completion! Put your best into everything you do, it shines through and makes you stand out like a star! Love Leigh-Ann

Thanks LA for sharing with us! Your fun-loving outlook on life has rubbed off on all of us. I speak for the rest of the Cartwheel girls when I say that you truly are an inspiration! :) Thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule and letting us invade your personal space!!

If you haven't already, check out LA's blog at: www.frecklednest.blogspot.com

Cheerio my loverly loves. Until next time...