Clay Sculpting with Poppy Roots Cottage
Have you ever seen the adorable little fairy garden clay sculptures by Poppy Roots Cottage and ever wondered about the story behind her work or wanted to see more of her pieces? See more of her beautiful pieces below as well as her more about her tips for women entrepreneurs and beginner clay sculptors.
You can find more of her work on her website and behind the scenes at her Instagram profile.
Clay Sculpting with Poppy Roots Cottage
By Michele of VAMICreations and Poppy Roots Cottage
How did you start Poppy Roots Cottage?
I started by designing speciality fairy garden figures for my succulent gardens.
What gave you the idea/inspiration?
I collected succulents and wanted to gift one to a co-worker, but I wanted to personalize it. She liked aliens and I couldn't find alien fairy garden stuff, so I bought some clay and made them myself.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a stay at home wife and artist. I have 4 cats and I love to travel. I currently live in Florida, but we have a farm in Iowa that will be our forever home soon! I am a little bit country and a little bit fancy. At heart, I'm a country girl, but you may not know it just by looking at me. I love to hike and camp, trees are friends and walking barefoot is the best. I will never turn down a chance to spend time in a cabin in the woods on a mountain.
How long has Poppy Roots Cottage been around?
I have been creating with polymer for four years. I started under the name Farmgirl Folly, because I created fairy garden figures. Just this year, I took the leap to re-brand my art as Poppyroots Cottage at that I could create the world in which my dragons live.
What is Poppy Roots Cottage all about?
Poppyroots Cottage is a magical place, deep within the Cottonwood Forest. Here, we create whimsical creatures in hopes of bringing magic and joy to the lives of those who find us.
How did you get started sculpting and making clay sculptures?
I picked up clay to design a personalized gift and discovered that creating with polymer relaxes me and felt so natural to me.
How do you choose the sculptures you create?
I have a never ending list of ideas. Most times, the ones I choose are based on the seasons or holidays
What has inspired you to create different sculptures?
I can be inspired by many things. Often, it's as simple as a color palette or nature. Other times, I'm inspired by other artists, pop-culture, my travels, even food on occasion!
What is your favorite type of dragon/sculpture to create?
I truly enjoy creating nature themed dragons. I love so much about nature. Leaves, mushrooms, stones, moss, mountains...
What would you tell a new sculptor for encouragement?
My best advice is to continue to practice. You will grow and develop continuously. Watch videos, try multiple techniques, talk to artists and build relationships within the community. There are many wonderful polymer "support" groups on Facebook, which is great resource for beginners.
What is something you are passionate about and why?
I'm passionate about happiness and positivity. Having a positive mindset can greatly affect your health and well being. It can improve every aspect of your life. Choosing happiness and spreading happiness brings light into the world. You never know when a kind word or a smile can change someone's day or their mindset for the better.
I'm also very passionate about travel. Travel enriches our lives in so many ways. It expands our understanding of the world and its people. It helps us to learn and grow. Travel can exhilarate and relax us all at once.. It can provide a sense of nostalgia or adventure. I plan several trips a year and I'll travel until I can't anymore.
If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?
Reach out to others in your field. Develop meaningful relationships with others that share your goals. Build community. Listen, be reliable, and be supportive of others. Lift each other up. I am a strong believer in community over competition.
What is a lesson learned for being a woman entrepreneur that you wish someone had told you when you first started?
I don't feel that I've had to "learn any lessons". To me, that feels like an implied negative. I haven't had any negative experiences in my journey.
However, I've learned that I shouldn't compare my day 1 to someone else's day 100. I've learned that I am not alone and I cannot do everything on my own. As independent as I am, I need my support group. I need my art community. I need my followers, my customers, and my mentors.
What is your dream for Poppy Roots Cottage to be (where do you see Poppy Roots Cottage in 5+ years)?
My dream is simply to continue creating. I love hearing from customers about how much happiness my dragons bring them.
I do hope to have stickers, prints, coloring pages, and other merchandise in the future.
How has COVID changed or impacted your vision/strategy?
As I am a stay at home wife and artist, Covid hasn't directly affected my art too much. I do take all precautionary measurers to ensure my health and safety, such as sanitizing all products that come in and go out of my house. I limit my trips to the post office to two per month so that I can reduce exposure.
On a positive note, it seems that my interaction on social media has raised significantly .
What is something that has helped you get through during this global pandemic? Something encouraging or positive?
The relationships I've made in the art community have gotten stronger. We've had more time to communicate and have faced situations in which we've been able to help each other.
The pandemic has given me hope that more people will re-experience the value of togetherness, will appreciate the "little things" in life, will take the time to be in nature, and be more appreciative of travel, social gatherings.
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Thank you for joining us with this interview of Crystal of Poppy Roots Cottage. And thank you Crystal for doing this interview with us! We’d love to see your Poppy Roots Cottage pieces!! Tag us on social media, email us, or comment below, we’d love to hear from you! Have a wonderful, safe and healthy day my friend!
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