Lindsay Ostrom's Creative Journey and Doing it Cute Along the Way
Updated Jan 2023: Maker’s Tech U is no longer open.
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Maker’s Tech U Member Spotlight SERIES
Artist chat with Lindsay Ostrom, the Creator of Cuteness. She draws, letters, creates and makes all kinds of cool stuff. She has a rich history in the art industry and lives in the mountains of Northern California with her hubby and their crazy dog Charley.
In this interview we chat about Lindsay's art, her many projects, including daily lives on Facebook), kits that showcase her art, her story about how she started her first store in her early 20’s and how being a member of Maker's Tech U has helped her grow her business with her online shop and so much more!
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How would you describe your art?
My Mom has always said “Do it Cute” - so I would say whimsical and cute.
What is it about creating that lights you up?
I wake up every morning needing to create. Sometimes I have ideas that keep me up all night long. I think it is taking the idea from your head and seeing it come to life on paper.
How do you live a creative life?
I have always lived a creative life. From Childhood - growing up with parents that encouraged it. My mom worked for her high school best friend who started a lithography company called GEMNI GEL and she worked with Pop Art.
Instead of a paycheck, she took art instead so our whole house was full of art. My dad worked with Ansel Adams as an amateur photographer so we also had loads of amazing photos surrounding us. My mom did lots of 1960’s crafts and those colors and doodles have spilled over into my art recently.
As for my creative life, it begins at 8 am every weekday morning. I do a live Facebook video and have since the pandemic. It gets my juices flowing for the day and more than that, I have helped folks get through these hard times. I am never without a pen in my hand… either for work or personally.
How would you describe your creative process?
Currently, I would have to say it begins at 8:00 AM every day. It inspires me so much to start with a prompt or a theme and know that I have to produce something on the spot. But after that, it starts with a list.
Being a working artist is much different than dabbling in art. There are days for computer work and bookkeeping and shipping… but on the days when I get to create, I thrive. I put on music or a movie and just sit down and get it down. I would have to say, I am prolific. haha
What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to creating?
Being a new Grandma, I would say that my Atticus is my biggest obstacle. He is 15 minutes away and I would love to be with him everyday. But again, as a working artist… that isn’t possible. I think another would have to be the messy studio. I wish the Home Edit ladies would come and help me rainbow organize my space to make it more usable. It’s tight with products and supplies and office space…. Well, you get it.
Do you ever experience creative blocks and what do you do to overcome them?
Who doesn’t, but I tend to power through. I will occasionally look at Instagram or search for some Youtube videos. I think mostly, I love magazines. But they have become so pricey, that I don’t allow myself to purchase them anymore.
Honestly… the ladies in my group in the morning give me great suggestions and ideas. And I think because I do a live video every weekday morning, I don’t have a lot of blocks. I have to create. Daily… so it just seems to keep going.
How has your creative journey changed from when you first started creating?
I was 21 when I opened my first store filled with fancy stationery, pens, stickers and rubber stamps. We began using paint pens to decorate acrylic goodies for kids. That was really cute.
Then the 90’s came and I went into the scrapbooking world and that was more of when my more artsy side came through. More recently I worked for a craft store for 12 years and so my art became kinda crafty.
And now… I would love to get artsier. But I tend to stay close to what people like most from me, which is cutesy icons and doodles and lettering.
Has technology been a struggle for you in creating an online presence or selling your art online? In what way?
Not since I met you! Haha. You and my son have helped me through more of the technical bits. I tell everyone about Maker’s Tech U! It is my Google! So not really. I think my website was the best thing I have done for myself recently. Instagram and Facebook are pretty simple for me.
I think doing more reels and videos would be a good thing for me to work on, but it’s always changing. I would also love to learn more about monetizing and the sponsorships for me to get involved. I just need more time. I am spread so thin now that learning something new is tricky.
What has benefited you the most from being a member of Maker’s Tech U?
I couldn’t have gotten my website up and off the ground without you! All the videos and your kindness about answering my questions even when I can’t find it on the Maker’s Tech U page. That has been number one for me. That is the main reason I have been a member since I was part of the Beta testing team ( thanks for that BTW!). You have a way of explaining things that make it so easy to understand.
How has your online presence changed since you joined Maker’s Tech U and applied what you have learned?
Creating my website is number one for me. And lots of tips and tricks for Instagram and classes and video creating. That’s the best. And continuing education has helped me as well.
Also, your podcast helped me with Collaborations- you had an episode where you said to just put yourself out there and do it. Those podcast episodes were key to pushing me to put myself out there and just try. I think that the info on Maker’s Tech U is the same. It makes you feel like you can do it.
What advice would you give to other creatives struggling to move forward for fear of technology?
My mother-in-law will not try to even push a key on a computer for fear she might break it. I say… just know you can’t break it. If you make a mistake, just correct it. We need to learn new things every day.
At 93 my dad was still working on his computer every day. He did digital photography and it never occurred to him that he couldn’t do it. So, he instilled that in me. Just try.
What changes would you like to make in your creative journey over the next six months?
I would love an assistant and a housekeeper. And maybe a few days off. But that’s not in the cards right now. I would love to be able to have time to do some art quilts again and create some new fabric designs as well as have a chunk of time to just be free and paint more.
What fun activity comes second in your life to creating?
I am a full-time caregiver for my mom who has dementia and I do love to be with her as much as I can for as long as she can remember me. And then there is the cutest boy ever, my 16-month-old grandson Atticus. I cannot wait to create more with him!
Describe your workspace or studio.
It is my son’s old room. The hardest part of it is that I have no natural light or view of the outside. That would be another change I would like to see happen in the next 6 months but probably won’t happen. It is a very full space with nothing on the walls right now. I saw another artist on Instagram who put up various sized clipboards to change out the art frequently. I have been collecting for a while. I need a few more. I have my product in there, a sewing area, my filming table, a big closet full of past projects and fabric, file cabinets full of scrapbook papers, and loads of inspirational tidbits given to me over the years. I do love it there. I just wish the light was better.
Check out all the MTU Member Spotlight Interviews HERE!
Lindsay Ostrom
I’ve been in the paper industry for over 35 years. I opened my first store (The Paper Rabbit) at 21, hosted the first stamp convention (the original rubber stamp convention ), and co-hosted the first scrapbook convention. I have been creating products for the paper world for years. Authored over 20 books on lettering and doodling and currently creating fabric, stamps, quilt kits, embroidery patterns, writing books and have monthly subscription kits with several companies. I host a weekday morning show on Facebook and teach online classes and at retreats as well. I am a new bubbie to the cutest boy, have three amazing adult kids, and married to my best friend for 35 years. I work a lot but we love to travel in our trailer and hope to do that full time one day.