When you realize that your desk mess matches your logo...

My desk may be a mess, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want the things that inspire me right out where I can see ’em! The framed photo is of my sweet baby Lulu at age 2, fingerpainting in our sun room. That lovely young lady is now 11 1/2, and her creativity and giving heart wow me at every turn. And that sun room will soon be Power Poppy’s shipping HQ, where Lulu and her little brother, Finn, who’s a very stately 8 years old, will be helping me put good vibes into the packages we mail out with our unabashedly upbeat designs.

I envision it like so: Finn and Lulu take turns playing DJ while we carefully fold tissue and select the ribbons and the Washi tape. Finn will get us super pumped with back-to-back plays of “Eye of the Tiger”—our productivity level is off the charts. We take a smoothie break. Kids complain that there is kale in the smoothie. I beg to differ, but you know, kale is hard to hide. We switch to cookies. Lulu is up next, playing “Cool for Cats” by Squeeze, and her singalong British accent joyfully accompanies our package addressing. As our team wraps up the last few parcels, a disco ball drops from the sun room’s ceiling and “Please, Mr. Postman” signals it’s time for us to get to the post office.

What? That doesn’t sound realistic? Well, maybe not. But you haven’t met these kiddos. And come to think of it, you may not really know me very well either.

So, hello there! Thank you so much for popping over to Power Poppy. In addition to being Lulu and Finn’s mama, I’m an illustrator and graphic designer in St. Louis, Missouri, who takes total delight in the small moments of life. In this blog and online shop, I hope to be more than a source for cardmaking imagery. This is a place to share the artwork, stories, and photos of things, people, and places that rev my engine and inspire my work, presented in a way that’s vibrant and fun (and hopefully makes you giggle). Gardening, decorating, grooving to music, making, collecting, cooking, and looking—discovering new sources of wonder and curiosity and delight—Power Poppy celebrates life in full bloom!

Amidst the inspiration and information, I’ll share snippets of real family life, the somewhat futile attempt at balance, laughter at the daily goings on, the need to recharge and relax. Finding the love of my life (Hi, Doug, I adore you!). Passages from writers and teachers and visionaries that motivate joyful, peaceful thinking. Encouragement to try something new (have I mentioned learning to ride a motorcycle at age 40?). I hope to create a place where you may come to buy a stamp - but you also learn about the flower that was illustrated, and perhaps that will spark a desire to plant that flower, and maybe the nudge to plant a community garden. Who knows what we’re capable of? For as we soak up all this goodness, we’ll be giving back, too. I hope to help empower women to make positive change in their own lives, and the lives of others. I’ll share more about these goals in upcoming posts, and I’m very excited about the possibilities.

At Power Poppy, you’ll also get to know the supremely talented designers who bring my stamp designs to life in such imaginative ways, and get insight into the beauty and spirit within each of them. (Hi, Bloom Brigade!) We’ll showcase their stunning creations (sometimes I literally drool reviewing the galleries) and share how-tos, host creative challenges, and all that fun stuff! We’re all learners here. Maybe I’ll finally figure out how to stamp a card myself? I get such a charge from seeing my illustrations transformed in the eyes of creative artists and crafters, and I cannot wait to see what you do with my designs. (By the way, have an idea for a favorite flower or image you’d like to see made into a stamp? Drop me a line!)

I’ve always loved to draw. Inspired and encouraged by parents (my mother was an illustrator for Hallmark among her many other awesomenesses - Hi, Mom!), I was never far from a sketchbook or paint palette, and was thoroughly taken with design, decorating, and magazines. My illustrations for a central Illinois plant catalog at the age of 23 caught the eye of Martha Stewart’s art director, who hired me to work at Martha Stewart Living magazine in the early 90s. After leaving NYC (I am a midwestern girl at heart), I was enjoying life as a freelance botanical illustrator and designer, when I was contacted by one of my greatest childhood idols, Mary Engelbreit, to head up the design of her new magazine, Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion. As a part of that exceptionally talented team (Hi, Mary!), we created a groundbreaking keepsake magazine that inspired our readers to “Lead the Artful Life.” Surrounded by color, decorating and craft ideas, laughter, and of course, artwork—I lug out the issues and marvel at all the fun we had, the artists we showcased, the can-do attitude we lived and breathed.

I’m ready to kickstart that creative spirit within. My kids and family and friends are with me on this ride, and with that, we’re letting good times roll at Power Poppy! Look for a release of all new stamp sets in the coming days, and surprises throughout the week! I wholeheartedly welcome you to join us for the fun.

Living in full bloom — and with full bags under my eyes because I’ve been up really late getting this website ready to greet you! Thank you so much for coming by!