Love to Love- Ellie from Mint

The end of the week is finally here and I don't know about you, but I could use a little celebration! And what better way to celebrate then with a dialogue with Ellie from Mint.

Ellie is not only the creator of the blog Mint, a contributing author to OK Great and Indie NC, but also the owner and designer of the new shop Hello Tenfold. I don't know about you, but that is what I call an all-around very talented and busy women! With that being said, I was so pleased to hear that she has found time in her very busy schedule to provide an original piece of artwork that can only be accessed via responding to the post.

Well enough out of me! Let's hear more about Ellie and what she loves, what she obsesses over, and of course what inspires her!

Q #1: What are the 5 random things that make you, well you?

1 - I like to be busy. I really like to be busy.
2 - I have a wonderful, loving, supportive husband who is my best friend.
3 - I can eat all day long.
4 - I'm pretty (ok, really) introverted. I like watching.
5 - I'm captivated by pretty things.

Q #2: I just adore your blog, Mint! What inspired you to start blogging?

I was inspired by all the beautiful blogs I was reading, and I thought it would be a great way to encourage myself to be more creative in my every-day life outside of work. I wanted a little bit of accountability... something (or a bunch of readers!) to encourage me to come up with crafty projects and take more pictures. Also, I had recently become a graphic designer, and I was spending so much time learning from and being inspired by other designers, that I thought I should have a place to "store" everything!

Q #3: I see that you work at Flywheel Design, can you tell us more about the company's blog, Ok Great?

We started OK Great just for fun, to share the things we find when our minds start to wander away from work projects. Fortunately, Flywheel is the kind of company that encourages soaking-up inspiration, so we were all spending a lot of time reading design blogs and looking through design books and websites anyway. It's great to have an internal project that we can all get behind and help grow... Also, we like to have long, rambling "meetings" about it (preferably over popsicles) which I enjoy very much. The popsicles, that is. (Just kidding. I heart OK Great.)

Q #4: What keeps you busy when you are not posting your amazing finds?

Well, lately Hello Tenfold has been keeping me busy! Hello Tenfold is my new stationery shop, and I've been doing some freelance wedding invitations, programs, etc. in my free time. Between Mint and the freelance work, it's kind of like a second full time job! But, you know you're doing the right thing when work becomes so much fun. I also have a super husband and sweet dog to hang out with... both of whom are very patient with my increasingly busy "side jobs."

Now for the fun questions...

Q #5: What are some of the things on your to-do list?

Design some invitations, gocco some notecards, pay a few bills, and repot some plants.

Q #6: When you see each word, what is the first thing that comes to your mind.

Keyboard : Song
Tissue : Clean
Hummingbird : Green
Shabby : Not too
Pop : Soda

Letter : A

Q #7: If you were to press shuffle on your ipod, what are the first three songs?

What ipod?

Q #8: At the moment, what are the three things you are in love with, obsessed with, and inspire you?

Photography, hand-drawn elements in design, and gin & tonics!

Bonus Question: Any advice, for people who are taking the plunge and starting their own blog?

Pour your heart into it, and get excited! Be always thinking of new ideas and projects to really make it your own. Lastly, remember that it's just a blog and above all it should be fun!