How I Built a Creative Business from My Garden Table
If you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d one day be running four Etsy shops from a table in my garden, drawing pictures for a living and genuinely loving it—I probably would’ve laughed mid-laundry pile. But here we are.
These days, my work uniform is stretchy trousers and a hoodie, my commute is a mug of tea and a shuffle out to my garden “office,” and my workmates are the birds in the hedge and whichever cat is currently judging me. And honestly? It suits me perfectly.
But let’s rewind a bit.
From Solo Mum to Sketchbook CEO
I spent years as a single mum—juggling kids, jobs, side hustles, and a life that felt like it was always about surviving, not thriving. After redundancy and a chronic illness diagnosis (hello M.E. and IBS), I had to slow down. Which, at first, felt like failure.
Spoiler: it wasn’t.
Slowing down gave me space. Space to draw again. Space to learn how to sell digital products. Space to discover that I could build something—even when life told me to sit down and rest.
The Setup (Spoiler: It’s Not Fancy)
When people imagine running a creative business, they often picture styled studios and Pinterest-worthy desks. My “studio” is a garden table, a cushion, and an old iPad with a Paperlike screen protector. Add tea. I do have an ‘office’, the spare room that I decided to make my own. It’s full of all my artist materials, desks set up ready for drawing, so no faffing around finding what I need. It has shelves of books, things the children have bought me over the years, and anything that just gives me joy to look at. It’s my sanctuary when the weather isn’t playing ball.
And yet, from this spot, I’ve:
- Grown multiple Etsy shops (including Celeb Invites)
- Created clipart, invitations, and journals that now live on customers’ walls and party tables
- Rediscovered the creative me who was buried under years of “doing it all”
The Reality of Creative Work (Yes, Even When It’s Fun)
Here’s the truth: building a creative business doesn’t mean you get to draw pretty things all day and nap in sunbeams (although I fully support the napping part). It’s learning SEO, testing listings, dealing with low-energy days, and celebrating small wins that no one else sees.
But here’s the other truth: it’s mine. I’ve built this around my energy, my creativity, and my real life. And that’s the kind of success I never saw coming.
Want to Do It Too?
If you’ve ever thought “maybe I could…”—you can. Whether it’s digital art, printable planners, party invitations, or something else entirely, there’s a space for your creativity online. You don’t need a studio. You don’t need perfection.
You just need a garden table, a bit of quiet determination, and the courage to start.
? Tip: Want to learn how to start your own creative side hustle? I share beginner-friendly tips over at my second blog, Living the Hustle—pop over for some inspiration.