Meet Leslie Dunn | Business owner & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leslie Dunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leslie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Between my partner and me, I am the main caregiver of our children. I think I echo all dominate caregivers in a family when I say – there really isn’t a balance between work and life, they just kind of bleed together. Throughout the day, I am working in pockets of time that work best for our family. Sometimes that is between the hours of 8am and 3pm and sometimes that is between the hours of 8pm and 10pm (depending on which kid is home sick at the time). This is how I have worked for the better part of 5 years. The only difference between my old job and running my business is that I am inspired by the work that I am doing and I know that whatever tasks I can get done will directly benefit what I bring to the table for my family (literally lol). So I guess the ole cliche is true “If you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life”.

Before 9+C Designs – I didn’t have a balance between work and life. And that affected how I showed up for my family. I was mentally lost in a to-do list and the anxiety of completing tasks for my job. Now that I run my own business, the work is still there and the time I commit to it is the same – but the anxiety is gone. I trust myself to complete my work and I don’t have to worry about meeting someone else’s deadlines. I think that is the biggest difference. When I am off the clock I am off the clock – I am not worried about being constantly available to someone else.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I love this job. I started this business painting houses for the most part (I still do paint a lot of them). I get so excited to paint these homes. I know what makes a house a home. What the day to day chaos adds up to. When the more lived in it is the more it feels like a safe place go land. It’s filled with all the things, people, and memories you love. That’s why painting these houses is so special to me. I may be painting the outside – But it’s what happens on the inside that makes it home. I feel honored to paint something that special for people. I paint so much more than homes these days – but these houses will always have a place in my heart.

I have been drawn to art for my entire life. I always saw art as a hobby – no one really told me that I could make this a career. So I had a long road getting here professionally. I majored in something in college that seemed easy and did jobs that I sort of liked so that I could have a steady income….This ain’t the way folks! I pretty much had to reach rock bottom of depression to find out that I should just spend my days doing something I love.

I have learned a lot of lessons, but I think the biggest one is to just be your authentic self. There are so many creatives out in the world and with social media it is easy to try and chameleon yourself into being an artist you find “successful”. The reason those people are successful is because they are just being themselves. You won’t be successful until you just be who you are. I am still learning this every day!

No one really knows where the 9 & C came from in my name. My husband and I used to live at 9th and Cherry street in Seattle when we first moved there. I thought it was special because that is where I started painting more and started my hobby instagram account “9thandCherryAristry” which I have now shortened to 9+C Designs.

I think my brand speaks for itself. I love creating special things for people! But what I hope people know about my story is that if you are feeling depressed or anxious and you feel “trapped” with no way out – you have the power to feel better. The only thing standing in your way is you – so make moves. You might fail and that’s fine. Life will go on. I make a lot less money than I used to – but I am the happiest me I have ever been.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a hard question – I have a 4 year old and a 10 month old so I hope the friend visiting likes parks! lol

First, good coffee. I live really close to Cultivar and White Rock Coffee. La La Land is pretty instagrammable and Ascension Coffee has always been a staple for us…Also Buzzbrews, but that’s a different vibe.

First stop would be brunch, obviously: I love HG Supply, Breadwinners, Gloria’s, or Garden Cafe!

Outdoor activities are the best for kids: We love White Rock Lake, Flag Pole Hill, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve (bit of a trek, but worth it), we also spend a lot of time in the Children’s Garden at the Arboretum!

Dinner: First we could walk the Continental Ave Bridge and then have dinner at the Art Park in Trinity Groves. Maybe one night we have a fancy dinner at Monarch or Lexy’s. I love the Deep Ellum scene so many good places to wander into there. Visitors also love the Mi Cocina in Kylde Warren Park – Its so beautiful!

After Dinner Drinks: Bowl Games, Lounge Here, Javier’s, or walking around Greenville or Deep Ellum!

Other fun activities: I love taking people to Jimmy’s food store!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a big support system behind me, but I have two people that really pushed me into this job.

First, I would like to thank my Husband, Hunter. This whole business was his idea anyway! He knew how unhappy I was and one day, during numerous breakdowns, he just said “what if you just went for it? What do you have to lose?” – so here we are. He shows me how to be brave and to reach for the stars. He gave me the courage to take the leap and he is a huge cheerleader behind the scenes. He knew that I was going to put our family in financial risk and he told me to do it anyway. I look up to him and his hunger for achievement and I hope that I can have one ounce of that drive!

Second, I would like to thank my sister, Katie. She is a pusher…in a good way. I was like “Hey I think I am going to launch this business” and she is like “Ok, what date and time? what name? did you make a website?” She makes me set exact goals and she makes me complete them. The day that I announced on my instagram that I was doing this full time, she stood there and made me hit the buttons…basically wrote the post for me. You get it. She’s not going to let me fail and I appreciate her for that. She is also a huge sounding board and I should probably pay her for how much she is involved with 9+C.

Website: www.9CDesigns.shop

Instagram: @9CDesigns.shop

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9cdesigns.shop

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/9thandCherryArtistry

Image Credits
@RussellBloodworthPhotography Headshot @Caleophotography PNW Wedding Suite