Meet Sheena LeMay Nelssen | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheena LeMay Nelssen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheena, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My balance has changed a lot since school started last August. I was working for myself full time with 2 kids and a husband who travels often for work. For the most part I could work around my husband’s schedule and still be able to be heavily involved with my kids and their activities. Then it all changed this school year when I took a full time job working at a school. Now I have much less time for my business. I miss it like crazy especially the flexibility of working for myself offered me. But I’m learning what works and doesnt work, how to stream line some of my creations and find better ways to do all. Plus as my kids get older they want to help my business more.

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 sew, knit, make vinyl and heat transfer and craft. I think what sets me apart is my willingness to try new techniques, try new types of art, combine multiple types of art and always working on what I know.
There isn’t one thing I’m most proud of but I would say my whole business in general. I have always been creative and the more comfortable I became with my business the more I put myself out there for others to see my work.
I got to where I am because I’m always wanting to work, always needing to work on something and my drive to do more. It hasn’t been easy.
The biggest challenge has been health issues that prevent me from using my hands some days, exhaustion and injuries. I have to listen to my body and be flexible with my work. I’ve found adaptive tools like scissors that make cutting fabric easier. I make my work flexible enough so I can rest when I need to.
Lessons I’ve learned along the way are follow your instincts, listen to your body and relax, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and meet people because even if you aren’t selling to them you are still spreading your brand and always put your WHY you are in business out there because people will respond to your why more than just having products shoved in their face and told to buy.
I want the world to know my dedication to creating and being creative. That I’m always working to improve, learning and teaching. That I wouldn’t be where I’m at with out my parents who were also creative and pushed me to be anything I want to be. My husband has been my cheerleader and supported me through every wild idea I get and tolerates my massive art supply collection. My two daughters are my inspiration and drive for all of my art. Every time they see me make something they ask me to try to make something else for them and I’ve always accepted the challenge. They then want to learn how I made something. I want the world to know that you don’t have to have a background in business or a large capital to start a small business. I started mine because I couldn’t find what I was looking for for my oldest daughter’s nursery and made everything. When I would post pictures on social media, I would have friends request items made also. I started off small and was already working as a photographer for myself but when we moved all of a sudden to Texas in 2015 it provided the perfect opportunity to start a new business.

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?
I would take her to Deep Ellum to look at the murals and Traveling Man statues. Because my kids love Magic Time Machine, I would have to take her there because describing it to her just doesn’t do the place justice. We would go to the Perot Museum and shop at the Galleria. Because I often don’t go to Dallas and live north of Dallas I would take her to Plano, Little Elm, Frisco, The Colony and surrounding areas. We would go see a Roughriders baseball game, go to The Cove, Top Golf and play mini golf at Monster Golf. One day I would need to take her to Fort Worth to see the cattle drive and walk around. Jay’s Sushi in Denton is a must.

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?
My parents for always allowing me to be creative, independent and teaching me about hard work. My husband for going along with every crazy idea I have and rarely questioning it. And my two daughters who inspire me and help me come up with new creations.

Website: etsy.com/shop/stitchingstardesigns

Instagram: instagram.com/virgoimmen

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-lemay-nelssen-625aa144/

Twitter: twitter.com/virgoimmen

Facebook: facebook.com/stitchingstar

Image Credits
Sheena LeMay-Nelssen