Please welcome the lovely Vicky from Accidental Vix to the blog today, she is going to tell you more about herself and her fabulous business. If you’d like to support Vicky further, you can follow her and find more of her work on her Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business…
I’m Vicky Morse, also known as Accidental Vix. When I’m not designing shops as an Interior Designer, being a mum to my one year old son Harry, or wife to my amazingly supportive hubby you can find me sat at my sewing machine or in a corner of creative chaos with my sketchbook and pen. My brain is constantly filled with new ideas, and I sell an eclectic mix of items for children and babies from booties, to bibs to screen-printed clothes, as well as my illustrations for any age or gender.
What made you start your own business?
I have a degree in Interior Architecture and Design, but my day job isn’t quite as creative as it sounds and involves a lot of technical drawing, project management and building sites amongst the more fun stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but I wanted a creative outlet that allows a bit more freedom. The creative push came when I broke my hip/shattered my femur in a sketchbook and pen for company; that was the start of Accidental Vix, although I didn’t really try to make much money from it until 2012.
What do you love about working for yourself?
I get to spend time with my son and husband, who also works from home, and of course I make a living doing what I love. Running a business is hard work, but I get a say on all aspects and can reduce or increase workload to fit around my day job (also self employed) and family. But most importantly I get to share my creative take on life with others.
As an artist I work hard to create pieces from children’s bibs and booties to quirky sketches that express my view of the world, after all it’s our quirks and imperfections that make us who we are. Although I have a wide range of creative outlets they are all tied together by looking at things from a different and eclectic perspective, drawing on my passions for illustration, surface pattern design, printing and sewing, as well as my day job as an interior designer. If I didn’t work for myself I couldn’t fit all these aspects in.
Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
There is often too much temptation to spend an extra half an hour with my son or have a few more minutes sleep before getting up if Harry has had a bad night. I have to be very focused when it’s time to work, dress as if I were going out of the house and set myself strict deadlines for the day.
Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
In all honesty, no. I’d like a bigger house as it’s difficult working from a desk in the corner of the lounge as my studio is now my son’s nursery but I don’t know what I would change to give me the money for a bigger house and still allow me to spend valuable time with my family.
What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
Be flexible – I think that is key to running any business, but especially when you are a mum as we all know that days with children don’t always go to plan.
Stock up on coffee – there are many late nights for me. As I try to fit in a full time job with family life my ‘Accidental Vix’ time happens in the evening, which pushes bed time later as the week goes on.
Thank you so much for letting us feature you on This Mummy Loves… Vicky, we would like to wish you every success with your business
I would like to be self employed although i probe wouldn’t get much done. Those little star shoes are so adorable!
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Great post, I am off to have a nose at your site. It’s tough working from home sometimes and it must be even more so with a baby. Brilliant to hear all is going well though. Lovely
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I wish I was as creative as Vicky!
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I’m not sure I could manage as much with a baby around, but I’m all for being self employed – so flexible.
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What a lovely interview, I have so much respect for those who start their own business. x
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I think it’s amazing that you manage to do anything else with a baby around, to produce such fantastic designs is astounding!
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How wonderful to be creative and make a living from it.
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This is inspiring – it’s great that Vicky has found a way to do the work she loves while fitting in with the demands of being a parent.
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I would love to have a spark of creativity but I haven’t so am quite envious x
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OOOH I would love to be self employed
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Off to have a smootch round the sight. Motherhood often brings out the best in people
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I would so love to be creative – off to check out the site now
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You are so creative! Love the booties! Thanks for sharing
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Being self employed is the way to go, no one telling you what to do and be your own boss. If you have a great idea go for it.
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Dont think I could ever go self employed to scary for me.
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those booties are so cute! I love how creative people can be sometimes! x
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Great interview indeed, best wishes to her and thanks for sharing!
Love these creations, but how amazing that it came from you being bedridden – which sounds so horrible. Glad something good came from it.
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I only wish I was as creative as you clearly are!
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I’ve been self employed for a decade and have gradually found a routine that suits me, so it’s nice to hear how other business mums are doing it!
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