In The Limelight this week is Amber Dusick, who is truly a woman of many hats. Amber, widely known as Woodmouse, for her popular wooden toys and figures. What most people do not know is that she is also the creative genuis behind two more of the hottest sites on the web; Make Baby Stuff and Do-It-Yourself Weddings.
We interviewed Amber and here's what she had to say:
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your designs.
A: I make toys and figures that are cut from sustainably harvested wood. In addition to the toy making, I'm also the creator of the two sites you mentioned above, so I'm busy crafting something or other pretty much 100% of the time. I even dream about making stuff, so I work while I sleep! Most importantly though, I'm a craft at home mama to my two year old son.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your products?
A: I started woodworking about 15 years ago and then dropped it completely for the next 14 years. My designs in other creative mediums over the years completely influenced the toys that I make now. When my son was born I started making toys in wood but wanted to make them look like the watercolor paintings that I had been making for his nursery which were simple, childlike drawings with a dark details in ink and then washes of color over the black ink outlines.
I didn't want to use black ink on my toys so I came up with idea of woodburning the details and then using natural watercolor paints as washes of color just my painting style.
The designs themselves are pretty much my childhood drawings translated into 3D form. I get a lot of inspiration from vintage children's books (which I collect) as well.
Q: What makes them different from others?
A: The main thing that made my designs unique used to be that they were woodburnt with washes of color and this was a very distinct "woodmouse style" for a while. Like any good design idea though, it catches on!
I use sustainably harvested wood, which is more expensive to source and harder to find. All my packaging materials are recycled when possible and I create my own beeswax polish made with beeswax from a local beekeeper. The non-toxic waterbased and watercolor paints I use are made in the USA, in fact virtually everything that goes into my toys are USA sourced and I make this a priority.
Q: Do you do custom orders?
A: If you catch me at the right time I love doing custom orders! I often get back-ordered and then have to close custom orders for a while until I catch up again.
Q: What are your hottest sellers?
A: My hottest sellers are my wooden cell phones, four seasons trees and wee house sets. My ornaments are also very popular items around the holidays. I'm in the process of stocking up the store now, so there will be a lot to choose from soon!
Q: What is your ultimate goal for this line?
A: I'm not sure what my ultimate goal is for this line. This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. In most ways, it has already surpassed my expectations. Really, I started it because I loved making the figures and wanted to have an outlet to sell enough that I could keep making more.
I want your children to enjoy the simplicity and innocence of these toys as much as my son does. There is not enough out there that encourages children to use their own creativity and imaginations. These toys let them think outside of the cooperate toymaker's box.
I am not able to take on wholesale accounts because I can't keep up with that amount of orders, so a lot of potential business is lost. I'm at a place where I need to decide if and how I'd like to expand.
Q: Do you have a website or Etsy shop?
A: Yes, I have a website and an Etsy shop for Woodmouse. I also run the sites Make Baby Stuff and Do-It-Yourself Weddings. Stop by for free patterns and great tutorials!
Congratulations Amber! All of us here at Blissfully Domestic wish you the best of luck with your endeavor!
Sylvia is a craft-obsessed freelance writer and mother of two adventurous little boys who loves play with her boys Woodmouse toys when no one is looking. She’s also been known to be a tad bit prudish…
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I love woodmouse! she is fab- we have a wooden cell phone and love it! She is super nice! xo