Today is the day that my dreams are blossoming into reality as I open The Whimsy Merchant online marketplace. Thank you all for encouraging me and supporting me along the way. I would like to share with you a little bit of my back story behind The Whimsy Merchant so you can see where it all started.

I have always been fascinated with creating anything and everything. When I was in 7th grade I drew a giant flower on my wall… in crayon, which I intended to paint, but was gently told by my mother that it was not an option. I learned how to sew watching my great grandmother and my grandmother. In fact, my grandmother helped me sew the first purse I ever made. Fast forward to high school, I made my dress for prom, which my dad had to sew me into because the button hole attachment for my sewing machine was broken. When I began looking at colleges I quickly realized that a fashion design degree from SCAD would not be in my budget. I applied and was accepted with a scholarship but it was not nearly enough to cover all of the expenses. I looked into other schools but I did not have peace. After much prayer and contemplation, I decided to attend Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

While I was there, I founded a sewing club called “Sew it Seams”. The service club made handmade items for various organizations, including recycled t-shirt cloth diapers that were sent to a village in Nicaragua. During this time I declared Visual Art as my major and began exploring studio arts. Somewhere between my freshman year and junior year, I opened my Etsy shop. Originally the name was “Clothes by Rose” because I intended on selling my handmade garments; however, I closed the shop and reopened it as The Whimsy Merchant. This time around it was simply a place to sale all of my whimsical creations, from salvaged leather wallets to art. It was a place where I could make anything with no one to say whether it was right or wrong. It was a place of creative freedom but separate from my professional body of artwork.

While pursuing my M.F.A. in Painting (from SCAD because God is awesome) and working full time as a teacher, I continued making handmade items and decorative art. During this time, The Whimsy Merchant wasn’t just my side hustle. I didn’t really make much money, probably just enough to cover the cost of the materials but it was my creative outlet as well as a way I could show others how much I cared. Giving friends and family members handmade items made the gifts special because my heart was part of what was being gifted. As an artist, pursuing painting was a dream; however, I needed something I could create without worrying about why or how. I just needed to make art. I was accepted to exhibit at the Country Living Fair in 2015. This was my first real experience selling my work in person. I had exhibited my fine art in galleries but selling directly, face to face, was new and I LOVED it! I was able to talk with customers about my work, answer questions, and share ideas with them. I was able to meet other artisans and makers. It was a dream. Since then, I have exhibited every year and for the last two years I have had the privilege to teach painting workshops during the event. Needless to say, my experience with the Country Living Fair has surpassed my wildest dreams propelling the opportunity for me to sale my work to a broader market.

Over the last year I have had a significant increase in exhibition opportunities in the US and abroad. This has opened the door for a rise in sales both with my fine art and whimsical goods. The Victoria Phillips Studio and Gallery launched this spring with dream of The Whimsy Merchant tagging along behind. I am so proud to say that The Whimsy Merchant now falls under the gallery as both are significant to my creative process.

I hope that my works encourages you to sow kindness so that you might reap joy.