Chapter One:
Ursula started in 1989 creating hand glazed ceramic tile that she sold to gourmet stores and galleries all over the country. Six years later Eric joined the company and they traveled far and wide selling the tiles and mosaics at art fairs, filling wholesale orders when they were home. Tiring of the romantic gypsy life on the road, painting with blobby glazes and working with heavy, fragile material, a company in California proposed Ursula design for them. Ursula and Eric move to Montana.
Chapter Two:
Life in Montana was a beautiful adventure. Licensed artwork paid the bills, there was a break from running a production studio, the weimaraners were alive, horses joined the family and Eric learned to cook. If you observe the hero's journey you know the second chapter has to end in a place of uncertainty, a little dark, on the razor's edge. After about six years of bliss and prosperity, the company in California changed gears, the economy tanked, someone got sick, some animals died. The Montana dream came to an end.
Chapter Three:
After a period of despair, grief and loss there is renewal, but it's a flame that needs to be fanned. Deciding to return to their roots as a production studio, this time around there was a list of criteria. 1) Stay small, fat & happy. 2) The subject matter had to be a source of joy and happiness and laughter. Something that reminded people there is love. 3) The material had to be lightweight (for shipping) and inexpensive (hello economy). Dog Magnets! Ursula and Eric took the first samples to a local store, which bought them outright and asked for more. Now they ship magnets, cards, prints and coasters to 400 stores. Ursula does the artwork, design, printing, sourcing, communicating, dog spoiling and horse training. Eric packs the orders, built the live/work studio, runs to the post office, loads the show booth, goes to the bank, grows the kefir and keeps the family nourished. They have new relationships with manufacturers in the U.S. so they can offer Ursula's artwork on a variety of products too large for them to make in their studio. They are committed to staying small and being present. Moral of the story: Practice gratitude, it's essential. Be kind, be kind, be kind.