Torrie is the mega babe behind Fox & Hazel, a talent calligrapher and painter behind the High River based company. With bright pink hair, you won’t miss this shining bright light in the local arts community!
Torrie – FOX & HAZEL
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF.
At Fox & Hazel, I sell art prints of my original watercolour paintings and hand lettering, mostly of quotes. It started of with an initial interest in calligraphy, which grew to loving brush lettering. I’m currently a wife, and SAHM to two girls (3&2 years old). In between everything else life has going on, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a working artist in 2015, and have not regretted it for a minute! I have loved creating from a young age, and my favourite outlets are painting, art journaling and cross stitch. I also have pink hair, which, is probably the best decision I’ve made in the last 3 months. Every day I feel like a rock star – which is how life should feel, amiright?
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
I finally took the plunge and opened up Fox & Hazel in October of 2015. It’s just still a fresh babe in the this big world of indie biz!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I’ve been wanting to sell my work for a couple of years, but had never made the time or space for it to happen. At the start of 2015, I made it a goal to make that dream happen for myself. I was especially encouraged by an online art journaling group I’m a part of and launched online in October. I made a goal to be able to create a business for myself that was flexible to my life, instead of trying to re-arrange my life around a job.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
I’m inspired by SO many things! Inspiration is all around you if you’re looking for it . I like to focus on quotes, so I find anything that is equally empowering and a little silly to really be up my alley. I am a hoarder of ephemera and digital images, which is great when I am lacking inspiration. I keep anything I think would be a good jumping point for a colour scheme or a direction I want to take my work.
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
I’d love to see my business become more than a small side gig, and really expand my product line beyond prints. As I mentioned before, I’m also an avid art journaler, so I’m hoping to expand Fox & Hazel to include that area and teach some art journaling workshops this year.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
Instagram hands down! I’m a dedicated IGer and do almost all my promoting/engaging/sharing on there. The instagram community is so rich with other creatives and indie businesses, that it’s a great network to be a part of.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
Taking a step back & taking a break usually helps me find my feet again and refocus. It’s okay to be sad, disappointed, angry, etc about business. It’s all about allowing yourself to feel defeated for a short time, then deciding it’s not going to hold you back and start making a plan to move forward. And a good cry helps too.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
Hmm.. I don’t know if there’s something that no one knows, but MOST people don’t know that I spent my teen years as a scene kid in Calgary! I had snake bite lip rings, terrible backcombed hair and managed to get kicked in the face in a mosh pit at a Saosin concert. My teen years were good to me, haha.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
UGH. Super speed so I could do all my obligations & “have-to’s” in the blink of an eye. Like the damn laundry that never folds itself! Then I could slow down and spend time doing things I really enjoy, like playing with my girls and painting!
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES? (Please include links)
Instagram: @foxandhazel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FoxandHazel
Blog: http://foxandhazel.blogspot.ca
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR STUFF?
You can find Fox & Hazel online both at Storenvy and Etsy
http://foxandhazel.storenvy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Foxandhazel
You can also find Fox & Hazel in person at Pixie Hollow Bookstore in High River, and in Okotoks at mint + maple this coming spring!