Mommaprenuer: Anne Hayman, Lotus Flower Herbals/Rhee Dunn

Tell us about yourself: I am a 35 year old mom of 4 kids, ages 13, 11, 8, and a 9 month old baby girl. I am a Holistic Health Practitioner, Esthetician, Aromatherapist, and Herbalist. I make and sell Herbal Wellness & Holistic Aromatherapy products, and healing gemstone jewelry. I love to be creative and try new things, and new ways of expressing myself. I like to paint, sew, make jewelry, crochet… My husband jokes that I have too many hobbies.

How did you start creating your artwork? I started painting as a kid, and fell in love with how I felt while being creative. My mom taught me how to sew when I was 13, and I began making jewelry as a young teenager. I used to take apart my jewelry and remake it into a whole new piece, hence the name Rhee Dunn for my jewelry line. I am very interested in natural materials and like to use healing gemstones in my jewelry. I started making Herbal Products when I moved to Southern California in 1994. I befriended a Native American Medicine Woman, and she gave me a book about medicinal herbs that she wrote, and I fell in love! I made a few things as gifts for my friends that year for Christmas. They loved them so much and encouraged me to go to school to become an Herbalist. I continued my education and kept making new products. Having children brought about the desire to make products for them that I trusted were safe. They worked so well that friends and family wanted them, and it has just evolved from there. I am always making new products!

How did you make the decision to pursue your art career and work from home? I used to work full time at a spa, then part time on my own business, but after my 9 month old was born I made the decision to stay home with her. I have put more energy into my art, and have gotten even more back in return!

How do you balance work and family? That is a tough one! Luckily I have a supportive family. My oldest daughter helps me a lot by playing with the baby, and my mom is around to help out as well. I try to do as much as I can while baby is napping and kids are in school. I spend my evening hours with my family and I stay up later at night to work while everyone is asleep.

If you could go back in time to the beginning stages of your venture, what advice would you give yourself? “try to find a way to clone yourself” just kidding, I would tell myself to be patient!

Tell us about your average day: I wake up to take the kids to school, then come home and I feed my baby daughter. Then, while she takes her morning nap, I answer E-mails. She takes another mid-day nap and I either make products, make jewelry, sew, package orders, or work on The Handmade Gift Guide. Afternoons are spent playing with my daughter and helping kids with homework. My husband works out of town a lot, so usually it’s just the kids and I during the week. After we eat dinner, the kids and I hang out or we read. After the kids are in bed I finish up whatever I was working on earlier in the day and I usually get to bed around midnight or 1am. Somewhere in there the laundry and housework seems to get done The weekends are family time!

What do you love most about owning and operating your own creative business? I love the flexibility of scheduling my own day. I am a very focused and energetic person, so I have no problem with motivation. I am very glad to be home with my children.

Besides your work and family, what else do you enjoy doing? I really enjoy going for walks with my kids and being in nature. I have an herb garden that I bring indoors in the winter. I love yoga and swimming when I have time. I LOVE baking and making up crazy new recipes. I do wish I had more time to read!

Why do you think consumers should shop handmade? I think it is very important that people realize the beauty in one-of-a-kind goods. The love that is put into handmade items is immeasurable. I started The Handmade Gift Guide to help support and promote artists who put their heart and soul into their work because I believe so strongly in it. Making art and using your creativity is very meditative, and I think that it is important to support that kind of positive energy in the world!