Designer insights with Amy Renea

Amy Renea is a writer, photographer, gardener and maker.  Her first book, ‘Crafting With Nature’, releases March 22nd  and focuses on easy-to-grow plants and gatherable woodland, tropical and pantry materials that can all be used to create crafts, DIY, bath and body products and edible creations from the kitchen.  Grow. Gather. Make. Give. Perfect for beginner gardeners or crafters (or both!), this is a book that the creative mind will embrace and enjoy; and is the next step in Amy’s passionate quest to bring gardening back into vogue. Gardening is Amy’s therapy, creative outlet and inspiration and she’s on a mission to help others find the same sense of satisfaction from it!

Designer Insights - Amy Renea

Image Credit: 1-5) Amy Renea, Crafting With Nature

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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?

My style is white and wood + plants.  Those basics are the foundation and then I layer bits of natural colors, textures and pretty things that strike my fancy.  A home without plants is dead inside.

2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?

When I start a new project, I typically dive into planning obsessively, making diagrams and lists in sketch journals until I have a solid idea of what the end result will be.  I am typically really invested in one project at a time, but have 3-4 in various stages of completion in the background.

3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?

I have worked with many creative people and  I have a lot of respect for any that become very successful, but still remain humbly down to Earth.  The first that comes to mind is the sweet Frances Schultz.

4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?

I typically don't look for inspiration, instead it whacks me over the head.  Once hit, I go into that obsessive spiral of lists and diagrams. Sometimes all it takes is the name of a new plant and I will want to plan a new garden around it.

5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

I started as a blogging mom that wanted to share pictures with family online. Realizing that ambition is hard for stay at home moms I cycled through various creative careers to find my favorite yet as an author. I got to this point by working late nights, early mornings, through naptimes and by swimming in the opposite direction of everyone else. When others attended a large conference, I would network smaller and local, enabling me to make connections that were steps on the ladder to my ultimate goal of writing a book.