Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Keller.
Hi Holly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been designing and creating things with what I had around me for longer than I can remember, but at some point, I decided that doing something arts-based with my life was impractical and probably impossible–this is how I wound up working for about 15 years in the corporate world.
It took the birth of my son to bring my love of creation back out into the light. I was inspired and wanted to make beautiful and unique toys for him. When he was a baby, I took him to the thrift store with me and started seeing the clothes differently–the racks of brightly striped tees became a rainbow of fat little bunnies, the yellow wool sweater was a chicken plushie, a wool tweed jacket was a toad…and that’s how this began.
I’ve been reducing, re-using & amusing through my toy designs for over 15 years now. In 2019 I finally decided to make this my full time (dream) job.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I did not see Beeper Bebe as a potential full time job. It was something I did as a creative outlet, outside of my corporate job as an organizational development consultant. In fact, I even felt embarrassed about the fact that I designed toys and did not share it with anyone I worked with for years. It just felt too incongruous with the very cerebral, business-focused work I was doing and I thought clients or coworkers might judge me. So, it stayed as something I did on the side for about 10 years, but I just kept evolving my designs, improving my sewing skills, and refining my point of view on Beeper Bebe and what it represented. Then I left my corporate job and while I did not initially think Beeper Bebe would become my full time work, it began to take up more and more of my time, and sort of developed its own momentum until I started to see that maybe I could become a full time fiber and toy artist. I think the intersection of people’s interest in environmentally friendly designs, and the explosion of handmade markets really created a path for my little toy business.
Really, I loved making toys as soon as I began doing it, everything about it–picking out secondhand fabrics, hand drawing my patterns, sewing the item, building my online shop, photographing my toys, and selling at craft markets. Today, every time I walk into an art fair to set up my tent, I look around me at the other artists and craftspeople and think, “These are my people.” I feel simultaneously at ease and invigorated doing this–something I never even remotely felt at any other job I had. I am grateful for the other professional experiences I have had, how they have helped me to grow as a person, and the amazing people I have met, but those jobs were never me. It was like a coat I had put on that just didn’t fit right and I was always shifting around and tugging at it, trying to make it feel better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I want kiddos to experience the magic of rainbows, make-believe and sweet dreams. I want to be kind to the earth and use what already exists. I want big people to know that childhood doesn’t have to end just because they’ve grown up–these are the ideas that drive my toy and plushie designs. All of my designs are made from secondhand, up cycled clothing and/or new fabrics that are either organic or environmentally friendly in some way. I feel like my purpose is to bring joy to the world–especially adults. When I an adult buys one of my toy designs for him or herself, I feel like I have accomplished my mission. I always say I design for little people and the little people inside of big people.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can support me in one of two ways–either by buying my work either at art fairs or via my Etsy shop, or I also accept donations of secondhand sweaters (even the ones that are unwearable due to rips, stains, or having shrunk). I am also part of the collaborative of other female artists–the Creative Badasses–and supporting any one of them is just as good as supporting me. They are like my artist sisters and creative support group in one gorgeous group.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/beeperbebe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beeperbebe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beeperbebe/
