Monday Mumpreneur with Samantha Barnes
Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives and their business to us.
They share with us their motivation, their challenges and their proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then our featured business mums show you what’s possible. Our message is “If we can do it ~ then so can you!”
I so loved reading about this week's featured mumpreneur. She is so inspiring in that she is doing something she loves and knows it's the best job in the whole world. I think I need to meet her - I can just tell we'd have a wonderful time 🙂 She just looks so much fun too x
Your name: Samantha Barnes
Your website: www.samanthabarnes.co.uk
Brief description: I am an Artist that produces drawings, paintings and prints. Am in love with making people laugh and producing artworks that lift spirits immediately.
How many children do you have? Two. Hugo 7 and Martha 4. Gorgeous, delicious, my sun my moon and stars but that’s plenty for me!
Where do you live? In a large village in beautiful North Hampshire, on the River Test.
PC or Mac? PC for years and years and years but as of last Monday – a Mac…finally.
Tell us about your business. I am an Artist that is passionate about drawing. I make works that sell all over the country in galleries and exhibitions. More recently I am spending time printmaking which is enormously inspiring as it allows me to supply my work further afield and produce my own multiples in my studio – bliss. My drawings are laced with humour, its been said that I was blessed with a large sense of humour at birth…I tend to agree. The second part of my business is get people drawing and painting themselves. I dream up and run workshops, family art events, business art do’s, and painting weekends to get others creating too. I adore doing these workshops as am quite naturally bossy and fizzing with energy and passion about my subject.
What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?
I believe that I am a much better and balanced mum for doing something that I love doing. I also think that it’s good for my children to see me up and doing. We are all going to have to work into a ripe old age, so it’s important for them to see my business working and fitting around us. Also money…I love making money from something that I’m nuts about.
What’s been your biggest challenge in business?
Carving out proper time in which to do my job. My children are getting older now so I get a bit more independence, but for years I worked on the kitchen table or anywhere with an inch of floor space to grab 10 minutes as the babes watched Nightgarden or engaged in something else… it was hard. It was impossible to take my business seriously until 2 years ago and it was very liberating when I got there.
How have you overcome it?
Social media has really helped as you get instant feedback which is fantastic for a visual business. Also, I would say that taking myself seriously as a viable business counted for much. My family have been fantastic with lots of support and a willingness to see me get back to what I was put on this earth to do. Most importantly, I now have a studio space to work in. (bliss).
What’s been your proudest business moment?
Truthfully, its when people pay me money for work that I made. It’s the best feeling.
What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote?
‘Good, better, best, never let it rest, until the good is better and the better is the best’.
What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?
To relax I go to work and paint everyday – it’s the best job in the world for that. I love to listen to audio books as I work. The other tip I have is to go to bed ridiculously early when I know that I’m tired… as in 7.30, bang after putting the babes to bed. Sleep restores everything for me.
What was the last treat you bought for yourself? My gorgeous new Mac.
Favourite colour: Probably a fuchsia pink.
Favourite flowers: Freesia’s as they smell divine and are bliss to paint in big white splodges.
What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?
If you are a self-starter you are laughing. Keep passionate about what you’re doing. Make full use of the free gift that is social media…tell the world.
Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mumpreneurs? Drop me an email over on the contact page - and I’ll be in touch. Or let me know in a comment below. And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.
