Corvidae: A Decade In

Corvidae : A Decade In

Ten years ago, I showed up to  a holiday craft fair with something new—and absolutely no idea that it would quietly change my life.

I had gone to school for Fine Art. I earned my BFA with an emphasis in watercolor and spent years doing what so many artists do: selling work on the side while work a full time job, chasing the dream of making it full time, convincing myself this year might be the year. It never quite happened. The leap always felt just a little too far. And then—one day—it hit me. What if my art didn’t just hang on walls?

Instead of original paintings, prints, and cards, I showed up to a small holiday craft fair a decade ago with hand-printed tea towels, napkins, tote bags—functional pieces infused with the same artwork I loved making. Fine art, but useful. Art that lived in kitchens, went to the farmer’s market, got a little worn and loved.

To my surprise, everything sold.

More than that, something clicked. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t just a good weekend—it was a new direction. Several months later, I quit my full-time job and in May, Corvidae officially launched. I stepped into a life that felt equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.

I had hopes. I had expectations. But I couldn’t have imagined where I’d be ten years later.

In the beginning, these new products were printed on my living room table or sewn in my guest bedroom with a tiny hobby sewing machine. The hand-printed textiles were hung to dry over my rocking chair and a laundry rack, and I weaved my way through my own home like it was a makeshift studio. When I moved into my first real space in Kalispell—600 square feet—it felt enormous. Luxurious, even.

Now, at 1,500 square feet, I’m bursting at the seams and casually searching for a new space like it’s a weekly ritual.

The truth is, I never knew exactly where this path would lead. I just knew I had to take the first step. There was fear at the beginning—of course there was—but not enough to make me turn back. Each bend in the trail brought something new. Challenges, yes. Hard moments, absolutely. But I learned quickly that you don’t avoid those things—you meet them, work through them, and keep going. Trust the process. Trust the dream.

For nearly ten years now, I’ve been living the dream I had as a kid—the one who filled notebook margins with drawings and couldn’t stop creating. I became a self-employed artist. I work for myself. I still have moments where I stop, look around, and think… Is this real? It’s a genuine pinch-me feeling.

I don’t know exactly where the next ten years will take Corvidae, but I know this: I’m excited to keep exploring. I’ll climb some mountains—there’s no doubt about that—but I have a feeling the views will be worth every single grueling step and every drop of sweat.

Here’s to the next decade