Sitting across from Kristen Chamberlain during our latest Creative Juggle Joy recording felt like catching up with an old friend.
Watching her eyes light up when she talked about her digital mosaics—those high‑poly flowers and geometric shapes she so carefully pieces together—reminded me why we do this work. It’s about passion, patience and the joy of making something beautiful by hand.
Kristen shared how a sudden lay‑off became the spark she needed to build an online shop and take her art seriously. Rather than seeing it as a setback, she saw an invitation: invest time in a business that could someday replace her factory job.
Today she sells printable cards from her own website, mugs and ornaments through Zazzle, fabric designs on Spoonflower and more.
What touched me most was her honesty about the juggling act. Kristen still works full‑time and helps care for her dad, squeezing art into evenings and early mornings.
She’s a workaholic, she says with a laugh—and yet you can feel the pride when she talks about the systems she’s built and the progress she’s made. In the Thrive community, she shows up quietly, listens deeply and adapts ideas to suit her own path.
As we wrapped up, Kristen told me that even though her art is digital, it’s fully handmade—no AI can replicate the care she pours into each piece.
That devotion, combined with her gentle humour (yes, vanilla ice cream can be an artist’s favourite!), left me feeling hopeful for every maker working hard behind the scenes.
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Resources or Businesses Mentioned in This Episode
· City Mouse Art website – Kristen’s home base for printable cards and art prints
- Kristen's Zazzle Shop
- Kristen's Social Channels: Pinterest Instagram TikTok
· Spoonflower Shop – Fabrics and wallpapers featuring City Mouse Art designs
· Five Cards and Five Days Challenge – The creative challenge that introduced Kristen to our community
· Card Isle – The platform Kristen used for her first holiday cards
Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means either Kaylie or Delores may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). We only share tools or products we genuinely love and use ourselves.
