Meet Timothee T.

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Timothee T.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Timothee, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I think when it comes to self confidence and self esteem, I have a similar background and struggle to many artists out there, especially those who share my cultural background as an Asian-American.

I grew up in an environment where my interests and attempts in art were heavily discouraged and I was often torn down for it by my family. The words said to me then later morphed into the voices that filled every nook and cranny of my head with so much self-doubt that it spilled over into everything I did, said, and believed.

In my early twenties, things changed. I met the amazing people that I am so proud to be in community with now and this is when my self-confidence and self-esteem really started to build. My doubts were met with endless loving encouragement from my now fiancé. My fears had to fight the likes of my 5’2″, Sanrio-loving, mini-backpack-collecting best friend. And every question of whether I would fail or not was quickly shot down by even my most logic-brained friend—methodically so with incredible precision.

I still struggle with self-esteem and self-confidence, of course. Who doesn’t? Now, though, I understand that self-confidence and self-esteem are made purely of everything put into them. Think of two teacups sitting on a table. Are you surrounding them with people who come by and add things like tea, milk, and sugar…or are you surrounded by those who would dump in mud, dirt, and other very incredibly wrong things for a teacup?

And what are you putting in it as well?

I try my best to put good things into my self-confidence and self-esteem teacups and I try to surround myself with those who would do the same.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Pastel Kingdom Art is a small, handmade art business. As the artist, I craft little trinkets, cute stationary, jewelry, clay charms, and more.

At its core, the art I make is about finding a reason, no matter how small, to feel joy. Pastel Kingdom Art, the small art business, is how I’m able to share that joy with the world.

Getting real personal for a sec here, I started my art business during a really dark time in my life. At the time, I was actively being pursued and harassed by a stalker. For my own safety, I hid and shut myself in. My world became four walls and a window that always had its wooden blinds shut. As you can imagine, any amount of happiness and joy was scarce.

Somewhere between those walls, I found craft and art supplies I hadn’t touched in years. And through the internet, I found friends, art tutorials, and moments of connection. I started crafting, I started creating. I made little amigurumi plushies and painted on cardboard. I made fruit-shaped pet hats that annoyed my cats.

I found moments of joy that held me through months, and later years, of torment and dread.

At some point, I shared a painting I made of a view I missed seeing from a park that I like. It made me feel happy that in this way, I could see it again. Then, someone in my circle of friends asked, “how do I get one of those?” Then, another person asked. And another.

I’m sure you can see where this is going. I started my small art business as a way to share small moments of joy and little reasons to smile. I’m in a better, safer place now and my art has changed in some ways, but the core of it stays the same: I make little things that give me joy, I share that joy with anyone who wants it.

I know it can seem silly to some people, but the little oranges I handmade out of clay and put on earrings? That little crochet mouse holding a macaron? The sticker with the possum that supports both gay rights and gay wrongs? Yeah, those make me so damn happy, actually. I hope they make other people happy too.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Knowing your limits, knowing your audience, and getting yourself out there.

Knowing your limits:
I love crochet, so much. I like making the little plushies and the fruit-shaped hats and one time someone commissioned me to make a crochet lace thong and I couldn’t stop laughing while I made it. Still, I no longer offer crochet items in my shop, at least not regularly or consistently.

And this is because I simply did not know my limits. I loved making things, and I loved that people wanted to commission custom things as gifts for their lovers, friends, or themselves. I crocheted for hours at a time without breaks to keep up with all the orders I took. Annie wanted a matching set of hats for their anniversary with their girlfriend, frog and kitty themed, of course. Ted wanted orange, apple, and blueberry hats for his cat. Kevin just likes scarves. (All these names are fake, by the way, for privacy)

It was great. Everyone was happy with their stuff, I was happy making it. And then I got overuse injuries in both my wrists.

If you love what you do, do it in moderation, take breaks, stretch some, do whatever it is that you need to do to ensure the longevity of your ability to do it.

Knowing your audience:
This one is simpler than you’d think. I used to get bummed when at a vendor event, someone would make some comment about my prices, or my products not being worth it. They’d say something like, “I could get this at Target for like $20 less.”

My art business is a handmade art business where each and every product takes me hours from start to finish and nothing is easily mass-produced. I don’t carry toys that can be made, replicated, and then shipped off to stores all across the country with very little human intervention.

If this person couldn’t understand that, they were never going to buy from me to begin with. There was no reason to be bummed. My audience tends to be the group of friends who shout, “WAIT! IS THAT A PLATYPUS PLUSHIE,” from several vendor tables away and then run over to my booth.

Getting yourself out there:
The whole Small Biz World thing is not easy. There’s a lot of unanswered questions everywhere and researching is great—but can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Please find moments to leave your booth at vendor events, join groupchats if you’re online-based, or even just start commenting on another artist’s posts. Make friends. Friends, community, support—all of these things are going to make your journey so much easier and so much more fulfilling. Shoutout to Bri and Jessica of @glitterandgloom.art . You guys made vending way less intimidating for me and I’ll always be thankful for all the advice you shared.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

There’s one very specific experience of overwhelm that I want to talk about, for people like me who just can’t seem to let things go and whose brains run laps until it all gets to be too much.

Today is done and tomorrow is tomorrow’s issue.

Today is done and tomorrow is tomorrow’s issue.

Today is done and tomorrow is tomorrow’s issue.

When you’re laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, a million problems and a million more possible solutions are running through your head…

When your machine won’t cut right even after recalibrating three times, but you have an important medical appointment to get to…

When the sun has set and there’s still a pile of products left to photograph…

Please remember that today is done and tomorrow is tomorrow’s issue.

You’ve done your best in the time that you had with the tools that you had. Nothing more needs to be done right now. It can wait. Get some rest, get refreshed, remind yourself why you’re doing this—I promise you that the “why” is not so you can be this stressed and this overwhelmed. Set it down, pick it up again tomorrow. And yes, that does in fact include pausing the mental labor you’re doing in coming up with solutions in your head. It’s hard, for sure, but I believe in you!

Today is done and tomorrow is tomorrow’s issue. You’ve got this.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PastelKingdomArt
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastelkingdomart?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==