Dream to Reality: Laurie Mosco + Stellar Baby

As a start-up company we know the hours it takes to build a dream into a reality. We aren’t strangers to the passion, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that go into making a product and selling it online, so it's just right and brings delight to your community. And we understand the desire to create a business that serves the greater good and the planet.

All this is to say, we love fellow B-Corp Etsy for its community engagement and we’re in awe of the talented “Etisans” the online marketplace supports. You know what we’re talking about — it’s impossible to visit the site without making so many cool discoveries for your home, family, and friends. So, we’re excited to sit down, learn from, and get inspired by Laurie Mosco, the owner and maker behind Stellar Baby.

Giving birth to a baby also meant giving birth to a new career.

“I think the defining moment for me was when I had my son. I’ve always been very passionate about my career and, prior to his arrival, it was easy to throw my whole self into it. Having a baby forced me to stop for a moment. In that time, I found myself craving a creative outlet. And, with that, I decided to start experimenting with screen printing.”

The best business and creative ideas arrive when you least expect them.

“Inspiration is everywhere. I look at everything and my mind pulls a pattern out of it. I find beauty in simplicity. But it needs to happen naturally for me, or else I just overthink it, change the design a hundred times, and become too critical.

I do, however, make sure I have a notepad and camera with me at all times. Most importantly I keep a notepad on my bedside table because I tend to have a thought/idea that moment just before I fall asleep. I write everything down—anything and everything can spark a creative idea.”

Embrace everyday messes as part of the entrepreneurial and creative process.

“I love that I have the freedom to be creative. Sometimes, the messier my day is, the more creative I find myself to be. I am an artist that finds ink-splattered jeans, stained hands, and even knotted hair a sign of a productive day. It’s a sign that my mind was in the moment and focused solely on my work.”

Creating artwork, totes, and baby onesies with eco-friendly inks and materials is an important Stellar Baby design element.

“Being conscious of the environment is a big deal for me. In every situation, I want to be sure that I am doing my part in preserving our planet. If there is a safer, more eco-friendly option, I’m all for it. Plus, using a product full of chemicals that would touch a baby’s skin or even end up in a baby’s mouth it just didn’t make sense to me. Similarly, when creating a product that promotes recycling and reusing, such as a tote bag, it only made sense to use eco-friendly inks.”

Etsy and the Internet are invaluable resources for designers and entrepreneurs.

“Etsy, what a great place! I always visited Etsy and shopped their site. So, when I decided that I wanted to start screen printing, Etsy seemed like the perfect place to begin. I was a little intimidated at first because they have some pretty incredible sellers, but right away my work was embraced. Now, I have customers from all over the world using my products. And there is nothing better than seeing one of my pieces find its home—whether that’s an Aussie baby sporting a Stellar Baby bodysuit or a tote bag in Holland filled with local produce. Etsy is an inspiring environment on the Web, which I feel very lucky to be a part of and gave me the confidence to launch my own Web site shopstellarbaby.com. And the Internet is just filled with inspiration...I can tour an art exhibit on the other side of the world, how great is that! In general, both platforms have put me in touch with some amazing people and products that I would never have had the opportunity to come in contact with.”

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes when building your dream into a reality.

"Albert Einstein once said, 'A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.' Everything in life is a learning process and in order to really find yourself and know what you are capable of, you have to be willing to accept mistakes and learn from them."

To see more of Laurie’s work and get inspired, visit her Web site and Etsy shop. Honest community members can enjoy 15% off a purchase at either site using the code HONEST15. The coupon expires September 30, 2013. And, of course, drop her a line in the comments below!