I think back to the time Josh and I got to talk with Regina Spektor on the phone last fall, and I realize I’ve lived on cloud nine for all the months that have followed. Interviewing Regina, a woman and artist I’ve admired for years, and learning more about what inspires her as a musician and a human being encouraged me to keep pursuing all the little dreams I have in my head, to just create without fear, and always work on being a better me.
There are quite a few people in this world that inspire me on a daily basis, and I’m so excited to share a with you a few interviews with these talented individuals as they share their thoughts and ideas behind pursuing their dreams and living life to the fullest.
I’m kicking these little Rockstar Interviews off with the talented Miss Elsie Flannigan, who, if you don’t already know, I am sure you’ll instantly love. She is the queen of making beautiful things and runs an online shop and local boutique in Missouri. I adore her blog – and her darling little pug! Hope you enjoy!
I’m Elsie Flannigan. I live in Missouri and run (my dream job) an online and local boutique full time. I spend lots of time making things, blogging and playing with my little pug.
Jeremy and I met through a mutual friend at a local concert. We became a couple pretty much instantly, but didn’t admit it for a month or two. :) He wrote me a song a few weeks after we met and now we’re together forever…
Yes! I like to make different projects all the time. One day paintings, the next day necklaces and the next day dresses. It’s fun to skip from project to project and never get stuck on one thing for too long.
Vintage shopping, fashion photography and good movies.
Peter Pan. always & forever.
rice krispies treats, smoothies and anything with peanut butter.
it’s most difficult to *stop* working and just enjoy a break, it almost never happens and i guess that’s a shame? even in Hawaii i filled a whole journal full of ideas for my store (oops).
what i love most is thinking about how excited my 16 year old self would have been to know i would grow up and do a real ‘dream job’. it’s one of my happiest thoughts.
i never skip family stuff, but i skip almost everything else (at times). working independently, it’s important to make sacrifices… just never family time. :)
with Red Velvet work i keep daily goals (2-3 goals each day) so it’s not overwhelming and i can get the most important things done. balancing time is tricky, but i got so much easier after i established a healthy routine that i could live with daily. I believe in protecting the things i love (including my relationships and my love for making things), so being healthy about goal making and time management is important. no one is perfect. :)
She seems so sweet! How lovely! Im gonna go check her bloggy now!
ps. I loved your regina spektor interview last year (and now i love her music!) Great recommendation Taza! :)
xx
jamie
okay – officially inspired beyond belief – almost like quit-my-temp-job-and-get-sewing/painting/collage-ing/dancing/writing/making inspired… (i wish there was no almost…or I'd walk out of here right now, with my pictures and quotes in a box!)
i love these interviews! thanks, naomi!
I will have to check out Elsie, but for now I have to say I'm dying over your interview with Regina. She's been a long time fave of mine- I can't even explain! Why doesn't she tour more?! I would kill to see her in concert- her music is so original and inspired!
I love Elsie! I was a part of her Style School and it changed my life! Thanks for this interview! xo
That was I great interview. love her! I like it because I always feel like I need to pick one thing for my shop and stick with it and I get so bored. Now I will let my imagination take over. thank you
How crazy – her store is in my hometown (Springfield, Missouri). I may just have to pop in when I'm in town over Easter. Thanks for introducing me to her!
You are way too young to remember, but Dan Fogelberg had an album once called "Twin Sons of Different Mothers." I think you and Elsie are twin sisters from different mothers.
Both just absolutely adorable and beyond talented!
I loved this post and I love her site and blog just checked it out amazing!
You were right! She is one cool lady and I love her work. Thanks for the awesome interview post!
great idea to interview people! I love Elsie's blog and I loved reading more about her :)
Loved this interview, love her shop & blog.
If I ever make it on my cross country road trip I will most definitely have to make it to Missouri and check out her boutique!
Brigitte
http://www.alovelydaydream.blogspot.com
I have been following Elsie and Red Velvet for about as long as I have been following you (2008). Her work is amazing. I wish I had a creative soul. Thanks for the fun interview.
Thank you so much for doing these interviews. I love this idea. I will be looking forward to each and every one of them. She seems so sweet and she is very inspiring. Her dog is adorable.
Jen
lemondroplove.com
i've followed elsie for years now, and this is one of my favorite interviews with her so far!!!
Oh this is awesome! She sounds really cool & I love her lil pillows!!! I'm so going to go check out her blog!
Wow. She is awesome. I can see how you are inspired by her! =D
A Beautiful Mess is on my list of favorite blogs (along with Rockstar Diaries!) I love reading interviews of inspiring women. I'm excited about this new blog series you're doing! :)
LOVE elsie's blog always!!!
xo.
I love Elsie-she's quirky and cool. There's alwys something FUNky on her blog and you have to love a girl who makes crazy hats for her dog! *grins*
I ♥ Elsie. ☺
Oh my gosh I love Elsie and her sweet little blog. She's so inspiring.
This is great! She's so creative!
Love her work! Love to read interviews too :) Thanks!
These interviews are such a wonderful idea! Especially for us aspiring small business owners, it's really nice to hear some success stories!
This is adorable, Elsie and Naomi! What a great idea. I LOVE the picture of the pug in the hat. Made me laugh out loud (literally!) and want my very own pug.
These crafts look like a ton of fun, and a something I would love to check out. Also- very inspiring. It's exciting to see someone doing their "dream job" like that and having such a wonderful time!
Ahh I love finding out new blogs, thanks for introducing one, she is very talented!
oh my goodness, a convergence of two of my favorite bloggers!! what a great time. Thanks for this.
I LOVE that you are doing this! I'm already so inspired by you and now I love to meet more women who know what they love and do it. So very inspiring to me. Thank you!
Danielle
i looove elsie, she's so inspirational. I actually discovered this blog through hers! :D
I loved this! Thanks for introducing her!
My family lives just 45 minutes north of her cute little shop! I can't wait until the next time I go for a visit because I will most definitely be stopping by with my sisters! <3
I can't wait to check out her blog, she seems adorable!
This is a great Elsie interview!!! Now to venture over to your Regina interview…how fun!
xoxo
I love Elsie's blog, I check it every few days, because she is so creative and inspiring.
what a great interview. very inspirational!
http://www.rougeblancnoir.blogspot.com
http://www.luciesees.blogspot.com
Came here from her blog. Love yours. And love what you believe ;)
i adore elsie's blog. i love her creativity. her projects are always so much fun to read about. her shop is seriously darling. i've been a follower of her for a while now.
i really like that she's living out her dream. not many people do that, so she's a true inspiration!
oh I am SOOOO EXCITED about these rockstar interview sessions!!!
i bought the "ten things i love about you" scrapbook set from elsie's shop last feb. and LOVE it!!! it was the best vday gift for my boy Max :)
HURRAY for your series xoxo
Loving Elsie's red dress!!! Did Elsie make it???
She is such an inspiration and motivation. She makes me get my ideas out of my head and into action. Love her and great interview!!
'A Beautiful Mess' is the first blog I check in the morning when I get to work – it's been well over a year now!
I adore the lovely & Amazing Elsie Cake and thank you for this interview! She is SO inspiring, as are her other Red Velvet Ladies!
Her dream job is so close to my own dream job – LOVE it!
wow! by this interview, i get to know more about Elsie Flannigan. am a fan of her, I love how she creates wonderful things. I follow her blog everyday and it enthralls me to see those cute stuffs that she made and makes. thanks rockstar diary for interviewing Elsie Flannigan. ♥ i`ll follow you too from now on. ;)
Thank you for introducing me to Elsie!
I like your BLOG very much. :)
oh my goodness. she is totally rad.
Thank you for introducing me to Elsie's shop, she's so very talented and with so many beautiful things for sale I've needed reinforcements to prevent me from buying everything!
if you and elsie got together…there might be a cuteness overload in blogland.
Just found your blog and love it!
Great women…Very driven….Sounds like my husband LOL
Awesome Naomi!!!
Gros bisous
frenchy
Peter Pan! Here here!
Love this interview!
wow, what an incredibly inspiring woman. her shop is just lovely.
oh and thanks for sharing.
i want to be her! she is adorable in every way.
great interview!! I love Elsie, she's truly inspiring and a SUPER dedicated woman. I get motivated just from being around her, or getting an e-mail from her. :)
Glad this interview introduced me to your blog!
xo
I love the questions you ask people, not the typical "blogger interview" questions! the photos included are so pretty too!
can we talk about how excited i am for these interviews? what a great series!
yay these will be saw -wheet! you are quite the interviewer and i loved this one, she is so darling.
Aw yay I love her! I first came across Elsie on flickr, and she's such an inspiration! I'm so glad I did find her too because, it's because of her that I got the courage to start painting myself!
I love Elsie and her blog! Such great inspiration and gorgeous photos!