Meet Daisy McClellan | Artist and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daisy McClellan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daisy, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Ever since I became a mom my work life balance has completely changed. Long gone are the days where I had the freedom to work all day (and night) working out one creative idea. Now I have to be very deliberate about my creative time and work quickly because there are only a few hours each day (if I am lucky!) where I don’t have a child crawling on me or calling out for me. In the newborn days, I would strap my son on my chest and take him to my brick and mortar store, gather in San Francisco and all the customers would o and ah over him. Soon my other two sons were born and quickly a little kids play area was formed behind the counter and that’s when it started to get more challenging. I got very good at working efficiently during their naps and after they went down for the night but I always felt like I needed more time. Eventually I realized we needed help – we had no family nearby to lean on. It’s hard running your own business and having 3 kids under five. My husband and I made the hard decision to sell our much beloved business and make a move to Charleston to be closer to family because it really does take a village. It’s been about a year since we have moved and our lives are much different. My studio is in my home and I get alot of work done there during school, naps, and while my mother-in-law helps out with the boys. I feel lucky I get to spend so much time with my kids but I also love what I do so it is very important for me to make the time for that because it makes me so happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I always knew I wanted to be surrounded by art and make things with my hands. Since I can remember I have always loved painting, fiber art, and partaking in traditional crafts as a form of meditation and self care. At Smith College she studied Studio Art and Spanish which led to working in advertising and branding. Meanwhile a jewelry making hobby rapidly turned into a full fledged business making me a top seller on Etsy and taking me around the country selling her designs at various boutiques and maker markets.

In 2014, my husband and I opened gather, a brick and mortar retail shop in San Francisco where we featured over 200 artists and hosted both public and private creative workshops. Some of our largest events were in the form of team building workshops with companies like Etsy, Pinterest, Zen Desk and Nerd Wallet. In addition, I designed a clothing collection for women and young children, founded a bi-annual shopping market for local boutiques, and worked with several artists on joint collaborations. In early 2020 we made the hard decision to sell the business to move to Charleston, South Carolina with our three sons to be closer to family.

Now in Charleston, I am focusing in my art again – this time through punch needle. Through a workshop at gather, I found punch needle and jumped in with two feet bringing her modern take to this centuries old technique. Combining punch needle with sewing I make wearable objects like bright cardigans and bags as well as items for the home like plant holders and heirloom stuffed animals and baby teethers. I am also interested in incorporating non traditional, easily sourced, and affordable materials like butcher’s twine, recycled clothing, and raffia. I sells my work as well as DIY punch needle kits on my website, in local shops, and at regional art fairs. In addition to creating I offers my expertise as a maker teaching workshops ranging from punch needle to candle making to indigo dying in museums, galleries, and shops around the Charleston area as well as online.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
All of my friends are itching to visit me now that I have moved to Charleston. I think the perfect weekend would include good food, a dose of the outdoors, and some culture.

There is no shortage of good food in Charleston but I might pick Baquette Magic on James Island for breakfast (lovely woman-owned gem), Butcher and Bee on King for lunch (every item on the menu is a delight), and Jackrabbit Filly in North Charleston for dinner (don’t skip the dumplings!)

As for the outdoors, we would most definitely head to the beach. Mine and my kid’s happy place. And we’d probably go on a walk on the greenway too because that’s what we do most days.

As for some culture, we love the Terrace movie theater for independent films. But I’d also suggest a walking tour with the hat lady for a good does of history and architecture. We live in such a beautiful city!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The artist community here in Charleston has been so welcoming. I have to get special thanks to Julia Deckman who was the first person who started selling my punch needle goods in her shop and hosted my workshops. I’ve also had a wonderful experience teaching at Redux Contemporary Art Gallery and recently taught my first class at the Gibbes Museum of Art – which was a dream for me! And above all I couldn’t do any of this with out my husband and mother-in-law who help so much with my sons!

Website: www.daisymcclellan.com

Instagram: @daisymcclellan_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daisy-McClellan-Handicrafts-110818437759925

Image Credits
Kate Blohm