Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlee Ingersoll.
Hi carlee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember, but things really started to take shape in college when I was living in Athens. I was hand-drawing prints and hanging them up in coffee shops throughout the city. Pretty much anywhere someone might see them. It was just a way to share what I was making and connect with people.
After moving to D.C., I started teaching myself how to draw digitally and began selling my work at local markets. That’s when things started to pick up. I was figuring out what people responded to, developing my style, and building up a body of work that felt more like me.
Over the last couple of years, I started designing greeting cards, and those quickly became a big part of what I do. What started as a creative outlet has grown into a full product line that I now sell online and in shops around the country. It’s been a slow, self-taught process that’s always been rooted in curiosity and finding joy in making things.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be.
I didn’t go into this with a business plan or any formal training. I just kept creating and learning as I went, which meant figuring out a lot through trial and error. In the beginning, I had no clue how to price my work or what it actually took to run the back end of a business. Sometimes I still wonder if I’m doing things the ‘right’ way.
One of the hardest parts, even now, is outreach. It takes so much energy to research shops, write emails, and basically pitch yourself over and over, hoping someone sees the value in what you’re creating. It can be pretty discouraging when you don’t hear back, or when you put yourself out there and it doesn’t lead to anything, but that doesn’t make me stop trying.
I also run all of this on my own, so it’s easy to get in my head or feel overwhelmed. But I’ve gotten better at trusting myself and focusing on what actually feels fun or meaningful. There’ve definitely been rough patches. Slow sales, burnout, or markets that flopped, but every challenge has pushed me more towards clarity about what I want to make and who I’m making it for.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create illustrated greeting cards, prints, and stickers that mix humor, honesty, and a little bit of chaos. A big part of my work centers around cats, sometimes sweet, sometimes unhinged, but always full of personality. I’ve found that those pieces really resonate with people of all ages. I regularly hear from both parents buying art for their kids’ rooms and adults who are just as obsessed with their pets as I am.
My work tends to land somewhere between playful and personal. I like making things that feel like a little inside joke or emotional support in paper form. I think that’s part of why my audience is so wide. The designs are fun and approachable, but there’s also some real feeling behind them.
What sets me apart is probably the voice in my work. It’s specific, a little weird, and not overly polished. But that’s exactly what makes it feel human. I’m proud that I’ve been able to grow this business while staying true to that voice and that it’s found a home with people of all different ages and backgrounds.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I really believe in supporting small businesses whenever you can. They bring so much personality, creativity, and heart to our communities. Every small business is run by someone who’s putting in a ton of time and energy into something they care about, and that’s definitely worth showing up for.
When you shop small, you’re not just buying a product. You’re helping someone keep going and encouraging more creativity and unique ideas to exist in the world. I feel really lucky to be part of that community and even luckier to have people who support what I do.
So if there’s a shop, artist, or small business you love, tell a friend, leave a review, or just let them know you appreciate what they’re doing. It really makes a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carleeingersoll.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/carleebird
