How Inkling Came to Be

10 years ago, I was manager at a gift shop in Chicago. At the time, my friend Rebecca was in the process of opening her shop Wild Card in Pittsburgh. Her excitement grew every month as she was closer to opening her very own space. I was proud of her. Early in 2010 I questioned my own future. I spent my free time holed up in my apartment making products to sell at craft fairs, saving my profits and living off my day job. That's a lot to ask for, living in such a large city, but I wanted more. What did I want for myself? I wanted to spend my entire day immersed in art. Was that feasible in Chicago? Did I want to make art full-time, or did I want a space for myself? Why not both?

I was scared. Scared to fail, but more afraid of disappointing my friends since I needed their help. I am the sole owner of Inkling, but I did not do this alone. During my years selling my work at art fairs I met incredibly talented artists that I wanted to represent in my shop. I worked with them to curate a unique selection of items to stock my shop and create the atmosphere I had dreamed of.

It started with finding the right space. I lived in Lakeview, so I looked nearby and found a charming stretch of Broadway near Oakdale. Things started to get very real very fast. I think if I had slowed down at any point during the development I would have psyched myself out and frozen in fear. Ten years later, I wouldn't change a thing. I continue to introduce artists that I admire to my community, I’m surrounded by art and creativity every day, and I am lucky to meet exciting people each time my doors open.