TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
My name is Kayley and I am the owner of Wrinkle & Crease Paper Products. I live in Calgary which has been my home for almost 10 years. 9 years ago I married my husband Geoff and we have spent the last several years traveling, finishing school, building careers, traveling some more, and setting up roots in a city we've grown to love. 3 years ago, our daughter Avalyn was born - and I became the Mother of the spunkiest, most life-loving, energy filled little girl I've ever known. We love the outdoors, and that's where you'll find us most any time we can be out there!
Outside of my work, I love running, and yoga and hiking. One of my main draws to Calgary was being so close to the mountains. I love to read and you can often find a stack of 5 new books on my night stand on my currently reading list. And I love to explore. Whether it's a new coffee shop in the city, a hike that I've never tried out before, or a new country that I can adventure through I love seeing new things, meeting new people and something I feel so blessed I've been able to do both on my own and with my family.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BUSINESS?
A year and a half ago I started a stationery line, called Wrinkle & Crease. I design a line of products including greeting cards, notepads, planners, gift tags, coasters and other paper products. I've always been a bit of a paper nerd. I love sending cards, i'm a notebook/journal writer, and although I'm tech savvy and do use the digital calendar, I will always use a paper agenda. I started my business while I was on maternity leave with Avalyn. I had always wanted my own business, and as I neared the end of my maternity leave I knew that I wasn't ready to go back to my job. I wanted flexibility, I wanted more time with Avalyn, and something about having a daughter and wanting to teach her that she could go after anything she dreamed gave me the courage to begin something that had always been in my dreams. The idea for Wrinkle & Crease came from wanting to shop for myself and not finding the minimal, elegant paper products that I wanted myself. I decided - why not create them myself.
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
I've had some pretty exciting opportunities and moments lately...but one of my favourite was a few months ago when I was out at a class here in Calgary. I was introduced to a woman and our mutual friend introduced me as Kayley from Wrinkle & Crease. She turned and looked at me and said YOU'RE Wrinkle & Crease???? I know you. I love your stuff! It still stands out as one of my proudest moments. I've worked hard to create products that mean something to me and that will mean something to others. To have someone see your work and notice it, and moreover to like it - that is such an honour.
HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED?
I take breaks. I surround myself with great people, that inspire me and encourage me and I make time for those things because they energize me. That helps to keep me motivated and inspired. When I reach a point where I feel unmotivated or uninspired - I take time to go do what I love, and be with the people that give me a boost. It's so important!
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
The daily struggle! A big reason that I went off on my own was for flexibility and to be able to choose how I spent my time and to have more time with my family. I have to remind myself of this sometimes. It's a challenge - there are always a million things going on running a business. It's a constant effort to find that balance. There are some weeks where it feels like I work non stop, and so I never feel bad to switch gears and spend the next week enjoying life, and enjoying time with family and friends and doing the things that light me up. I don't have this all figured out, but I guess I would say that I try my best to prioritize what's important to me, in all areas of my life and at the end of the week
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOM MOMENT?
Hmm. There have been some really cool moments lately...Avalyn is 3 now and there is so much personality coming out at this stage. Her determination, her spunk, her friendliness...I love it all. What I love right now is how much I see Avalyn care for the people around her. She has such a big heart and she really cares for people. She initiates hello's and conversations everywhere we go, I love seeing that. But the one moment that still sticks out in my head - happened a few months ago. Avy took a pretty big spill off her scooter on the sidewalk and her hands and knees were all scraped up. I sat down the ground with her for a bit and just held her while she cried. After a minute or so she pulled herself together a bit and in between sobs she tried talking to me. I said, "It's Ok Avy, it's ok." and finally I finally heard what she pieced together in a sentence. She said, "yeah, it's ok Mom. I'm ok. Sometimes we fall down, that's going to happen. But we always have to get up. Always." - and she got up and got back on her scooter and off we went. I like to think I'm teaching her, but that girl is always teaching me things.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PARENTING ADVICE?
Live in the moment with your kids. I remember meeting a man when Avalyn was just a baby in a store. We got talking about being parents, and he told me how much he missed the stage I was at with Avalyn. I told him, it was good, but I really couldn't wait until she started sleeping during the night. He told me something that I will never forget...He told me not to waste time waiting for the next stage with her. He told me there would always be something at each stage I could wish away, or think would be better as she got older, but that each stage has its own challenge. He said, just be where she is, and enjoy these moments, because they will be gone, and one day I would want them back (even the sleepless ones). I've thought about this advice a lot in the past 3 years, and every stage there is something challenging, or a hard time - I think about it. It helps me to stay in the moment, to focus on her and how I can be what I need to be for her right now. It's helped me a lot!
WHERE CAN YOU BE REACHED?
Website: www.wrinkleandcrease.com
Email: info@wrinkleandcrease.com
Phone Number: 403-700-9542
Instagram: @wrinkleandcrease
Twitter: @wrinklencrease
Pinterest: @wrinklecrease
