We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nellie Hutchinson. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Nellie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
The other day my kids had a snow day. I knew it was going to be a busy day because I had a huge order I was working on. I wasn’t sure if my kids would be able to entertain themselves or how the day would work out but, it ended up being so sweet. My son was set up at my computer working in his story he’s writing, and daughter was curled up in another chair working on a drawing on her tablet. Getting to hear their sweet voices and work side by side with my kids in my office was one of the best moments. It was a great reminder of why I pursue my art.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started my art business back in 2021 and centered it around painting portraits and illustrating children’s picture books. In 2024 I created a weighted handmade stuffed animals called the worry friends. Since then I’ve created hundreds of worry friends and they have traveled around the world and have helped heal people. Worry Friends are so much more than just a stuffed animal, they really come to life as I create them. These friends have poly pellets in their hands and are weighted and have heart patch where you can put your favorite essential oils on. I spend so much time perfecting their faces that get embroidered on so that they’re unique in their look and have an expression that is soothing and lovable. Something exciting that has started recently is that I’m now offering Memory Worry Friends that use fabrics from lost loved ones to help people heal their grief.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Back before the world shut down in 2020, my family and I had moved to a different city than the one where our church community was. We were in the process of building a house and were staying at my grandmas house in the interim. This was 2018-2019 so everything was open and there was no reason why I couldn’t see my friends. I had been so involved with ministry before we moved, but because we were doing a lot of the building ourselves it meant that my days were filled up and I didn’t have the energy to reach out to people. I found out during that time that the people who I thought were my friends, really didn’t care. I also learned that I was relying on ministry to be my purpose and because that purpose was showing itself to be very one sided I felt lost. When things shut down in 2020 a shift began to happen inside of me. I learned how to be alone with my thoughts and began to question why I never tried to pursue my art as a career. I bought an iPad and learned how to paint digitally and was offered several portrait jobs that encouraged me to pursue my art. In the 5 years I’ve been pursuing my art I’ve learned the importance on having a purpose in your life. Finding something that is unique to you and your gifts that helps you to feel seen and heard. I was good at ministry but because I put other people’s needs before my own in every situation I ended up losing sight of myself. With my art, I still get to love on people but I can’t get lost because my purpose is focused on me and my gifts not on becoming what other people need.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me to pivot. When the portrait part of my business wasn’t going well, I leaned into an opportunity to illustrate picture books. When I felt alone and like my community had abandoned me, I opened myself up to a new community and found wonderful friends in the art world. When my childhood best friend died, instead of focusing on the grief, I found her sister who needed a life line and I focused on her. Life will always throw you curve balls and we will never be ready for them. But we can be ready to graciously acknowledge any lessons the suffering has given and pivot with the change.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I am a “what you see is what you get” type of person. Honestly when I started my business that was one of the first things I knew was important to me. I knew I was sick of wearing a mask all of time. I was so sick of secrets and pretending in order to fit into other people’s expectations. So when I started my business and as I’ve learned and leaned into my true self I can safely say that I’ve seen more of myself come out and it’s really special. Worry Friends started because I realized I needed something tactile to help with my anxiety and even acknowledging that I had anxiety was a big step for me. I do wish I was better about sharing more of myself through my marketing on my socials, but I hate editing videos so this is where we are for the time being!
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
People need to feel seen. This is such an integral part of our world and yet we miss it constantly. And it doesn’t have to be loud or intense. It can be as simple as listening to someone’s stories, or making them laugh. These are small ways that we help people feel loved and seen. The fact that Worry Friends make people feel seen and cared for is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life, besides my amazing kids of course. We are made for community and to be interdependent with each other. But yet we push away any chance of togetherness we get in order to avoid getting hurt by people’s selfishness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nelliesartstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellies_artstudio/
