They say nothing is greater than a mother’s love, and no statement is truer to founder Lindsey Boyd than when it comes to her own mom, Jeri Wieber. In addition to the strong matriarch who puts family above everything, Jeri is a retired art teacher and the OG when it comes to turning passion into a business, running and owning a children’s gifting business for more than 40 years all while raising a family.
Super-talented, creative, thoughtful and over the top generous are just a few adjectives Lindsey would use to describe her mom, seeing beauty and potential – a blank canvas – everywhere and in everything. She makes everyone feel like they are the most important person in the room and remembers every birthday and anniversary. As Lindsey says, “I owe my love of family, strong values, grounded foundation and appreciation of traditions to my mom!”
Read on for a little Table Talk with our (very special) Rond Table Guest, Jeri Wieber.
My first experience as an artist was…
I never really considered myself to be an artist. I loved doing art work. When I was a freshman in high school, my friend and I entered a window painting contest for the holidays. We won first prize, so at the time I thought I might become an artist.
I knew I wanted to be a teacher when…
I always pretended to be a teacher when I was young, and I had a very captive audience with my stuffed animals. When I was in high school, they had a student teaching program which I took and loved, so… I knew I would be an art teacher.
The people seated at my rond table are…
I grew up surrounded by siblings, cousins and friends we considered family, so having a close family unit has always been an important part of my life. We raised our children to prioritize fostering relationships with one another – cousins and friends, as well. So, we try to spend as much time together as possible, including every holiday!
Seated at my (intimate) rond table are my husband of 51 years, my children, my grandchildren and my grand dogs X 3.
I am inspired by…
My family. They make me want to be a better mother, grandmother and wife. My grandchildren have their own aspirations, and my children and their spouses have all met with success, so I am constantly surrounded by inspiring work ethic and achievements.
If I wasn’t an art teacher, I would’ve been…
I always wanted be a fashion designer. If I had not become an art teacher, I would have pursued that as a career.
My favorite arts medium is…
Oil paint. I use oil paint and paint markers in every aspect of the pieces I make.
I started my side hustle, a children’s gifting business, because…
We started our own business in 1976, the year Lindsey was born. I started drawing letters in shapes of animals (kids names framed), and they were called “animal quips”. She was given the first one – her name with each letter shaped as an animal – and it took off from there. I designed an alphabet of animal letters and began selling them. Over the last forty years we had retail stores and a mail order business, and we saw our children’s personalized gift collection grow to include everything from candy to coat hangers.
One thing on my bucket list is…
Take my grandchildren to Indiana where I was born. I would like to show them my school, the house I lived in and my favorite places that I went to as a child. Lindsey and her brother have already been several times ;-)
My memoir would be titled…
The Country Girl from Indiana Moves to New York.
A fun quarantine activity we’ve been doing is…
Traveling to the beach in Delaware and visiting Shelter Island in the summer. We also have a place to go to in the winter in Miami Beach. We have been lucky to travel to these places, and it has been great to be outside. It keeps us happy, healthy and safe.
Something about me you may not know is…
I was a baton twirler in grade school.
My mantra is…
My mantras have always been “living the good life” and “it doesn’t get any better than this” in reference to the places we love. I also always tell my grandchildren when we go somewhere together, “we are going on an adventure”. I believe in seeing the upside in everything, and what is in front of you versus what you don’t have. It works, try it!
A family pass-down I cherish the most is…
My favorite heirloom would be my grandmother’s letters that she wrote to me. When I read them along with her journal, I feel like she is right with me. I am sure that my family will enjoy them and learn what a great lady she was.
My story, my style in a word…
FAMILY.
The Rondel piece that speaks to me…
My locket that my daughter gave to me would be my treasured Rondel piece. I have a picture of my mother and father in it, so they are always with me.
Jeri's Yard Sale Look
|
|