Meet Dori Schmidt | Artist and Creative Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dori Schmidt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dori, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance has been something I have strived to achieve for a very long time but it was not a number one priority until I became a mother in 2018. As a younger and single entrepreneur you have, what feels like, endless time to do and create what you want,when you want. The absence of those opportunities is something I WAS NOT prepared for as a new mom. I first found it extremely difficult to put my creative entrepreneur ideas and tasks on the back burner until I could “find the time”. THAT has actually been the hardest part of being a parent for me. I eat, sleep and breath creativity and business! So, only being able to “scratch my itches” when my daughter was napping or at night after she went to bed was very hard for me and gave me. My Boho Love Collection wall hangings and accessory line is not my only business. It started as a fun hobby but quickly grew and a new business was born. With that said, work life balance is more important to me now, more than ever. I want to be able to have a reliable source of income (other than my husband’s) and I want to be completely present for my daughter and husband, both mentally and physically. I have worked very hard over the last 2 years to create other sources of monthly revenue in my other businesses so that my art and my Boho Love Collection business could continue to fulfill me on a fun, creative, stress-free level . This way I would be in control of my work life balance and creating my pieces would be coming from a pure state of passion and creativity and not driven by the “need to make money”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My Boho Love Collection hand dyed tapestries came about by total random accident and lots of experiments lol. I had originally got into making dream catchers after seeing a cool one at a local spa that I go to. It kind of snowballed from there and somehow landed on the pieces that I create today.

I wouldn’t call what I do “hard” but you just have to be creative and you can’t be afraid to F up. It’s all part of the process of creating anything, really.

All of my wall hangings are made from scratch by me. I select the wood for the headers, stain and cut them myself. I cut and hand string each of the wool yarn strands one by one and hand dye different patterns and scapes into the yarn using a few different dye techniques that I nailed down somewhere in the midst of the 3756 “experiments”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Omg to be totally honest, I am a homebody and “best time ever” really isn’t me lol. I would definitely be keeping it low-key. It would probably involve sushi, wine and binge watching Dead to Me.

As a mom of a very active 2.5 year old I am spending most my free time at all the parks around my area! I will say that South Florida has some great parks! Yeah…I know, super “exciting”, right?

Wednesdays is usually GNO with my bestie and we have enjoyed, Sakura Sushi and Tap 42 as of lately.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh wow, I think Im going to have to credit my parents here. My crazy entrepreneur business mind started at a very early age and my parents ALWAYS allowed me to explore these paths. And there were many of them, I can tell you that! They never once showed resistance to any of my business ideas and were always behind me a thousand percent. I’m convinced this gave me the confidence to pretty much try anything and not be afraid of what may or may nit come of it.

Instagram: Instagram.com/boholovecollection