Meet Hannah VanDuinen

The Basics (AKA the Important Stuff!)

Birds & Blossoms (formerly called VanDuinen Studio, LLC) is a one-woman show crafted and owned by yours truly, Hannah VanDuinen. I call this place "Home of the Perfect Finishing Touch" because that is what I most love designing - the décor details that really make a space feel like your own. No more cookie cutter décor that looks like everyone else's!

I work as an independent artist to create everything from the prettiest wall art, to the tea towels you use daily in the kitchen, to the thank you cards sent after a shower or wedding. You’ll find me at artisan markets around Ann Arbor or through Aligned Exhibits.

I also create surface patterns with the intention of licensing them to fabric companies, stationery companies, home décor companies, and more. The surface patterns I created for fellow artist Lucia of Deinki's #30FlowersInMyStyle challenge were featured on her blog. I am so honored to be included among the talented artists in the post!

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Birds and Blossoms Art Banner with logo

How the Studio Came to Be

I have always looked for the creative route through life. I spent high school immersed in song and story, and I majored in English Literature in college. Upon graduating, I landed in a technical writing gig that was intellectually stimulating but came with a company culture that was.....hostile, to put it mildly. A few years later, I got pregnant with my first daughter, and my husband and I cheerfully concluded that my paycheck was not worth paying through the teeth for daycare to maintain. I became a stay-at-home mom.

However, once the shock of the newborn phase wore off a little and I returned to sleeping more than an hour at a time, I realized that I needed to carve out SOME kind of time for myself that felt more intellectually stimulating than the daily Daniel Tiger episode. I ended up doing the same type of technical writing for a new (and much more awesome) company, but even that didn't entirely scratch the itch.

I didn't find my direction until I started dusting off my old art supplies and putting them to use. I started selling jewelry and crocheted accessories at craft fairs. Before I knew it, I had a website and a blog and business cards.

And thus, VanDuinen Studio was born. In 2022, VanDuinen Studio became Birds & Blossoms to better reflect my work and give me a little more flexibility/recognition factor. Over the years, my approach and products and even my output consistency have morphed depending on circumstances, but my goal remains the same: to connect with fellow creative souls through a shared love of the visual arts, and to generate income doing work that I am truly, madly, deeply passionate about.

Bonus: I get to demonstrate in real time that it's possible to succeed at the dreams you chase! The next generation has been watching closely:

Hannah's daughters seated at a table making art of their own

Services Offered

  1. Shop unique art: Currently, I’m focusing mostly on in-person shows. If you’re in the metro Detroit area, make sure you sign up for my email list so you’ll catch every detail! You can also find t-shirts through TeePublic or fabric through Raspberry Creek Fabrics, if you prefer!

  2. Licensing: I am extremely interested in licensing my art to brands. Art directors and business owners can view my full portfolio here, and you can email me anytime to discuss collaboration opportunities.

  3. VIP community: Join the community! I send out a newsletter that is jam-packed with freebies, sources of inspiration, cool finds, studio news, and exclusive discounts.

Where to Find Birds & Blossoms Products

Media Appearances

  • Voyage Michigan Magazine: I was featured as a “Hidden Gem” in their Local Stories section. Read the full article here.

  • Redfin Blog: Redfin has an active blog filled with advice for everything home-related! I was quoted in their article posted on December 16, 2021. The article covers all sorts of input from real artists about decorating your home with unique art. (As VanDuinen Studio)

  • Deinki's Blog: After participating in her #30FlowersInMyStyle challenge in 2021, I was featured in Lucia's wrap-up post among many other amazing pattern designers

  • Creative Powerhouse Mini Course: I was interviewed on my progress as a creative business owner by Stacie Bloomfield, owner of Gingiber and teacher of Leverage Your Art. The interview appeared on Video #1 of the Creative Powerhouse Mini Course in Spring 2021

  • Podcast Interview: Pushy Broad from the Bronx (my interview starts at 35:44)

Awards

Good Debate Prize, ArtPrize 2021