OCTOBER 2020

Moms We Admire with Nicole Morris

The artist behind Studio Ramiii on the postpartum depression she didn't recognize for two years, and the one idea that gave her power back.

For this installment of Moms We Admire, we're spotlighting Nicole Morris — a brilliant artist, a savvy business owner, an incredible mom, and a best friend of ours for over a decade. She's the brains behind Studio Ramiii, where she makes earrings that are genuinely art for your ears.

Tell us a little about yourself and how Studio Ramiii began:

So, I'm Nicole Morris. Studio Ramiii was born out of a desire to create more, coupled with the unexpected postpartum depression that lasted a couple of years with my first son. I had him with two years left in art school and honestly felt directionless. I knew I needed to create, and I'd always loved the idea of having my own business, but I didn't know what I wanted to do.

I spent loads of late nights collecting skills: cake and cookie decorating, cooking, makeup (I went down a deeeeep YouTube hole on that one), bookbinding, sewing, fabric designing, rug making. I tried it all. One day I tried making earrings from leather scraps, and I loved how light they were. I started looking for other lightweight, versatile materials and found polymer clay. I didn't think I'd stick with something this long, but I have such a love for this medium, for artful fashion, and especially for the community I've found. Earrings are fun, universal, and size-less.

If you could go back and give yourself advice as a new mom struggling with PPD, what would you say?

First, I wish I'd recognized it sooner. I didn't think I was experiencing depression because I didn't hate my baby or want to kill myself, which I thought were the only signs. What I was experiencing was obvious looking back, but not in the moment. I had feelings of total darkness, or doom. A lot of asking myself, is this it? Is this what I will do for the rest of my life? I was always tired, showered less, wore my pjs all day. I couldn't find motivation for anything. Once I realized what was going on — I took a depression test online — I was able to get help, get medication, and most importantly get support.

Something that really helped came from a book I read. They were discussing how motivation doesn't equal action. It's the opposite, actually. Action equals motivation. That simple concept gave me my power back. I forced myself to shower. To go on walks. And it bred more motivation, and more action, and snowballed into more consistency for myself.

How has building your own business mattered, as a mother and as an individual?

I have found so much purpose in being a mother and a business owner. I realized I was less depressed, and more present with my family, when I had time to focus on my own creative pursuits. Making things is a mindful practice for me. It forces me to slow down and just be with myself.

Having those moments, and motivations outside of motherhood, has been crucial. I feel like a human still, a woman outside of motherhood. For me that came in the form of a creative business, but it really could be as simple as reading books you love. Or signing up for a 10k. Or taking a workshop. I truly believe it's important for our children to see us as people with dreams, with goals, with a life.

How do you instill creativity in your kids?

You should see my kitchen table right now. Something I've done intentionally is have art supplies out at almost all times. It's a glorious mess, and it's been a rewarding experiment. My kids start drawing in the morning and go throughout the day. They prefer art over TV the majority of the time, and blank paper over coloring pages. Watching their creativity has really inspired me — I've turned a little corner of my studio into an art space just for them. Their color theory is off the charts.

Any advice for moms who want to stay home but also want a creative outlet?

First of all, moms who stay at home deserve so much praise, and truly the biggest paychecks every year. The job is relentless. And rewarding, of course.

What really helped was finding something I was interested in and researching it. Watch some YouTube, learn a new technique, try it out. I made it me time. When the kids were asleep I'd get out my supplies on the coffee table, turn on Gilmore Girls, and get going. It doesn't matter what it is, just how it makes you feel while you're making it. I spent well over a hundred hours painting patterns on blocks for my son's second birthday. The blocks are his, but that project was all mine.

When you feel mom guilt, what helps?

I still battle it, but this has helped me the most. I was telling my therapist about my constant mom guilt and she told me that in grad school she learned the number one, most important factor in raising children well is an environment where the child is allowed to feel their feelings, and is told that they are loved. Pretty simple, and two things we can all do.

So I take it back to the basics on the days I feel guilt. Are they fed? Are they dressed? Do I love them? Can they tell me how they feel? I realize I'm doing so much more than I give myself credit for.

What's something your children have taught you?

Self love. They truly love themselves and are unapologetic about who they are. My three-year-old decided it was snowing today — the weather is sunny — and wore her snow hat, gloves, and scarf to preschool. When I tell my son I think he's the coolest, he says “yeah I am!” When did I lose that kind of confidence? I think it gets lost somewhere in puberty and high school, but watching them gives me the confidence to love myself more.

What's your favorite EMME piece and why?

This is the hardest question you've asked, because I love all of them. I own the Faye dress and the Beatrice Button Jumpsuit. I love that you carry extended sizing, and the quality is remarkable — I feel like I'm wearing pj's while getting asked where I got my dress constantly. The perfect combination. And linen is just the best.

Moms We Admire is an ongoing EMME series celebrating the mothers in our community.