Windy Woods Designs

LGBTQ+ Artist Spotlight

Welcome back FairyFindrs! Today’s PRIDE MONTH feature will be the last one, seeing as today is the last day of June. In this blog post we will meet and learn about my friends over at Windy Woods Designs! I met them 2 or 3 years ago at the first ever annual Hazel Park Pride, and their company always stuck with me. Their artwork is unique and colorful and whimsical in every way. Their whole shop centers around cryptids, mythological creatures and beings, and Magic. You can follow along with their magical journey on Instagram and other sites- visit their LinkTree here to see!

(Tyler + Freyja being stalked by the one and only Michigan Dogman!)

Hello, thank you two for joining us on our FairyFindr blog today, please start by introducing yourselves(names & pronouns if you want) and please tell us a bit about yourselves and how you started Windy Woods Designs? Also leave any places(if any) you’d like people to connect other than your Instagram and LinkTree already linked above.

• Answer: We're Tyler (he/they) and Freyja (they/them), partners in love and art! We met about 10 years ago in the convention scene while running our own booths. Tyler based out of Michigan and Freyja based out of Connecticut. Eventually, Freyja moved to Michigan. We reconnected and the rest is history.

As a queer + trans owned small business, what unique challenges have you faced in the business world?

• Answer: In current times, our biggest issue is trying to keep informed about all of the wild anti-trans/anti-LGBTQIA+ laws that keep cropping up. We travel for a living, so trying to stay safe in red states is always a bit nerve wracking. Our rights can change several times on the way to a show.

(Mothman Sticker - designed by Freyja)

How has your identity influenced the overall vision, values, and direction of Windy Woods Designs?

• Answer: Our art can be funny and hedonistic…but at its core it is a strong expression of catharsis. Our art that centers around our queerness tends to be focused on venting our frustrations as trans artists.

(This Nessie Ness-Tea design was sketched out during a late night art

jam over messenger when we lived in separate households in 2018.

Freyja was having a bit of an art block so we worked off the prompt " tiny cryptids”.)

What inspired you to create a business centered around folklore and magic themes?

• Answer: One could argue that camping, queerness, and cryptids/magic/folklore creatures are very strongly connected. We think cryptids and the unknown really speak to that feeling of being the "other" or different. But instead of being scared or shamed… we just fully embrace it proudly. It's like a reclamation.

How do elements of witchcraft, magic, and folklore inspire your art, business, and decisions when it comes to Windy Woods Designs?

• Answer: We are always looking to nature; human, animal, or otherwise for inspiration. We love that feeling of whimsy, mischief, and curiosity that magic adds to everything.

("The Hatman is my all time favorite cryptid. Mothman

is a close second. I've loved them both since I was a kid." - Freyja )

Why do you think these themes resonate with your customers and the LGBTQ+ community?

• Answer: The idea of being the "other" can be very unifying when you stop being scared or ashamed and just wear it out proudly. We feel the connection between queer culture and bizarre or mysterious is more of a celebration of being unique. We're here for that celebration.

("Sometimes you need to draw something motivational. Sometimes you

need to draw something that's creepy. We draw what we are

feeling for the most part. " - Tyler - Pillows for sale at Ferndale Pride)

In what ways has your queer and trans identity influenced your creative process?

• Answer: Being queer (and especially trans), you have to really spend time with that person in the mirror. When you start working on understanding yourself, you start building a strong sense of empathy for others. Your quest for found family and community will expose you and open your heart to so many different ways of existing in this world. I feel having a strong sense of empathy and understanding really makes for more relatable art.

Have you faced any adversity, pushback, or lost opportunities specifically because of the magic or paranormal aspects of your art?

• Answer: We've been very lucky and the occult or magic themed work doesn't really get pushback. However, the censorship of our queer focused art on social media has been very frustrating.

( Not Deer - a mythological 3-eyed deer creature with a unicorn horn

Designed by Windy Woods Designs )

How do you navigate the balance between expressing your authentic selves and appealing to a broader audience, if at all?

• Answer: We don't really censor ourselves too much. If we have any questions about any particular work, we have trusted artist friends in the community we reach out to.

Can you share a specific moment when Windy Woods Designs made a positive impact on someone from the LGBTQ+ community? Share any stories or moments where someone deeply connected to your artwork and shared the experience with you.

• Answer: Our booths are always a safe space for fellow queer folks. We love that we can bring catharsis to folks who visit our booth and really connect to our work. We love having genuine exchanges with customers where they feel safe and open enough to vent about stressful situations or shitty bosses.

(Several pins set up in the Windy Woods Designs booth at Ferndale Pride 2023)

What role do you believe small queer-owned businesses play in empowering the LGBTQ+ community?

• Answer: In a time where big corporations feel that it's okay to profit off of the community while simultaneously donating to political organizations that fight against us….it's VERY important to support your local queer owned businesses. We give back to the community, we boost the community, we protect, and work for the community.

How have you seen the representation of queer and trans individuals evolve in the art and business industry over the years?

• Answer: So many of our peers are some form of queer. I think, as queer people, we tend to get pushed out of the corporate world if we don't fully fit the mold society expects of us. So many of us turn to the arts. It's society's loss, honestly. We'll forge our own paths, just like we always have.

("This design was born from frustration and a need

for catharsis amongst the siblings" - Freyja - This sticker is currently

SOLD OUT, but you can buy a Cis Nonsense T-shirt Here)

What advice would you give to other queer and trans individuals looking to start their own businesses?

• Answer: Find your local queer community and work within it. Support and give love to those communities and you'll find they'll support you back. Also, only create authenticity. Make art you enjoy making. You'll find your audience in time. Be patient with yourself.

Are there any particular fairy tales or folklore that hold a special place in your heart and inspire your creations?

• Answer: We love cryptids and folklore. We think the best of humanity comes from its storytelling. Mothman and Hatman, are obviously, our favorites.

(Freyja's loved the Hatman since they were a kid. This meme

was too funny not to recreate with our version of the Hatman

-- Buy this Hatman design on a t-shirt here!!)

How do you ensure your products are accessible and welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds?

• Answer: We make an effort to fully research any folklore we pull inspiration from and we also frequently dive into our own cultural backgrounds to find inspiration. With our full portrait and pin-up works, we love drawing a variety of different bodies, identities, and skin colors.

Have you witnessed any misconceptions or stereotypes about queer and trans small business owners that you'd like to address?

• Answer: This might shock some folks, but transmen are allowed to sew. People are always surprised that Tyler is the main sewist. Misogyny is wild.

In what ways do you celebrate Pride Month and engage with the LGBTQ+ community as part of Windy Woods Designs?

• Answer: We try to go to as many Pride events as we possibly can. We also frequently share and promote other Pride events to help boost the community and pull us all together. We are stronger together.

("Campfire Creatures" is our cryptid line.

The ones you see here are A Grey and the Not Deer)

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you're particularly excited about?

• Answer: We have two Kickstarters coming up! One in mid-July themed around Halloween. It'll feature a whole mess of spooky pins!

• And in mid September we'll be launching our Aurora Shores Plush Kickstarter. This will feature Ikarus a Raven Witch, Cosmo a Constellation Weaving Spider, and Barnibus a Shadow Cat Cryptid in training.

(We will update links for these Kickstarters as they become available!)

What steps do you take to support and uplift other queer and trans artists in the industry?

• Answer: We love our fellow queer artists fiercely. If they're at an event with us, we will promote them alongside us. If they have a big project coming, we will always share, donate, and promote! We love supporting our fellows!

(Freyja's been obsessed with the Mothman since childhood. They've been

wanting to get this plush made since 2007 and now he's a reality!

He actually squeaks just like a real moth can, and that is included in Mothman's lore!)

What future goals do you have for Windy Woods Designs, both as a business and as a platform for queer, trans, and magical representation?

• Answer: We eventually want to own a space that would allow other queer artists a safe, fair, and whimsical place to display and sell their work. Maybe refurbish an old motel and make each room shop? Maybe make one of the rooms a workshop area to teach folks different art skills? It's a bit of a pipe dream, but it would be incredible.

Lastly, what message or advice do you have for individuals who find inspiration in your story and art?

• Answer: Make art. even if it's bad. Just keep drawing. put your emotions in it. pain, joy, hunger, laughter, frustration…. don't be afraid to embrace your emotions and put them in your art.

(A Mushroom Fairy- Purple Mushkin Mushroom Enamel Pin)

Fellow FairyFindrs, I’m so glad you could join us today for our last, but not least, PRIDE MONTH Artist Spotlight! Go say "hey" and follow my friends Tyler and Freyja at Windy Woods Designs, and tell them Alex the FairyFindr sent ya!

May Mothman and Hatman Bless You,

Alex the FairyFindr // Marvelous Magical Miniatures