Shana Blakley
Artist and Founder of Heirloom Collage; Mother of Two
Shana’s words resonated so deeply; she embodies the rollercoaster that motherhood often brings beautifully. The highest of highs, the lowest of lows, being present no matter what and not wanting to miss any of the moments - even an ordinary Tuesday.
And she is solving the age old question —what do you do with your kids’ art?
Tell us a little about yourself and the season of motherhood you’re currently in
I’m a Virginia-based artist and mom. My son Hue is seven and my daughter Elm is four. The kids are more independent now, and what I love most is watching their friendship.
“Hue brings practicality and exposes Elm to the bigger-kid world, while Elm pulls him into imagination and play. They balance each other perfectly.”
My husband Matt works with me full-time for our art business. Working together and being home together has changed everything. We’re traveling more, spending more time as a family, and getting a front-row seat to our kids’ personalities :)
How has becoming a mother reshaped the way you see yourself, both personally and creatively?
“Motherhood has reshaped me fundamentally.”
Since childhood, being a mother was my biggest fantasy. Then I lost my first son, October, to stillbirth at the end of my pregnancy. I was on the edge of that dream when it was taken in a blink.
What I found in the grief was art: my solitude, my processing, my survival. My art business was born out of that pain.
When Hue and Elm were born, they brought me back to myself. Their color, wildness, and freedom completely transformed how I make art. They didn’t just inspire Heirloom Collage, they made it possible.
What was the inspiration behind launching Heirloom Collage?
I’d accumulated mountains of my kids’ artwork. The drawings, paintings, and notes were meaningful, but I didn’t know what to do with them. At the same time, I was in a creative rut with my art business, craving color and spontaneity.
I pulled out a pile of their artwork and made a collage for our home. Creating it was rejuvenating. I posted it online on a whim, and it caught fire. Social media is wild like that.
“People immediately resonated with the dilemma—what do you do with your kids’ art?”
What has been the most challenging part of building a business while raising children?
Everything, for a long time! As the primary caregiver, I’ve never had an uninterrupted workday. Work spilled into evenings and weekends with no off switch.
But I didn’t miss anything. The milestones, the drop-offs, the ordinary Tuesdays—I was there for all of it.
Recently, Matt going full-time has brought real balance.
“He’s more present for the kids, I’m less stretched, and the kids are now involved in the business. It’s become a family thing.”
Tell us something that is bringing you joy as a mother right now.
Elm’s vivid imagination. She builds entire worlds in her head and pulls you straight into them. You can always find her singing in a corner and tinkering with something tiny, building a little universe.
Hue’s thoughtfulness. At seven, he observes and analyzes in ways that make me learn from him. He always has a new idea or a “did you know?” to share with me. He blows my mind with how introspective he is.
“They’re completely different, and they’re both totally remarkable. Being their parent is the joy of my life.”
How do you structure your days between work and motherhood (or do you not try to structure it at all)?
I plan obsessively because unplanned time disappears. I’m a list-maker and scheduler. When I have a window to work, I need to know exactly what I’m doing the moment I sit down.
Art doesn’t always cooperate with schedules, but I’ve learned to meet it where it is. Sit down, start, and it comes.
Now that Matt works alongside me, there’s more breathing room, but intentional planning is how I operate. It scratches my itch!
Many parents feel overwhelmed by the volume of children’s artwork—how do you think about what to keep versus what to release?
You know when a piece is special. The handwritten note, the self-portrait, the family drawing with noodle arms and giant heads. Trust that feeling.
Practical advice: have one dedicated spot (I use a Rubbermaid bin) and everything goes there. When you’re ready to do something with it, it’s all waiting.
“You don’t keep it all. Save what matters. The rest is permission to let go.”
What do you hope your own children will feel when they look at these pieces years from now?
That they were loved completely and without condition.
That their creativity didn’t just bring me joy, it built this business and this life. Their drawings became something real.
“That exactly who they are is enough.”
Check out more information on Heirloom Collage and follow along her instagram to be inspired.
Learn how you to make your own collages with your children’s artwork at home with her e-course.
Cloud Montessori Community receive 10% off with code CREATE.
