“With Love from the Heart of the Home” are the words that pull you into the world of Susan Branch. When you think of home-baked treats, tending your garden, cooking wonderful meals with fresh grown herbs or wrapping a wonderful quilt around you in front of the fire, you could be talking about yourself, your best friend or Susan. Many years ago, I was introduced to her talents and lifestyle through her cookbooks and beautiful craft kits which I purchased at a local shop. I felt as though I was “at home” as I read her recipes and created fun and beautiful artwork with her craft kits.

One day while reading a magazine, there it was, a feature article on Susan Branch. A photo of her house was covered from one end to the other with Wisteria and in front was a white-washed picket fence. I was smitten with her humble abode and just couldn't wait to know more about this talented lady.

As I continued reading the article, I realized Susan lived in the same state as me, Massachusetts. Even though she lived on the island of Martha's Vineyard, it was still the same state. I really felt a kinship even though I did not know Susan personally. What brought me even closer to Susan was reading all about her and viewing the amazing photographs of her home and her garden. That's when I realized how much she had touched my life. Susan was not only incredibly talented, but she and I shared so many of the same loves—tending a garden, cooking and baking, enjoying beautiful flowers, decorating a home, and most of all wanting to share her love of these natural treasures with the world.

Susan's tiny dream is now a huge reality with her “Heart of the Home” shop in California, a fabric line, books, pottery, gifts, calendars and so much more. I'm sure once you read her interview you will find she has much in common with each and every one of us in one way or another. She is truly a woman who enjoys her success while balancing the day to day wonders which makes life fun, exciting and imaginative. I hope you enjoy her words of encouragement as much as I do.

Interview by Cathy Scalise of Treasured Heirlooms

We read about how Walt Disney was such an inspiration to you? Was there anyone else that inspired you to follow your dreams?

A list as long as my arm. Mark Twain—his autobiography, for one, so funny, so smart. I'm so susceptible to inspiration, someone says or does something, I read a book, see a magazine and I'm gone—doing that, making that, thinking a new way. Love it. I do think that one reason I followed my dreams is because the alternative looked bleak in comparison to trying the unknown.

How do you balance the demands of a being a successful business woman and doing something you love like growing vegetables and running a farm stand?

The thing is that I'm like a mad housewife. I love all those things and want to do them all. I love my garden, and love to cook, love designing, love entertaining, and love being organized. I actually don't love the business part and fought it for years but realize now it's part of the responsibility of what I've taken on. Like anything else, you can't have only the good part—you have to take it all. And now, I look at the business side as a very interesting challenge, and, believe me, I've made every mistake there is! I have to have two sides. Because, for me, it's never been about money, and I don't care how naive that sounds… but I've come to realize that it has to be about money if you are working with large companies… if you are to keep the doors open on what you do. If you don't pay attention to the bottom line, you are being irresponsible and even wasteful. And, you jeopardize others jobs too. I'm a late bloomer, learning as I go.

When did you realize you were an artist/writer? Was it with that first gift certificate your sister gave you to an art store? Had you ever done watercolor before that?

The only watercolor I'd ever done was in kindergarten! So it was a great surprise that the first painting I did, which was of a geranium, looked like a geranium! I was 30 at the time, and up until then all my creative ways went into sewing, cooking, and gardening. The writing part got done on the side, with years of journals. The funny thing is that I didn't consider myself “creative” until I had actually done about six books. “Creative” was just too wonderful a word to claim. I looked at others and said, “oh, I wish I could be like her.” But one day, I was working in my studio, looked heavenward as I do all the time, saying, “thank you”, and then, looked around the room and everything came into focus—all the books, calendars, stuff around me that I had made… and I said out loud, “this must be what creative is!” What a wonderful revelation. My generation didn't really “discover” self-esteem until we were in our 30's. I think kids today have lots more of it than we did. It's a handy thing to have.

Being so multi-dimensional, what aspect of your career makes you the most passionate? Cooking? Writing? Painting? Farming? How did you expand into so many different areas?

I didn't really expand—even in the first book, I was talking about gardening, my kitchen garden, entertaining, family, breakfast in bed, enjoying the little things in life. As the oldest of eight children, it's even what I did as a child. What I do is what so many of us do, [we] who love hearth and home… and homemaking… the most creative job there is is made up of all of that.

How do you measure your own success?

Hmmm, measure… I can only tell you my very favorite part, and that's the letters I get. About two months after my first book, Heart of the Home, came out, I was sitting in my car opening my mail at the post office on Martha's Vineyard. It was winter and it was snowing. There was a letter I didn't recognize. I opened it, and it was from someone telling me how much she liked my book! I burst into tears. And sometimes when the work really is a bit too much, I open my mail (I still read every letter), and the sharing of those lives, the giving of those hearts, makes everything worthwhile. I get letters from eleven-year-olds and eighty-year-olds and every age in between. It just means everything to me which is why I'm loving my website too, because it opens still another way of connecting with people. If you want sort of an example of the kind of magic that happens, go to my website, and, on the home page, it talks about a story called “Pancakes.” Read that!

Is there any one thing you can tell us that helped you take your career to the next level?

I think one of the most important things you can do is be yourself. Love and cultivate friends along the way; we're all here together sharing the planet at this time. You can offer help to others, and they can offer it to you. I've been lifted by the kindness of others, and I try to pay it back by doing some lifting myself. And, overnight success is probably nice, but you become more as you age, so, let yourself gather information, knowledge, credibility, and show yourself through your work. Don't be in a hurry. Read and learn. One of my favorite quotes is actually a proverb: “Pray to God, but continue to row toward shore.”

For anyone that is on the same path, what would you suggest they do to get the recognition that is often so difficult to get?

That's a tough question in this very competitive, celebrity-driven world. What you do has to be done because you love it and you want to give your gift to the world, as a no-strings-attached gift. Everyone has such personal reasons for wanting and doing. But for a practical hands-on answer, one thing a person can do is get a blog. Check out the fantastic creative blogs out there. If you have something to say, to teach, to give, to share, it's a good way to do it. You can show your art, your intentions, and even have a little store on line. And if I were to do it over, I would go to business school. Smart people, you need to be one of those.

What are your dreams?

I am thrilled to say I have lots of them. Life is waaaaay too short. I want to do and do and do. I yearn to do more. It's just the way it is. Joe and I went to England a couple of years ago, and we stayed in the countryside for two months. We went from garden to garden to garden, saw 26 gardens. We would look at each other and say, “why aren't we getting bored with this?” but every day was a “gasp”, a breathless intake of air, at the pure beauty we saw. My dreams include lots more of this. Anytime I can be in nature, looking at stars, feeling ocean air, smelling mountain air, I'm happy.