Des Moines Parent Spotlight: Mindy Carlson of Minderson Press and MIX Creative Community
Owning and operating two small businesses might sound like a feat, but it’s nothing Mindy Carlson can’t do. The creative-minded mother of two loves sharing her passion for all things creative with others and gets to do so every day. Des Moines Parent connected with Mindy to learn more about her and her journey.
Give us a little background on yourself.
I moved to downtown Des Moines following graduation from Iowa State in 2008. I met and married my husband here, and we have been in the metro since, except for two years abroad in The Netherlands. I feel like I’ve been here long enough to have seen the city change and grow in a lot of ways!
I have two kiddos, ages 8 + 5, who keep me constantly moving, inspired, overwhelmed, and out of snacks.
Could you give us an overview of your business and what inspired it?
I have two businesses, though they are heavily intertwined. Firstly, I am a printmaker focused primarily on letterpress greeting cards with my business, Minderson Press. I absolutely love to think about how people relate to one another and to try to put meaningful words to our sentiments.
Back in 2018, I purchased my first tabletop letterpress and began printing greeting cards in my basement at nap times and in the evenings. After acquiring a very large, heavy, nearly 100-year-old printing press in 2021, I knew that I would have to find a physical workspace that was more fitting and more creatively inspiring than my garage. When I began to think about what an ideal space would be, I knew that I didn’t want to create something that was just for myself. I wanted to have the ability to work alongside others (even though I am quite an introvert) and build a community of support and encouragement. And so, MIX Creative Community was born.
MIX Creative Community is my second business. It’s a collaborative coworking space for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone working outside the typical office setting. We aim to bring people together for in-person connection through coworking, our podcasting studio, and events.
What are your favorite parts of your business?
My favorite part of being a small business owner is that I get to decide the mission/purpose of the business, and I can prioritize that overpressure for sales/more profits. My best memories for either business are always when you see people experiencing the vision you had for them. Whether it’s an “aww,” laughter, or other reactions at my card wall, to overhearing new conversations or success stories at MIX, I get a lot of warm fuzzies.
How do you juggle your parenting responsibilities with your business responsibilities?
It’s a constant juggling act! Because my businesses are on my brain 100% of the time, I have to be intentional about being present with my family. I try to focus on some of the key times throughout the day – first thing in the morning, at drop-offs and pick-ups, at meals and bedtimes.
My work is rarely completed in a significant chunk of time. There’s a lot of things done a little here and a little there. I had to give myself permission to move at my own pace. Also, my youngest has tagged along with me to MIX quite a bit over the past year. I found myself apologizing to people at first, but I eventually concluded that her presence was 100% appropriate. We don’t have to follow anyone else’s rules when we are trying to balance motherhood and business. I think I will look back very fondly on the time we’ve spent together dreaming and building this business (that she usually claims as her own).
What are some of your favorite things to do with your family around the metro?
Our family loves to attend some of the big events in town, like the farmer’s markets and festivals. We also spend a lot of time at the metro’s putt-putt golf courses, playgrounds, and arcades.
What’s your ideal parent day or night out?
My kid-free days out almost always include local coffee (so many good options), a stroll through boutique shops, and a delicious meal. That’s my recipe for happiness!
What’s your number one parenting tip?
Oh gosh, I feel wildly underqualified to give advice. The thing that helps me in parenting, though, is to remember the long-term goals. The short-term can be an insane roller coaster ride, but if you stay consistent on who you’re trying to be for your kids and what you’re trying to teach them overall in life, it helps smooth out the little things. And also, find your people. Parenthood is not meant to be done alone. Lean hard on the friends who will listen to your struggles and show up when you need them.
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