Meet Anamarie Anderson | Small Business Owner & Full Time Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anamarie Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anamarie, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
As a new parent, one of the most impactful things I think I have done for my child is being present. Often being present is seen as being available at a drop of a hat for your child at any given moment. However, for me at least, I am less attentive if I am always focused on my child. By finding ways to rest, I am able to be in the moment with my son during our times together throughout the day. Creating and making is one of many ways to rest, and has been one of my favorite ways to rest. My son notices a big difference in me when I have had rest and we both know I am more intentional and attentive to him when I give of myself to him from that rest. My alertness to my son might not always be perfect but by being deliberate in my attentiveness, I hope he will know how loved and secure he is at home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although I have been messing around with woodworking for years, I haven’t considered myself a professional until 2020. I got my start when my husband and I had our first child in the middle of the shut down. There were many moments where I felt like I lost myself in motherhood. Due to circumstances we weren’t able to have a baby shower, we had less help than we were expecting and on top of that our child was very coulicy and I faced postpartum depression, I ended up having to turn in my resignation during maternity leave and felt very forgotten and lost.

My husband and I turned to creating to help us feel productive, and it was enjoyable to finally reconnect with the skills my Father and Grandfather taught me. After becoming confident working with tools again, I decided to take up the task of creating a rattle for my son as a celebration of his birth. The rattle created a lot of buzz and I was encouraged to sell them, I took the remaining part of the year to look into Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations and honing in on perfecting my designs.
This was the beginnings of Rocky Mountain Mama llc. Through my business I make natural children’s toys and home decor with the mindset of “Bringing the Outside In.” Although my products are a physical representation of the tagline it also has a more hidden meaning behind it. I know a few struggles of being a mom and how often in those low moments you have feel like an outsider. At Rocky Mountain Mama llc a portion of the sales go to non-profit organizations that help other moms (and dads) get through the tough times and allow them to feel seen and encouraged. This year we have supported two different organizations; a pregnancy center that also provides clothes and mentoring for new parents and an organization that walks alongside of parents who face pregnancy or infant loss.

One of the challenges I had starting to sell my craft was the overwhelming amount of self-doubt that had prevented me from exploring other areas of entrepreneurship. I had a lot of cheerleaders in my corner but there are 2 types of friends that I think anyone who is wanting to sell something you create should have. Abby was my first friend who I called to ask her opinion about my idea. An Abby type of friend is going to cheer you on in the long run but will give it to you straight and are also knowledgeable about the area you want to get into. I went to Abby after having done my research and some of my practice and asked her to give an opinion. She told me what to avoid while selling, showed me where I needed more research and gave me some extremely practical advice that has helped me be more professional. For example, Abby stated “you shouldn’t sell your product if you cannot consistently replicate it.” Abby was not a woodworker but having been in the creative world and to many Craft Shows for her business DBL Joy she knew what made a good product and what would flop and wasn’t afraid to share with me. I think one thing which will show an Abby friend that you are serious and are going to take their years of knowledge is coming to them with questions about things you have already researched yourself. Knowledge through experience usually doesn’t come for free to the first-hand learner, so they do want to know that they are giving their information to people who show commitment.
Nat’e is my other friend and I have a few more like her but she goes above and beyond in this area. Nat’e helps me overcome the consistent waves of self-doubt by being my biggest hypewoman. This woman has been an encourager from day one telling friends and family of my products as well as supporting me by purchasing from me multiple times and sending text of encouragement during shows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Must Eat Food Places: Woody’s Woodfire Pizza in Golden
Denver Biscuit Company
The Burns Pub & Restaurant in Broomfield (sitting outside to watch a few planes coming in)

Must Hikes:
FIRST DOWNLOAD CO TREX
First day should be an easier hike such as Standley Lake, Still get beautiful views but will help acclimate to higher altitude
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater (Bonus if you can go to a concert)
Anything in Golden Gate State Park with an after hike stop at Panorama Point

Must Dos:
Game night to introduce them to our local friends
One Museum using a Culture Pass from the Library
Coffee at one of our favorite local shops: Zoe’s Coffee House (Westminster) Mug & Cone (Lakewood) Cafe Ole (Littleton) Sweet Bloom (Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Growing up in Montana, it’s hard not to fall in-love with the mountains and being outdoors, but my parents made it a whole lot easier. My mom would allow my 3 younger brothers and I to make a mess of her backyard and let us create all sorts of masterpieces with mud, leaves, grass clippings and sometimes flowers and vegetables from her garden. She let us be the directors of our explorations and creations and hardly ever limited us but would often challenge us. My dad would teach me how to survive in the outdoors and how to overcome complex problems, to be honest by sometimes over complicating them first. My dad also had a more hidden talent that he didn’t let many people see, but his artistic and caring side would show every once in awhile to my siblings and myself. I loved the small drawings and short stories he would create for me, and the overwhelming amount of compassion he has for people. My maternal Grandfather and my dad also deserve a lot of credit for my love for working with wood. They each would build things for us kids and my mom separately and sometimes together, and each project they finished for us it was like a physical representation of their love for us.

Website: rockymountainmamaco.etsy.com

Instagram: @rockymountainmama.co

Facebook: facebook.com/RockyMountainMama.CO