Artist Biographies

Susan Eslick, Creative Director
As the Creative Director of Mrs. Grossman's, I am responsible for developing sticker designs and product concepts as well as art-directing designers. I also work very closely with sales and marketing to make sure we're all on the same page.

Every year Mrs. Grossman's designs about 125 new stickers for six different collections or seasons. I implement and oversee that process. Each one of our new stickers requires the skills of a tight-knit team of experts. From our designers to the pressmen, each person plays a vital role in the success of those stickers.

An important aspect of my job is to inspire and motivate creative thinking. One way I do that is to try and be the eyes and ears of what's going on in the world of design. I follow the work of influential designers, as well as the products and icons of popular culture. I look at colors, textures and patterns that are emerging as popular trends and share those with our design team.

I am a big fan of most things made by hand. I love typography, graphics and contemporary art. I am also inspired by fabrics, furniture design, museums and stores - anything urban; I'm there. I want to see what people are buying and what they are talking about - it eventually can influence my own design ideas.


Gigi Sproul, Designer
I began working as a designer for Mrs. Grossman's when it was a very small company. This was back in the '80s and we probably had fewer than 25 employees. Later we occupied a series of old Victorian houses in San Rafael and now, we're in this spacious 110,000-square-foot building in Petaluma. I've watched this company change and grow, and have enjoyed being part of the process.

My favorite stickers to design are ones with lots of personality. If they make me laugh when I am drawing them, I know I'm on the right track.

The inspiration for my work comes in all forms and sizes. A casual conversation can spark a new idea; a walk on the beach and really looking at what's around you can be very exciting. I never know when inspiration will strike, but I try to be open to it at all times.


Julie Cohen, Designer
The stickers I enjoy designing the most are all those with a party theme. I like the festiveness and liveliness I can create within that theme and when the pressmen add the hot foil stamp details, what a dazzling effect! I like to think that my party sticker designs appeal to both children and adults.

It takes me anywhere from a day to a few days to complete a finished sticker design. I have a lot of things to consider: the actual drawing itself; how it will relate and coordinate with other stickers; the back of the sticker; and all the digital work that has to be done before the sticker gets ready to go downstairs to be printed. There is quite a bit of work to be done before that little sticker makes its public appearance.

It definitely requires a lot of teamwork to brainstorm, design and produce Mrs. Grossman's stickers. It's an amazing process and one that I totally enjoy. It feels like family at Mrs. Grossman's and because I was raised working in my own family's pharmacy in San Francisco, I really enjoy this close-knit environment.

In my free time I enjoy hiking with my dog Bravo (who also comes to work with me every day) and traveling. I have lots of art-related activities that interest me, including stringing all types of beads, making jewelry using a silver metal clay called PMC, and fusing and working with glass.


Tami Lovett-Brumfield, Designer
I was trained as an illustrator and when I get a new sticker assignment, I do a great deal of research. For instance, when I did the pirate stickers I went to the library and checked out books about pirates. I read histories, studied drawings and tried to put together all the typical components that defined a pirate. I looked at what was on the web and went through my own personal library of almost 1,000 art-related books to see what I could find. By the time I completed my research, I was ready to go.

One series of stickers I really enjoyed designing were the Pen & Ink stickers. The drawings were quick and spontaneous. The process of creating these stickers was immediate and fun to do.

Outside of work, I have many interests and recently I started sewing again due to the influence of the Japanese art of felt crafting. I also like to go outdoors and sketch, paint and do traditional black and white photography.

I had three big creative influences in my life: my mom, who encouraged me to do what I loved; my dad, who taught me to be open-minded; and Olga, an elderly teacher's aide in my first grade class who could create the most beautiful things with just a simple box of crayons. I couldn't wait to see what she would do next.


Kelly Carolla, Sticker Artist
I do a lot of what we call 'sticker art' design at Mrs. Grossman's. I create imaginative art samples using our stickers so that people who attend trade shows, classes and fairs, and those who visit our factory, can see the artistic possibilities using our products. These sticker art projects are also used in our catalog, on our Web site and throughout our Company Store.

The best part of my job is being able to just use my imagination and come up with all kinds of unique ways to use our stickers. It's like being in sticker play land and it's very creative!

Sometimes people ask what it feels like to work here, and I tell them it is like structure with creative freedom.

Art has always been part of my life because my mom inspired me in every way.

During my free time I love creating handmade greeting cards and jewelry, which I both give as gifts and sell. I enjoy taking art classes and learning how to use different mediums and if you get me in the kitchen, I'm going to be cooking (I'm Italian, of course I'll be cooking!).


Amy Wallace, Sticker Artist
I do a variety of projects at Mrs. Grossman's, including designing and making sticker art samples, taking photographs, preparing sticker art projects for the web - or whatever is needed.

I really enjoy my job and being able to use my creativity while I'm 'playing' with stickers. I've come up with some pretty interesting sticker applications for games, magnets - even old kitchen step stools can come to life with the right stickers.

Away from work I do a lot of crafts, especially jewelry. I also do a lot of paper crafts using our stickers and other embellishments.

My family has always inspired me. My mom was a costume designer for movies and is a wonderful craftsman. My dad designs fine furniture and my brother is a film writer and director. Growing up, creativity was just a natural part of our family life.