hope&plum Guest Artist: Meet Toni Darling Frank

Meet the artist behind our upcoming prints Medley and Darling! We are so excited to bring these gorgeous springtime beauties to you soon, but before that, we are thrilled to hear all about Toni Darling Frank.

A straight size white woman works with clay in her bright indoor art studio

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you? What’s your favorite thing about creating art? What was your relationship to babywearing before working with hope&plum? What’s your favorite piece of art you’ve ever created? Can you give us a little insight into what inspired the designs behind Medley and Darling?

Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you?

I’m Toni! I’m a Toronto based artist with a focus on usable, functional art. This usually comes in the form of ceramic homegoods. The goal with my work is to transform everyday rituals into moments of joy.

A straight size white woman works turns through a small sketch and drawing book in her bright indoor art studio

What’s your favorite thing about creating art?

I have a lot of creative energy, and sometimes it’s really hard to know where to put it. I love what I do because I constantly get to experiment with different forms and mediums, from mugs to mirrors to textiles!

An array of hand painted colorful clay mugs with patterned flowers is set on a table . A white hand with a ring on the pointer finger arranges one.

What was your relationship to babywearing before working with hope&plum?

The only baby I carry is my little chihuahua Pepper! I’m excited to see how she fits in one of the hope&plum carriers.

A straight size white woman sits on a bench, looking down and smiling at her small dog held in her lap

What’s your favorite piece of art you’ve ever created?

Oh gosh I think it’s impossible to pick a favourite! I tend to move from one project to the next very quickly – it’s just how my brain works. I’m always thinking about the next thing, whether it’s a new ceramic piece, a new motif, or something completely different. I am particularly fond of my salt and pepper sets. They were a ton of work and development so to see them come to fruition was incredibly satisfying.

A straight size white woman works plays with a llama figurine in her bright indoor art studio

Can you give us a little insight into what inspired the designs behind Medley and Darling?

I wanted to keep the designs light and playful, as well as staying true to my voice as an artist. The theme of growth was something I kept at the forefront of my mind during the design process, which I think goes well with the springtime release, and of course the growth of little babies!😂

A straight size white woman works paints a tile in pink checker print and flowers in her bright indoor art studio

We loved getting to know Toni Darling Frank, and we know you will too! Check out our full collection for carriers and accessories in Medley and Darling, and grab some springtime beauty for yourself!