Moms on a Mission: Tracy Baker
Yellow House is a creative studio run by Tracy Baker, a designer/ creator known for her playful, handcrafted jewelry and home goods. Tracy produces small-batch pieces, offers custom illustrations, and also runs Makers North Collective. Her work showcases bold and joyful designs that will leave you with a smile on your face!
Who are the women in your life—past or present—who inspire you to keep going, and how do you honour them in your journey?
The women in my life—both past and present—have shaped me in so many ways, and they continue to inspire me every day. My Mom, Kim, is at the heart of it all. She was a true force of nature, working long hours often at multiple jobs while still managing to have room left for us at the end of the day. She was a loving and generous person, but she didn’t hide her flaws from us—something I’ve come to deeply appreciate. Growing up, I saw both sides of her: the hard-working, passionate woman who gave everything to her family as well as the more challenging moments of being human. It was raw, real, and it taught me so much about resilience and the power of pushing through, even when things weren’t perfect.
I also draw so much inspiration from my incredible female friends & sisters. These are the people I think of when I’m facing challenges either in my family life or career. So I’ll take a moment to quickly thank Julieanne, Coco, Tennille, Jessy & Sarah. I’m so grateful for these women, for their wisdom, support, and the realness they bring into my life. They all encourage me to keep pushing forward, and I honor them by paying forward the lessons they’ve shared with me.
What part of your motherhood journey has most influenced your entrepreneurial journey?
Motherhood was actually a big reason I decided to fully take the leap into my own business! When I had my son, I was at a creative crossroads: would I continue to work a 9-5 job and have my creative side gig, or take the plunge and go all in on this crazy idea?
I had to get really good at figuring out what actually matters and learn to work faster. It also taught me how to roll with the punches—because let’s be honest, plans rarely go smoothly when tiny humans are involved. A big part of that involved giving myself a lot of grace. I may not answer emails in a timely manner and sometimes the ball gets dropped, but I’ll always pick it back up and try again. I want my kids to see that we don’t always have to be perfect and that we can forgive ourselves and get back at it!
Motherhood has inspired me to build something I can be proud of—something my kids can look at and say, “Hey, my mom made that.” At the end of the day, they’re my biggest reason for showing up and giving it my all (even if I’m running on babybels, PB cups and cold coffee).
Has your definition of success changed since becoming a mother? How so?
Yes and no. I’ve always been a bit of a workaholic because I genuinely love what I do (almost to an obsessive level). My kids are absolutely the most important little beings in my world, but I also think it’s really important to remember that before we were moms, we were full, whole humans with big dreams, passions, and goals. That part of me didn’t disappear when I became a mother.
So no, my definition of success hasn’t changed much, but the timeline for getting there definitely has. Sometimes success looks like a huge sold out product launch, and other times it looks like cancelling all my plans to snuggle a sick kiddo on the couch. And honestly? I’ll take the snuggles every time. It’s all part of the ride, and I’m learning to be okay with moving at a pace that honours both my ambition and my little people.
What values do you hope to model for your children through your work and leadership?
I really hope to model acceptance, compassion and the importance of play through the work I do and how I show up in the world. I want my kids to grow up knowing that everyone has value—no matter their background, appearance, abilities, or differences. There’s room for everyone, and comparing ourselves to others is just a quick way to feel awful. Kindness and compassion matter so much more.
And while I do believe in working hard (workaholic remember!), I also want them to know that life should be fun, too! I have an absolute blast chatting with folks at markets, connecting with the amazing people who support my work, being creative in the studio and being a full-on dork at home with my kids. Being silly, playful, and joyful? That’s part of the magic. Life doesn’t have to be so dang serious all the time—and I want them to see that in me.
What boundaries have you learned to set in order to protect both your family life and your business growth?
This is definitely a lesson I’m still figuring out. A lot of the time, one thing has to give so another can shine. For example, if I’ve got a big event on the weekend, you better believe my house looks like a tornado ran through it and we’ve probably had KD more times than broccoli in the week before. My mom used to call it my “creative mess,” and honestly, she wasn’t wrong!
That said, my entire family is a big part of Yellow House. My kids help package products, hand out flyers at markets, and put posters up with me around town. My husband is a permanent unpaid intern who happily builds my silly display ideas (with a minimal amount of grumbling). Both of my sisters help out with childcare and volunteering at events. My dad works the front door at every Makers North market while I run around like a crazy person. So yeah, the boundary between business and family life is pretty blurry, but I kind of love that. It’s messy and imperfect, but we’re in it together—and that feels pretty special.
What legacy do you hope to leave—not just for your children, but for other women following in your footsteps?
I hope that when other women look at my life and business, they think, “Hey—if she can do it, so can I.” I’ve been through plenty of ups and downs, and the biggest lesson I’ve carried with me (thanks to my mom) is that sometimes you have to rely on blind faith that it will work and you just have to keep going. Keep showing up. Keep pushing through, even when it’s messy or scary or uncertain.
I want to leave a legacy that says: take up space, try your best and do the thing. Whatever your thing is, believe in it—and more importantly, believe in yourself. But just as important as getting shit done, is lifting others up while you do it. I 100% believe that there’s room for all of us, and that success is so much sweeter when it’s shared. Whether it’s cheering on fellow makers, collaborating instead of competing, or simply saying, “You’ve got this,” when someone is in the messy middle — we rise together. So, take up space, try your best, do the thing, and bring others with you. Because when one of us wins, we all win!
Learn more about Tracy's businesses on her website: https://www.yellowhouse.ca