Meet Terri — The Person Behind Northern Simplicities

Hi, I'm Terri — and if you've found your way here, chances are you love creating just as much as I do.

I'm the designer and dreamer behind Northern Simplicities, a shop built on vintage-inspired digital collections for junk journal makers and paper crafters. I'm also the creator behind Simplicity Success Shop, where I help other digital sellers build businesses they actually love.

But before any of that — I'm a mom, a wife, a corgi wrangler, a fisherwoman, and someone who genuinely cannot sit still unless there's a checklist involved.

Where It All Started

I grew up as the youngest of two sisters in a humble waterfront home in Ontario. We didn't have much, but we had everything that mattered — a backyard full of adventure, weekends together, and parents who filled our lives with love in the quietest, most meaningful ways.

My mom was endlessly creative — always knitting, sewing, crocheting, and quilting. Gifts were handmade. Rainy days meant Trichem paints, French knitting spools, and plastic canvas. She gave me a deep love for handmade beauty, heartfelt detail, and the belief that creativity belongs in everyday life.

My dad was the one who taught me that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing properly. He challenged me to write essays on topics from the encyclopedia — and he'd study the subject himself before reading what I wrote, just to see how well I'd done. He had a silly grin and high standards, and somehow both fit perfectly together. Before I moved north, he told me: "Terri, I know you. You've done your research, crossed your T's and dotted your I's. I know it will work."

I lost him a little over two years ago. But I hear those words every single day.

Everything I create is, in some way, a dedication to both of them.

The Winding Road to Junk Journals

My Etsy journey did not start with junk journals. Not even close.

I tried photography. I tried planners. I tried printable games — ones that friends politely avoided giving feedback on. I explored bereavement printables, seasonal products, and everything in between. For a long time I was searching for where I fit, trying things, learning from failures, and keeping going anyway.

It wasn't until I discovered the world of junk journaling that everything clicked. I fell in love with creating vintage-style papers, folios, ephemera, and coordinated collections that people actually wanted — and cherished.

Northern Simplicities opened on December 29, 2023. By May 2024 I had my first five sales. By June I had hit 100. By August, 500. And by December 2024 — just one year in — I had reached 1,000 sales.

As of 2026 the shop has passed 8,000 sales and is still growing. 🪶

What I Create

At Northern Simplicities, I create complete themed collections rather than standalone products. A simple idea grows into an entire coordinated ecosystem — papers, journal covers, folios, ephemera, planners, and companion pieces that all feel like they belong together.

My design style is theme-driven and deliberately diverse. Vintage and botanical. Coastal and seasonal. Whimsical and historical. I love researching new ideas and exploring different aesthetics, and I care deeply about creating products that feel cohesive while still offering variety.

The People Behind Everything

None of this would exist without my family. My husband is the steady rhythm behind everything — the quiet structure that keeps life moving even when things feel full and overwhelming. Building a business while being a parent, a partner, and a daughter isn't something you do alone. It's something you build together.

My children are my greatest joy and my deepest purpose. Watching them find meaning in small things taught me to slow down, to notice, and to care about the details. I want them to see that you can follow something you love, work hard, stay kind, and still reach for more. Every design I create carries them in ways I don't always say out loud — in the details, in the care, and in the quiet intention behind every piece.

What Drives Me

I am a lifelong learner. Always have been. I don't just collect ideas — I finish them. I thrive when I can work start to finish on something that matters, and I genuinely love the moment a design comes together into something beautiful.

Outside of work, you'll find me walking my two corgis Smalls and Maple, out on the water fishing (29.5-inch walleye and a 41-inch northern pike — just saying 🎣), or sitting down with a coffee and a creative project that has absolutely nothing to do with deadlines.

I'm driven, a little stubborn, and I care deeply — maybe more than I should, but never less than I can.

A Note About Simplicity Success

After years of trial and error, successes and failures, I realized I loved teaching just as much as creating. Simplicity Success Shop was built to help other digital junk journal sellers get started and grow — with templates, seller kits, and tools designed to make the journey simpler and more enjoyable.

I know how overwhelming it can feel at the beginning. I've been there. And I'm here to make it easier, more fun, and completely your own.

Welcome to Northern Simplicities

Whether you're a long-time maker or just discovering the world of junk journaling, I'm so glad you're here.

Pull up a chair, grab a coffee, and let's create something beautiful together. 🪶

— Terri