I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Spring means babies, right? What better way to announce the birth of your new bundle of joy than with a one-of-a-kind custom photo birth announcement? That's just the sort of thing that today's featured designer Jennifer Hickey creates at her company, Apple Blossom Prints.

Tell us a little more about what your company does. Apple Blossom Prints is a photo announcement, card and invitation company specializing in traditional, whimsical and modern photo birth announcements, holiday cards and other photo stationary. My designs capture the innocence of new baby and the whimsy of childhood. All of the designs are all fully customizable and range from the simple and bold to ornate and elegant.

At Apple Blossom Prints the design options are as endless as the customer's style, taste and imagination. I create the designs using bright colors, bold prints, a little bit of whimsy and a touch of tradition. I like color combinations to be upbeat and unique. Our photo cards are offered in a variety of printing choices including archival quality photo paper or heavy weight cardstock in glossy, matte or pearl/metallic finishes. Full color back-side printing offers even more design possibilities on cardstock photo cards.

Soon-to-be parents patiently wait 9 long months to see their baby's face. At Apple Blossom Prints, I want baby's introduction to family and friends to be just as memorable and beautiful as the first time they looked into those eyes. Apple Blossom Prints offers playfully simple ways to capture baby's firsts – from the first yawn to the first holiday.

The photo card process: Customers place all orders via the website where they select a design. Customers then submit photos and within 1-2 business days receive a photo card proof. At Apple Blossom Prints no change is too small. The photo card will go through as many revisions as necessary until the perfect design is achieved. Once the proof is approved the order ships with 4-5 business days. At Apple Blossom Prints customer satisfaction is priority and no order is complete until the customer is 100% satisfied the design is perfect.

How did you get started running your company? I started Apple Blossom Prints in 2007 after a gentle nudge from several friends. I'd made birth announcements and birthday invitations in my spare time and honestly didn't see myself as a business owner. After some soul searching I realized that I loved to design and also wanted the independence and excitement of starting a business. Apple Blossom Prints put all my talents and passions together.

I graduated from Texas State University (BA in Mass Communication, 2000) and worked in advertising for many years before starting Apple Blossom Prints. My experience in advertising set the foundation for my company. I started small, initially offering custom photo birth announcements. Apple Blossom Prints now offers a full line of photo stationary including holiday cards, thank you cards and invitations. Starting a family and opening a business was a wonderful whirlwind of commotion in my life. My hope is that every person that receives one of my photo cards feels the love and passion I put into it.

Any advice you would give to someone who wants to start their own business? Never give up. I have sent hundreds of emails with no response and then suddenly found my photo cards featured somewhere when I wasn't expecting. I try to pat myself on the back for small accomplishments. If you get too wrapped up in hunting down the big magazines you can loose sight that there are 100 smaller ones that would be happy to look at your product. Also, bend over backward in the beginning. If you give the best customer service someone has ever received they will remember and tell their friends.

What inspires your work? Everything! I can see the color of grass and picture a design in my head where that color would work perfectly. I see a butterfly on one of my son's stickers and I imagine how I would create my own butterfly for a design. I write all my ideas down and keep an idea file too. Plus when I am on a roll designing the ideas just overflow and it inspires me even more. Sometime I hate to stop and stifle the flow (but a girl's gotta sleep right?)

Who are your favorite designers? I love simple, clean lines like Banana Republic for clothing. I like creative twists on the expected like Anthropologie. And I like to stand out from the crowd, but not so much that I'm "the weird one".

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I must have a cute handbag (though it's a diaper bag for me at the moment). I want to feel au natural but put together so bare minerals is my go-to make up. I don't have a lot of must haves, but I do have a lot of different pieces that speak to me when I get them and I enjoy mixing up when I use them.

Where can people find your work? The full line of designs can be found at www.appleblossomprints.com