Caitlin Harris Moore: The Five Question Interview

February 19, 2025February 20, 2025Leave a comment

Caitlin Harris Moore is the owner of Shepard’s Flock Farm, a woman-owned and operated Elgin-based permaculture farm specializing in Texas native habitats and the cultivation of seasonal produce. Caitlin teaches classes in her apothecary on the farm.

1. Why did you move to Elgin?

I grew up in a small town near Houston and went to Austin for college (Hilltopper pride). After college, I met my husband and we started our family. I really missed the comfort and speed of small-town life. We weren’t cut out for Austin. So we headed East – in search of bigger sky and fertile soil. Best choice we ever made – I love our community!

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

I’m very stubborn and particular. Once I have an idea in mind, there’s no letting it go. I like to get my hands into new projects. I pride myself on bringing things to fruition – with as little help as possible. I want to live a small life full of handmade things with worn-down edges and coffee stains.

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

1. The Pythagorean Theorem (for greenhouse building) – I guess I learned it back in high school but those brain cells have come and gone.

2. I’m never going to go through that random bag of stuff I just shoved into the closet – it’s ok to donate it!

3. Getting enough sleep is not overrated. Being well-rested can fix almost anything. So boring but I think most epiphanies are, honestly.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

I am opening up a new piece of land for the farm. It’s a brutal process of hard manual labor but to me, it’s the most rewarding part of farming. I’m always reading Stephen King and always listening to angsty ’90s girl alt-rock, or a podcast about farming or murder.

5. Cake or Pie?

This question. Why so cruel? My initial answer is pie. It feeds that human desire to enjoy fresh seasonal native fruits in a simple form. But, I really love making and decorating cakes for my kids’ birthday parties. There have been some complicated ones! They never really turn out quite right but my kids think I am a magician and the joy it brings them is untouchable.

Instagram @shepardsflockfarm
Shop and Sign up for workshops online shepardsflockfarm.com

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Laurène Elliott-Deyris: The Five Question Interview

October 12, 2022October 14, 2022Leave a comment

Laurène Elliott-Deyris is the owner of Terre Noire (French for Black Land) in Taylor, Texas. She is a clinically trained herbalist and her loose-leaf herbal tea blends, herbal extracts, and body care products are all made with the finest organic ingredients, she often grows or wildcrafts many of her herbs, including beeswax from her own hives.

Her ceramic art is botanically inspired, offering useful small dishes, spoons, and small bowls made from porcelain, black clay, and Taku-fired objects.

1. Why did you move to Taylor?

My husband and I moved from France to the Austin area to be closer to family in 2015. Not wanting to be in Austin proper, we found Taylor to be a good size for us with a lot of potential and knew it was going to be up and coming in the next few years. We were right! It’s a fun and quirky little town with good vibes and great people. We love being part of a community and supporting local businesses.

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

For me, nature is an essential part of my creative process. Spending time with plants, swimming in natural bodies of water, walking in deep forests are all ways for me to resource myself, meditate and connect with the botanical world. I’ve worked in a few different mediums from photography to ceramics and the common theme in my work has always been nature inspired.

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

1. To have patience and grace with myself… the artistic journey is a long one.

2. Currently learning more about processing wild Texas clays and cannot wait to bring that to Terre Noire.

3. That I’ve become quite intolerant to heat.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

I’m currently reading Asia Suler’s book Mirrors in the Earth and it is divine.

5. Cake or Pie?

Always pie. 🙂

Follow Laurène on Instagram and Etsy

Instagram @terre.noire
Etsy TerreNoireCreations

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Taylor Christian: The Five Question Interview

July 12, 2022July 13, 2022Leave a comment

Taylor Christian is owner and creator at Log Ceramics in Elgin, Texas. She fires her funky + functional ceramics with 100% renewable energy.

She started doing ceramics during the pandemic and have a full workshop in my garage here in Elgin. Her work includes a mix of wheel thrown and slip cast goods using vintage molds, with the occasional extra weird item. Lots of planters and fun plant accessories too.

1. Why did you move to Elgin?

I had a few friends who moved out to Elgin and I fell in love with the small town vibe when I would come to visit. I grew up in a similar small town about 20 minutes from Dallas, and after 15 years living in Austin, Elgin felt nostalgic in the best way. Since moving I feel so lucky to have found a great group of friends and creative community. I really love it here.

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

I have always had a creative side since I was a kid always making things. I started college as a photography major but changed to geography and geology and really fell in love with physical science. I work as a water data scientist in my day job, which can be fast paced and highly analytical. So at the end of the day to only focus on what I am doing in that moment is meditative. I took a ceramics class at Austin Community College and just fell in love and kind of abandoned all my other crafts from that point on. I love how I am able to use my knowledge of minerals and geology to help inform the clay bodies I use. How utterly messy ceramics is. How there is always more to learn.

3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.

Wow in the last 5 years I have learned so much—but I want to specifically focus on what ceramics has taught me:

1. Let it go. This applies to ceramics and life. There are a million missteps you can make and ruin what you have been working on, and a million missteps you can make in life. Let it go, learn from it and move on.

2. Be patient. let the kiln cool, the best things come to those who are patient. I am mostly reminding myself this one, I have never once waiting for a kiln to fully cool.

3. Put yourself out there! Starting to do markets and show people my work was scary, but I have grown so much, found so much support, made so many friends and only been inspired more. Only good things come from trying new things.

4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?

I just finished reading tiny beautiful things by Cheryl Strayed- I laughed and cried at almost every story. Cant recommend it more. The songs of thsummer for me right now are Byoncé you can’t break my soul…..trying to be patient waiting for the new album.