Category: Prattling On

Michelle Gardella: The Five Question Interview

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Michelle Gardella is a photographer, cermacist, teacher, nature lover, and community builder. She lives in a magical cottage with her husband, two children, and dog Maple in in Smithville, Texas.

1. Why did you move to Smithville? 

After leaving New England in our Airstream camper and traveling the country with our kids for a few years, we ended up in Austin. We stayed there for ten years, but my heart longed for small-town country living. When I visited Smithville for the first time, I wrote in my journal that I had stumbled upon the Vermont of Texas. I think I meant that the lines between the Earth and the people were blurred and the warmth of the community was unmistakeable. I bought our falling-apart cottage because I loved the Magnolia tree in the front yard and never looked back. I love it here with my entire heart. 

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

I don’t know a life of not being an artist. From my first memories of making mud bowls and “cooking” them under the dryer vents of my Grandma’s backyard, it was never a decision or a choice. Whatever exists in the intersection of nature, art, and healing is what my heart is made of, I guess. There have been times I have been compelled to stop creating in an effort to get a “real” job and be more normal, but that only lasts a short time before I come to my senses. 

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

Everyone should have a best friend over the age of 80. 

Early morning walks are medicine. 

My husband and children are my winning lottery ticket. I have no idea how I got so lucky to be loved by such incredible humans. 

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

I am working on a collection of folk-inspired plates and platters. I have been visiting the library weekly this summer, reading everything about spiritual botany that I can find. If it involves mushrooms, moss, rivers, or plant medicine, I’ll read it. 

5. Cake or Pie?

All of it. My love of carbs is unwavering. 🙂 

…….

In September Michelle is hosting a Photo Exhibition showcasing the photography by the participants of her Community Archive Project.

Read more about this amazing project and event here.

Instagram @michellegardella
Website michellegardella.com

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Jenn Lopez: The Five Question Interview

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Jenn Lopez is owner of the beautifully curated shop Alchemy in Taylor, Texas.

1. Why did you move to Taylor? 

I haven’t! Not yet. I’ve lived in Austin for 30+ years and am privileged enough to say ‘I remember when SXSW was $25 a ticket’. The country IS calling, but not sure where just yet.

2. What compels you to spend time creating?

Opening in a shop in Taylor was an accident, honestly. I was offered to sublet a space within another business and I was still working a full time wholesale job. 

The shop grew, my people found me, and I found a permanent home on southside of historic downtown. Needless to say, I am no longer working full time in wholesale and working full time + 1000 extra hrs a week for myself. 🙂

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

I love this question because I’ve had the privilege of meeting several people on the dawn of their own business ventures and this is always my advice;

1. Be yourself, no matter what that looks like. Your people will always find you and embrace your flavor of crazy.

2. Only put things in your space that you love, you would wear, you would give, you would eat. You will struggle selling things that don’t bring you joy.

3. It’s okay to doubt yourself. Small business is hard and especially in this economic climate. You will have months where you don’t know how you’ll keep the lights on. But those months where it seems like the world is busting your doors down, those months make it all worth it.

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

Making a mess.
Reading Walkable City by Jeff Speck & Egyptian Magic by EA Wallis Budge
Watching anything I can find online about Curanderismo.
Listening to everything. Music and art fuel this dumpster fire.

5. Cake or Pie?

Is it a cop out to say both? 
Cake – Chocolate Fudge
Pie – Anything fruit except rhubarb because wtf is that?

…….

Location: Alchemy 119 W 2nd Street, Suite A, Taylor, Texas 76574
Hours: 11am-ish – 6pm-ish
Website: shopalchemytx.com
Instagram: @shopalchemytx
Facebook: shopachemytx

Friday Favorites: Summertime Blues, sweet music, and dandelion garland

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I’ve been busy carving and printing all kinds of cats on paper and textiles. Also, I’m having a moment with blue ink. I waited months for this tube of Prussian Blue and I intend to use it!

Season 3 of Happy Valley. This, and Shetland are up there in my top two British crime dramas. While they are both crime shows they are more about the grief and healing of the main character. Available on AcornTV and AMC+

These Pride Risograph greeting cards by Bromstad Printing Please check out her website. Her cards are all so wonderful… especially if cats are your jam.

This album by Sierra Ferrell is on constant repeat around our house these days. “Bells of Every Chapel” makes me so happy.

Remind me to try this dandelion garland next year. It’s so beautiful!