Kelli Kilton is a formally trained artist living and working in Texas. I specialize in art that incorporates narratives on existence and quintessence with whimsical and somewhat creepy elements.
1. Why did you move to Weir?
I moved to Weir when I married my husband. I am from a super small town and living in Weir in an old Victorian house was, and is perfect.
2. What compels you to spend time creating?
I create because I have learned that I am happiest when I create. My brain is constantly filled with new ideas and setting them free by getting my hands dirty makes me feel “right”.
3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.
First and most important, I learned that being an artist for me is about the making. The making process is the most important part. If the viewer likes it- that is awesome, but me pulling things out of my head and creating them is the best part.
Second, it never hurts to ask anyone anything. I’ve never been a shrinking violet, but I have learned to put myself out there as an artist in new ways. If you ask a question, or talk to new people, what is the worst that could happen? Always try- if no is the worst thing you hear on any given day, that isn’t too bad.
Third, artist rejection is part of the process. I love my art, if other people don’t then maybe they aren’t the right people for my art.
4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?
I am currently making 2 types of things- lots of dolls and sculptures for upcoming shows.
Reading: horror, dark academia/fantasy, and mystery. I’m always reading at least 3 books at once!
Courtney Dyer is an educator turned homeschool mother to three kiddos, all while running a small family farm, Smithville’s farmers’ market, and the nonprofit that surrounds it.
“I absolutely love to create, love all things crafty, and am dedicated to being a lifelong learner.”
1. Why did you move to Paige?
My husband and I always knew we wanted to buy land at some point. We had been looking for years, mostly just as dreamers, and really hadn’t pinned down what area spoke to us most. Then, one day our search landed us in Bastrop and we really fell in love with the area. So we narrowed our search, got a lot more serious, and ended up finding a gem of a property at the start of the pandemic. We bought 18 acres in May of 2020 in what we thought was Smithville, but when we broke ground on the house and finally added a mailbox, we were surprised to have an address in Paige. As it turns out, our property is right on the border of both towns and while our back gate is in Smithville, our front gate is in Paige.
2. What compelled you to start a farm in Paige and a farmers’ market in Smithville?
Back in my younger days, I was such a big city girl but as I’ve gotten older I have felt this calling for a quieter, more simple way of living. Once we started looking for land, my dreams of our own small family farm soared. It all started with chickens and just grew from there. We switched the existing ag exemption from cattle to bees since I always knew I wanted at least one hive. What difference was nine more?! Then, we added donkeys to help keep the coyotes away and our flock now consists of too many chickens to count, a handful of ducks, and some geese. We also have 16 raised beds for growing our own food and 2 large flower fields for my cut flower farm. And this is just our beginning… there is so much more to come. One of the things I love most about farm life is the steep learning curves. My mind absolutely craves those types of challenges!
As for the farmers’ market in Smithville, this project transpired while I was looking for a place to sell my flowers and honey. As I reached out to a local market manager, I was completely turned off by how unfriendly and unsupportive they were and I wondered how many other vendors had felt the same. My family joked that I should just start my own and the rest is history. I started doing my research, found a need in my own small town, got connected to a local real estate agent who loved my idea, went before our City Council, and a couple months later I was up and running! This project is such a labor of love for me and I absolutely love hosting it for our community.
3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.
Having a green thumb is not something you either have or you don’t. It is cultivated and with a little effort and an open mind, anything is possible!
Farm life is a slow life, but there ain’t nothing slow about it!
It only takes one small flame to start a fire. Being the change can start with one.
4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?
I absolutely love to learn new crafts and skills. Currently, I am teaching myself to knit and have been working on a few bookbinding projects. Watercolor and embroidery are also on my list this year. As for reading, I am currently deep diving into all the books/information on native plant gardening in Texas as I believe in gardening with a purpose and supporting native pollinators and wildlife. My TV watchlist consists of anything romantic, girly, or period-based like The Last Kingdom or Bridgerton. And I love to listen to Disney movie soundtracks while driving in the car.
5. Cake or Pie?
Pie, without a doubt. Fun fact- When my husband and I got married, we actually cut into pie instead of the traditional cake and had a pie bar served for our guests.
Shannon Bagent is community builder and owner of Black Sparrow Music Parlor in Taylor, Texas. Black Sparrow is a coffee and beer bar and live entertainment venue dedicated to independent thinking and cretive freedom.
1. Why did you move to Taylor?
Spring of 2016: I lived in South Austin. I worked all over, in live music. During any free time I’d get in the car and just drive straight out of Austin, in any direction. On one of these day trips, I came across this building that just spoke to me. I was 40 miles from home, in an empty and seemingly forgotten town. Almost all of the buildings were boarded up and not a single car, other than mine, was on the street. There was a sign in the window of the building that said, ‘For Sale’ but it wasn’t a realtor’s sign. It was store bought with a number written in black marker. I came back the next week and went inside and met the owner, Don. We got into an argument that day about why women act crazy. I liked him and he liked me. We knew how to talk to each other. I sold everything I owned back in Austin and put it all on the table. Don sold me the building. That’s it. The building spoke to me and I went for it. That’s what brought me to Taylor.
2. What compelled you to start a business in Taylor?
I had just turned 40 and working for other people had really run its course. I had to do something to make a living and Pinocchio’s father (Geppetto) seem to have the right idea. One building, downtown, work up front, live in the back. That just made sense to me. Simple. Compact. Whether a candle maker, a shoe cobbler, a baker, or running a printing press, just keep it all under one roof. That was the life for me. I went with what I knew – live music.
3. Tell me three things you’ve learned in the past five years.
1. Deep grief robs you of a specific type of innocence that is impossible to know you have until it’s gone. Deep grief changes you. You can get better. You can heal. But it changes you.
2. You can dial your life to perfection. You can really get it all right. You can find happiness. And then you can lose it, to no fault of your own. Shit happens. And we can’t stop that. But we can learn to get good at rolling with it.
3. If you’re self-sufficient and independent, the only reason to couple up is if doing so improves your life beyond what you can do by yourself.
4. What are you currently making, reading, watching, or listening to?
Currently I’m rewatching ‘Sex and the City’, which is bad and good. I’ll likely stop watching it soon but… I said that last season.
I have about 15 books piled up on my nightstand, all of which I’ve read the first two chapters. I’m in one of those shameful phases where t.v. wins every time. I do write in my notebook before falling asleep every night, without fail.
5. Cake or Pie?
Why does this question make me angry? I hate the idea of having to choose. PieCake. (please deliver to 113 W 2nd Street in Taylor Texas, leave at the door and text 512-804-8626).
Bean & Noodle 