About
What a difference a year makes! Have a listen to this interview with my mentor Susun Weed. Recorded in the Spring of 2011.
I
grew up in the suburbs of Richmond where my friends and I spent hours exploring
the surrounding woods. I attended Open High School and earned a BFA in
Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Living an artist's life in New York from 1999 until 2005, my childhood passions
for the plant world and making clothes and sculpture flourished. New York
inspired me to combine elements of various mediums to create
wearable works of art. Aware that our every day choices powerfully impact our
environment, my practice has long been to reconstruct available materials into
something new.
My increasing awareness of the connection between what I put in my body and on my skin led me to a live-in apprenticeship with renowned Wise Woman herbalist Susun Weed, on her goat farm in upstate NY. I completed that course in 2003 and continue to learn with Susun through correspondence and self-study.
The Wise Woman tradition encourages each of us (women & men) to see the ally in every ailment/challenge and to trust in our own body’s innate wisdom rather than relying solely upon the ‘experts’. It calls on whole foods and common plants (sometimes called weeds) rather than their synthetic counterparts. I handcraft body care, incense, and custom oils with this spirit and intention.
Our bricks and mortar location opened December 2006 in Richmond, Virginia. We offered spirited wearable and wall art in addition to handcrafted body care, incense, and oils. Other items were crafted by local artisans and friends we met along the way. After 5 wonderfully challenging years hosting community events including art openings, spa night, live music, and film screenings, we decided to ring in 2012 by closing the storefront to focus our efforts online. We will continue to offer classes in sewing, knitting, candle making, and herbal medicine. Also, be sure to look for our lotions and potions in a store near you!
