Where are you from and does that have an affect on your work?

I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri, but I have been living and working out of Northeast Minneapolis, Minnesota for over five years. While Minnesota is my home now, STL and all of its fun quirky bits will always be deeply ingrained in my soul. The biggest way living and working out of NE Minneapolis has affected my work is just the monumental support of the community. There is this really great cooperative vibe to the maker/artist community in NE, and Minneapolis in general. One like I’ve never experienced. And, well, Minnesotans just love to support each other so that’s been the cherry on top of it all.

Very true! Who/what are your biggest artistic influences?

Oh boy. This is a hard one to answer. I’ve always been a bit mesmerized by other creatives in general - makers, artists, writers, musicians, etc. There is something profound in the ability to create something that causes others to feel and connect with their emotions. That admiration, and knowing I possess that same talent, inspires me to keep going when I might be in a slump.

When I sit down at my bench to create something new I draw inspiration from people, places, memories, books, music, or feelings and go from there. How do I turn this memory into a scent that evokes the same emotions I felt when I was living it? How do I make that resonate with others?

A certain scent can definitely take you back to a memory! How do you define success as an artist?

Creating things that I love that bring me joy. It's a bonus when other’s love them as well. As long as I’m making things for me and not just for others’ blind consumption, I’ll consider myself a success.

Does your art help you in other areas of your life?

It’s a coping mechanism. I have CPTSD and I’m a very anxious person. Creating is the only time I can quiet my brain. If I’m having a hard time regulating my emotions or my brain is in overdrive, getting my hands busy quells the inertia and brings me back to earth. Even if, sometimes especially if, I have to make a hundred of something. I’ll put on some noise and just get to work. I only have to focus on creating and that takes me out of a loop.

I also love doing markets. If left to my own devices, I’d rarely engage in social activities so getting out in the community and meeting people that either make or appreciate art feels good. It is great to feel a part of a really interesting group of people.

Love that. How have you developed your skill overtime?

A lot of trial and error. When It comes to making things, there isn’t much that intimidates me or that I think I can’t do. So I’ll come up with an idea and try to make it work. When I get lucky it’s a home run the first time, other times I have to go back to the drawing board once or twice. I feel like the refining stage is where the growth really happens and I appreciate that. It would be boring if everything was easy.

The biggest and most helpful thing I’ve learned is when to say this isn’t going to work and it’s time to move on. I think that’s a pretty great lesson to apply to all areas of life.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

When it comes to the actual making part, it is definitely the scent formulation. Whether I’m developing a scent for my regular line, a commission, or something that folks have strong opinions about, like a book character, I spend a lot of time and effort trying to get it right.

The other part of the process that can be challenging is the balance between creating and the other aspects of my life. Ask anyone who knows me well and they’ll tell you I’m a workaholic. When you’re lucky enough to have a job that doesn’t feel like work, striking that work/life balance can be really difficult.

How has your style changed over time?

My overall branding and offerings have been pretty consistent from the beginning. The biggest way my style has been transforming recently is where I draw my inspiration from. When I first started out, I focused mainly on memories, places, and seasons for my scent profiles. Now I’m sourcing more inspiration from books, music, and other aspects of my life instead of things that I know everyone loves or things that “make sense.”

It makes me think of that scene in The Devil Wears Prada when Meryl Streep’s character says, “florals for spring? How groundbreaking.” These days, I’m trying to stay away from the predictable. You can get that from Target.

What’s the best thing about being involved in the ?

Everyday brings something new and different, even if the process for everything is the same. My capacity for doing the same thing over and over is about two years. I learned this during my time in the trenches of corporate work. Being both self-employed and creative, I get to set the pace. If I get bored with something, which doesn’t really happen anymore, I just work on something else. I create something new. I don’t feel like a cog in a machine anymore.

What’s your favorite item that you’re created, and why?

Scent No. 13. I am obsessed with all things Halloween, spooky season, and the Occult; the weirder the better. When I launched my first line of candles I purposely skipped No. 13 because I knew I wanted to save it for Halloween. Honestly, I think the scent description sort of speaks for itself.

No. 13 is a scent inspired by the path of night. A love letter to my absolute favorite season of the year - the season of the witch.

Homage to our aunties and to our grandmas who weren't witches, but were superstitious. 😉 To the thinning of the veil, and the return to the dark part of the year. A time for resolutions for the year ahead. A time for contemplation and rest after the harvest.

It's the smell of spells—incense, sweet tobacco, the crisp air of a full moon's night, and the cauldron's spent ashes.

What do you love most about Minneapolis?

Everything. My husband and I moved here from St. Louis to grow roots and start a family because it had everything we wanted - good schools, great parks, fun things to do. The vibes are just different here. It probably has something to do with the brutal winters, but Minnesotans genuinely love this place and that’s really fun to be a part of.

Anything special you’d like to share?

One question I get asked the most is, “why are they all numbers?” I did this intentionally so that people aren’t influenced by a name. When you’re looking at a number and a handful of scent notes, you get to decide what it smells like, instead of me telling you. Not only does this help folks branch out from a familiar scent, it also makes for some really great conversations at markets. It’s one of my favorite parts of interacting with my customers.

Catch Apothecary 19 at Jackalope Minneapolis on September 23rd & 24th, 2023.

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