Bloom Where You Were Planted — Bloomsbury Farm

Nestled in the rolling and hollers hills of middle Tennessee, about 30 minutes outside of Nashville you find Bloomsbury Farm. Lauren Palmer runs this three generation farm alongside her parent’s and daughter. The farm has become an idyllic escape from the near constant construction and growth of near-by Nashville, a city that has allowed Lauren’s vision for this farm, it’s CSA, and farmers market presence to flourish in recent years.

Lauren graduated from college with a social work degree and worked in hospitals, but never felt entirely fulfilled during those years. She decided to intern on a farm that embraced organic farming, and says it was the hardest work she’d ever done, yet was absolutely the most satisfying. As a child her parent’s had moved their family to was is now part of the farmland she oversees. Her dad, who came from the area and was raised on a dairy farm nearby, and her mother encouraged her desire to farm the land and soon became her first, and cheapest worker. Over a decade later Lauren still says that as soon as she hit the dirt she knew she’d found her calling.

Today the farm has grown and is a year round operation. Much of what you see on the farm today began at least two season’s prior as Lauren plans well ahead to ensure her spring Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) kicks off each year without a hitch. The spring is a welcomed season for the farmers here at Bloomsbury Farmer, warmer temperatures and longer days mean the thirty two weeks of the growing season are soon ahead.

Winter, like for most farmers, is a time of rest, but this rest is also required of the land. “Our daily paces slow a bit, allowing us to take stock of the growing seasons that year and calibrate for the seasons ahead. As a team and operation, we’re constantly looking for ways to grow, and in spring we start to see that work take root.”

Spring allows us to reconnect with their community in a bigger way. While they’re at the farmers market year-round, the spring brings the CSA community out and back onto the farm. Lauren says “It’s like welcoming family home after time apart, which feels appropriate during the time of rebirth and growth that springtime brings.”

For Lauren the springtime season is one that is filled with sensory threads: the sweet taste of the first ripe strawberries eaten out in the field, the chirping of baby chicks, and seeing the marks of the season beginning to peek out, such as the daffodils and the small buds that decorate the branches of the pear trees.

The farm is a GAP and organic-certified farm growing over a hundred varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, sprouts and wheatgrass. A flock of chickens and gaggle of geese provide fresh eggs, and in recent years they’re started growing hemp organically. Through their on-farm market days, local farmers markets, robust CSA programs (spring, summer, and fall/winter, with about 400-450 shares alone this coming summer), as well as wholesale channels and local restaurants, they put their goods into hundreds of local hands each year.

Over the years Bloomsbury has added summer camps (with a guarantee to send your kids home dirty or your money back) and a nature-based school. This last component -- education -- when combined with farming, feels full-circle for Lauren. The farm, while yes, it is a business, is more importantly a place to nourish, educate, and connect.

Lauren says “I’ll never forget my first farmers market in East Nashville. Incredibly nervous, I wouldn’t have done it if not for the support of a friend who said to show up with the produce and he’d have a table and tent ready. With a handmade poster board sign (which I still have) saying “Grown with Love,” I jumped in and fell in love.” Lauren continues “Each year (and sometimes day) we have bumps in the road, but all of our movements have been forward in the evolution of our farm. When life gives you an excess of tomatoes, you turn it into Bloody Mary mix.”

The most important thing she’s learned in growing the farm is to listen. Listen to your community and customers…to the people who’ve been with you the longest. Listen to what they want and need, then deliver.” From the first farmers market, Lauren fell in love with the connection you get to those you feed. "As farmers, we need to be face-to-face with our customers to listen and learn what they need. Our family motto has always been “bloom where you were planted.” Bloomsbury is more than a place to grow, it’s a place to gather, and I believe that good community, like good food, doesn’t just happen; it is something that’s planted, nurtured, and shared.”

Unafraid of Life: A Conversation with @ablicki

a conversation with Max Ablicki about life, photography, and lessons from the road.

I FIRST GOT INTO PHOTOGRAPHY IN HIGH SCHOOL, JUST AS I WAS SORT OF STRETCHING MY LEGS WITH THE NEWFOUND FREEDOM OF HAVING A DRIVER’S LICENSE. I started by simply taking cell phone pictures of the places I’d drive my Jeep, and from there it sort of blossomed into this joy of exploring and sharing the experience of travel, and overall just being present in the moment.

I’m mainly self-taught; however, the first few months with my camera were certainly full of YouTube tutorials and talks with my friends who knew a bit about the craft. The good thing about a camera is that at the end of the day, it’s really just a tool. Once you understand the functions of the tool, you can use it however you need to. I think anyone can pick up a camera nowadays and take some pretty beautiful pictures with just a little playing around, but working on a style is what truly begins to set photos apart and highlight the tastes and ideas of each photographer.

I feel that my own style has been, and probably always will be a work in progress. I started in the early days by mimicking what others were doing on Instagram, but it doesn’t take long to realize that’s not a fulfilling or enjoyable way to practice an art. So over time I began to simply take photos of things that I’m passionate about, and played around with different editing styles and shooting styles before ultimately settling on my current approach, which is to shoot as close to the finished product as possible, and then lightly edit. I like to balance my color images with the occasional black and white, since each one has its own benefits and drawbacks and I don’t want to limit myself to one domain in that area. My current images are intended to show the things that inspire me in an almost photojournalistic kind of way—at the end of the day, it’s an account of me and the things I enjoy, presented in a way that I hope is enjoyable for many.

The themes I explore in my work started out pretty basic, just showing my physical travels in my old car. But as we all know, the more you travel the more you realize travel is a lot bigger than where you physically are. It changes who you are as a person. So now the themes that I try to cultivate and share with my audience are to be unafraid of life, and to be open to inspiration from anything and everything, whatever that may mean to any person who sees my content. I’ve been called a renaissance man for my diverse array of random passions and skills, and I want people to feel similarly encouraged and charged up to be unafraid to try new skills and chase all of their different passions, instead of living with blinders on, chasing one dream and ignoring everything else that’s beautiful around them.

Finding my subjects and locations is almost completely random. Some locations, I hear about through word of mouth and recommendations from friends (though it’s pretty rare you’ll catch me at the known “Instagram banger” spots anymore!); others I find on my own just by perusing maps and/or simply coming across amazing spots on the side of the road. I’m guided by my passions and interests, so at the end of the day whether I’m shooting on a mountain summit, in a canoe, in a restaurant, a luxury home or an off-the-grid cabin, it’s because I am really, really excited and grateful to be there. The people I photograph are typically friends who accompany me on my adventures or share my passions. Again, having an openness to experience and to living opens up the opportunity for you to stop on the side of the road to take a great photo or to talk to an interesting stranger who might show or teach you something incredible.

The way in which I compose a shot depends on the scenario. If I’m shooting a professional project, I often have an idea of what a client expects, and an understanding of the situation I’m dealing with, and therefore might have a few shots in mind or a loose outline of what I’d like to capture. If I’m just out on the road freestyling, pretty much anything goes.

Everything around me inspires my work! I love taking photos, and if I can photograph the things and the people that I love, then I will. I love to cook, I love to get outside and explore, I love to surf, I love hole-in-the wall coffee shops and autumn leaves, and everything from a perfectly manicured fine dining experience right down to a bowl of mac and cheese. I want people to simply be inspired by life and unafraid to reach for the experience they think is out of reach. In the words of the late Anthony Bourdain, who is one of my big inspirations, I want to inspire people to “eat the damn fish.”

My suggestion to newcomers in the field (no matter how cheesy this may sound) is to have fun with it! Seriously, don’t worry about trying to monetize it or make it sustainable. Don’t even worry about trying to be good! Just treat it like play - and have fun shooting for you first, taking pictures of what you enjoy. Keep going in that direction and the rest will come with time! That said, photography is s a tough field to be immensely profitable in. Photography is still essentially my side gig; I work in landscaping full time. Really though, what is money? We’re all just trading around red and green numbers at the end of the day. If photography is your passion, chase it, and don’t make money the priority. With good practice and a true dedication to the craft, money will come.

As for high points in my career, my first few real photo gigs in which a client sought me out (as opposed to me putting in the legwork to find a client) were something really special, and to me just validated that my work was really becoming something to take pride in. Especially as someone who doesn’t specialize in any specific type of photography, it can be difficult to get clients when you aren’t offering something specific, so knowing that I was being sought out purely for my creative perspective was a pretty amazing feeling.

I’d say that the moment I realized that I didn’t need to define my work by any specific genre or style of photography was the defining moment in my career, so far. That understanding really opened up the creative doors for me, even if it slowed down my “photography business.” At the end of the day that’s not why I’m into photography, and instead, giving myself the room to create what I want has led to my photography career feeling much more like a professional hobby, which is fantastic.

If I could start out from scratch, I would definitely become who I am–a guy with no particular specializations in photography–a lot earlier than I did the first time around. In the early days I was so focused on trying to be one “type” of photographer, whether that was taking pictures of cabins or landscapes or cars or whatever.  Looking back now, those are all just callings to different areas of interest for me, and for a long time I was really limiting myself to try to just pick one and stick with it. It took me pretty long to realize that I don’t need to abide by a specific specialization in photography. So, if I had another go at it, I’d definitely want to attain that realization much earlier.

The importance of individuality is the biggest lesson I’ve learned through creating my art. Copying everything everyone else does on social media will definitely get you the likes - but it costs you the soul of your work. When you can step outside of the social media framework and expectations, and not care at all if your work has 10 likes or 10,000, that’s when you get the freedom to create and share what you want.

It’s great to be in a position where you can work for yourself, even if it’s just for a few times a year like it is for me. I’ve spent my whole life working for other people.  Each way of working has its own pros and cons. Working for yourself really gives you that total control and total freedom to run things the way you’d like to, but at the same time, you bear full responsibility for everything, which can be tiring. That’s why I like being my own boss, but only part-time.

If I couldn’t be pursuing photography, I’d be cooking! I’d say I’m equally passionate about cooking as I am about photography, even sometimes more passionate about it. (That’s why my photography has evolved to show a bit of what I like to cook!). One of my favorite things is cooking on an open fire—there is something deeply intimate about it, and it’s a true craft! I’m very inspired by Francis Mallmann, and definitely recommend that anyone interested in cooking and living to the fullest should research Francis Mallmann. A lot of different aspects of life, society, culture, etc. all seem to come to head with a plate of food, and being able to cook well and appreciate food with friends and family is something really special to me.

My biggest pet peeve about the photography industry is the people who are doing it “for the gram.” There’s a lot of them out there in all sectors of social media, not just photographers. In the photography area, though, there are so many people who won’t stop to smell the flowers or appreciate a scene, because they’re too busy trying to crush out a hike to get to a popular photo spot just to snag a photo and then turn around to head to the next spot. Or they’ll ignore countless amazing people or local places like small businesses and restaurants because those things don’t fit in their aesthetic. So generally, I wish the whole scene was just more authentic and transparent. Does social media need to resemble real life? Definitely not! I like that it’s a catalog of our best moments. But do we need to manufacture our best moments or can we instead truly be present, patient, and just simply share our real best moments?

When I first started out, photography was simply the pursuit of something that was interesting to me at the time. It was something I felt drawn to when I first encountered it, and so I followed the path. Even with the ups and downs, photography has allowed me to travel to some incredible places, but also really led me down a path that’s had so many benefits in terms of being an authentic and kind human being with gratitude for everything around me, and that’s all I could ask for.

I’ve touched on this a little bit already, but I truly hope my work inspires people to chase life to the fullest, whether they are aspiring photographers or not. Simply saying yes to new opportunities and being willing to make the moment worthwhile is the answer to life itself, never mind just photography. It started with travel for me, but it can start anywhere. I love to see people try new things and pursue their interests and passions to the fullest in the same way that I try to do - always be open to what life has to offer!

Here in Maine, nothing brings hunters and hippies together more than flannel. It is always the right move.

A Storyteller's World — Christie Jones Ray

Somewhere just outside a tiny map-dot Kentucky town, Christie Jones Ray a storyteller, artist, quilter, and children’s book author creates a storybook world that unfolds against the backdrop of the rural South. Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, her soul longed for the serenity of the countryside, inspired by the cherished memories of visiting her grandparents' farm in Kentucky during the 60s and 70s.

Over three decades ago, the Christie became a resident of Pleasant View, Tennessee, marking the beginning of a journey filled with life's twists and turns. An engagement to a dear man led to marriage in the summer of 2007, followed by a move to Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee, four years later. Life in a tiny Victorian cottage unfolded like a storybook, and in the year she turned 50, the storyteller embarked on the journey of self-publishing children's books, creating a magical world of her own. Eight blissful years in that cozy cottage were followed by a return to Pleasant View, only to be drawn to a property in her beloved Kentucky in the summer of 2022. The Victorian-style farmhouse built in 1911 seemed to await her, and a cozy log cabin just steps away completed the idyllic setting. A year later, after renovations, they made the move, creating a haven in the peaceful rural setting that now serves as the enchanting backdrop of her storybook world.

Christie’s love for the art of storytelling began years ago, earning her the title of the family's keeper of stories. From a memory cabinet holding family treasures to a blog launched in February 2011, her storytelling skills were finely tuned. The blog became a canvas for documenting family stories, evolving to include tales of her handmade mouse named Eliza, stitched that Easter, and named after her great grandmother. It was these stories that caught the attention of her husband, sparking the idea of transforming them into children's books.

In August of 2011, just three months before turning 50, the storyteller surrendered to the idea of writing a children's book. Her husband took the lead in researching and gathering information, while she delved into learning to draw, use watercolor paints, and develop the story. Thus, the CJR world was born, with Eliza the Mouse at the center of it. Other characters, including a menagerie of dolls, bears and mice, found their way into the hearts of readers. In particular, Really Old Bear became a beloved character, winning over readers with her wisdom and endearing perspective.

Inspiration for this enchanting world comes from the storyteller's vivid imagination, nurtured since childhood. In her photography, she focuses on capturing the beauty and joy in the world, documenting precious moments that will be cherished down the road. The storybook world she shares is a sanctuary, offering a breath of fresh air, beauty, and encouragement in the face of life's challenges.

Having escaped the bustling atmosphere of the big city, the storyteller found solace in the fields of Queen Anne's Lace, farmhouses, and old quilts of Kentucky. The Southern charm and slower pace of small-town life became integral threads woven into her stories. The CJR world reflects not just her storytelling, but also her appreciation for her Southern roots, embracing her accent, love of old overalls, straw hats, and the joy of cooking with too much butter.

The lost arts of quilting, storytelling, sewing, and more hold a special place in the storyteller's heart. Her lifelong love for old quilts led her to learn the art of quilting. The process of making, sewing, knitting and stitching, she discovered, is not just about the end product but about slowing down, releasing endorphins, and sparking creative juices.

The evolution of the storyteller as an artist and illustrator is a journey marked by growth with each project. Each new book becomes a challenge, with the story taking precedence, and the illustrations pushing her boundaries. The commitment to growth is exemplified in projects like "Eliza Visits the Prairie," where the drawing and painting of a calf became a triumph in persistence and artistic commitment.

Remaining true to herself has been key to her artistic evolution. After a brief period of uncertainty, she decided to let her home, her storybook world, and even her clothing reflect who she truly is. This authenticity has become the cornerstone of her style, connecting her love for wildflowers, quilts and mismatched silverware seamlessly.

The community she seeks to build is not just a gathering of readers but a tapestry of makers, quilters, knitters, educators and friends. It's a community that finds solace in shared whimsy, offering comfort, creativity and connection. The storyteller aims to empower this community to embrace the magic of whimsy, creativity and shared stories.

In her flower garden, old-fashioned favorites bloom, mirroring the timeless beauty captured in her photography. Geraniums grace the front porch, and flowerbeds filled with Cleome, hydrangea, impatiens and Granny’s Bonnet create a picturesque setting that reflects the charm of her Southern roots.

The storyteller's go-to Southern dish, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, holds a special place at family gatherings. Her potato salad is a potluck favorite, embodying the essence of shared meals and family traditions.

Preserving and celebrating small towns is a cause close to the storyteller's heart. Small-town life, with its sense of community, shared joys and sorrows, and the coming together in times of triumph and tragedy, has left an indelible mark on her. The movie Steel Magnolias, with its portrayal of small-town life, holds a special place, closely mirroring her own experiences.

In her opinion, life is best lived in community, a sentiment she ardently believes in. The storyteller's hope is to empower the CJR community to feel comfort, creativity and connection, embracing the shared stories and values that make their bond stronger.

As the journey continues, home remains the storyteller's favorite place in the South, where the pace slows, life is embraced, and the art of storytelling finds its truest expression. Whispers of tales and threads echo through the Southern journey into small-town Kentucky, inviting readers into a world where the magic of whimsy and the comfort of shared stories prevail.

CJR with my favorite of her books…Pick-a Pick-a Pumpkin.

The Beauty Surrounding Me — A Conversation with Anne-Louise Ewen

Los Angeles based artist, Anne-Louise Ewen, grew up in a small town on the Mississippi River in South Louisiana known equally for the beauty of its antebellum architecture as for its proliferation of toxic chemical plants. Anne-Louise’s work includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and books. In the current time of deep unrest in the United States, she wrestles to make paintings that she personally and viscerally finds beautiful while not being in denial of the dark realities we are facing as a society.

In the summer between second and third grade, I met one of my first art mentors in a chance encounter and spent that summer learning the fundamentals of drawing with charcoal, a formative experience which established visual art as a core element of my life. As a teen, I attended the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (a magnet boarding school) and concentrated on a curriculum of fine art, followed up by spending two years abroad studying figure drawing, printmaking and painting in Paris, France. I relocated from New Orleans to Los Angeles in 2005 following the massive upheaval caused by Hurricane Katrina and went on to pursue a college degree in philosophy which led me to later founding The Donaldsonville Art Colony, a collective of painters, writers, musicians, and filmmakers. I drew upon this experience years later when I opened my art gallery in Costa Mesa, California in 2007.

Creating is a powerful antidote to many of the world’s ills. It reminds me of humanity’s better nature. When I’m creating, I feel like I belong more on this planet than at any other time. Being creative is similar to being resourceful; having the ability to make something out of what you have at hand and do it elegantly when possible. Mere consumption and survival are not enough—the urgency in surpassing this is a part of what drives us to create.

I will never actually identify as or with the term of being a “creative”. For me, that expression always implies creative work that is applied to a commercial endeavor for the main purpose of making money. Don’t get me wrong—I very much like making money, but one thing that is important to me is remembering that there is a difference between art and commerce. And when you’re making art, you can start from a place that is not about marketing and selling and making a buck, but rather aim to create beautiful things that transcend oppression, violence, hate, ignorance and existential ennui.

To be frank, and I know this goes against a lot of contemporary art career advice, I don’t think it’s helpful, as an artist, to concern yourself with finding a style. It’s something that develops from experimenting and playing, and following a thread to something that you love. I’m still curious to see how I will paint or draw this or that. I try to make things that are beautiful to me and that I want to have around. I guess I’ve been painting for long enough that there is a lot of partially conscious, subtle figuring going on inside, but there’s always some aspect of leaping into the void. The key for me is to find a balance between bold spontaneity and calm deftness.

I believe that art’s highest good is as an outpost of freedom and a trigger of joy. I’m interested in art that makes me feel in love with the world, and I believe that artists have the ability and responsibility to restore humanity through what we do. Some have said that looking at my work makes them feel more free and alive, and I’d consider that my biggest accomplishment and the highest compliment.

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I grew up in a dynamic where the people I came in contact with were either utterly indifferent to the creative work I was doing, or they were actively antagonistic (with many exceptions, of course!). Over the years, I, therefore, developed in a way that preferred working in isolation—my creative community was made up of the dead artists that I loved, like Matisse and Picasso and of the classical music or jazz on the radio, beaming in from Baton Rouge or New Orleans.

In recent years my creative community has changed some, but it’s a hard habit for me to break. I used to think that I didn’t have anything to say about my work, but now when someone visits my studio, I really enjoy the dialogues that come out of their questions and observations. I love it when someone experiences a connection with something I’ve made, and they say it makes them feel more free, happy and alive. That’s a fantastic part of the equation that was missing from my creative pursuits for a long time.

Surprisingly, my community of artists these days is greatly made up of musician-composers (the most important being my husband, Tyler Sabbag, who is a part of a team of composers best known for their work on the Netflix series, Street Food and Chef’s Table.). I love that they believe, value and understand things that can’t be seen, and this is the kind of person that I like to be around. It’s a never-ending source of fascination for me to discuss the similarities in our work processes. In both of our worlds, we must proceed by a kind of faith and hope to enter a state of grace where the composition evolves into something profoundly wonderful.

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Creativity is renewing. When I’m feeling bummed out and don’t feel like I have it in me to paint, however, I may choose to simply work in a different medium, maybe ceramics one day, or I’ll make candles or play ukulele instead. Sometimes, just taking a break and sitting down to a good meal in a pretty setting will do the trick. I also appreciate the way that travel gives me a chance to be “the me” that I am without the errands and the to-do list crowding in on me, allowing me to find the space I need to dream again.

Pursue your creativity—Don’t overthink it.

Feel your way. Play.

Creative inspiration can come from anywhere though I do find I regularly find creativity in the beauty surrounding me. There is so much power in beauty to nourish and soothe us—a trip to Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, seeing my friend Teressa Foglia’s beautiful hats on Instagram, opera, baseball— I want to amplify that and bring it into people’s lives. I’m interested in seeing what happens next. The best times are when it feels like I just get to show up, set up my materials and ride the ride. I often feel as many artists do—like it’s not me making the work but some force passing through me.

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I love seeing other people’s beautiful, well-organized studios, but the one I have currently is not that. When we first moved in, my studio was dark green. You can see that I painted it white and hung up the string of lights to brighten it up. We’ve regularly moved from rental house to rental house in Los Angeles for the last decade so my studios have had to adapt to what’s available both in terms of space and finances.

We moved to our current house thinking that the garage would make a pretty decent studio for me. It’s not too small, though it’s always a challenge to find more storage. Unfortunately, it turns out it also leaks terribly in the rain, as well as, fills with dust and leaves from the area’s frequent wind storms. The first curtain I hung across the opening blew away in a windstorm, but this one has held for over a year, fingers crossed. On a positive note, my studio has several walls for me to tack up my canvas to paint on plus space for my paints and brushes and other assorted art supplies. I also built cinder block shelves that I added to hold my art books and other treasures. If I waited around for the perfect space I wouldn’t get anything done, so I make it work. (On a side note, we’re house hunting again, and we’ve agreed that we’ll be happy with a tiny living space as long as we have vast spaces for our studios.)

My studio is pretty quiet, apart from my husband composing next door, and it has good energy which is important. Our house is an extension of my studio; I have an area for ceramics and candles, am often making at the kitchen table and use the living room as my rotating art gallery for studio visitors.

As an alternative, I’ve tried renting a studio space away from home, but this didn’t work for me. I need to live with my studio so I can wander out with a cup of coffee in the morning to see what I made the night before. I need to be able to carry wet paintings into the house to live with them a while and see what they feel like.

Realistically, it can be incredibly challenging to carve out the space you need, and you might find you have to be quite resourceful and flexible to make things work. I feel it is important to set up a creative space whatever the size so that it feels like your secret clubhouse hideout from childhood; someplace that you stock with the supplies that will excite you. If you don’t have a room, have a stocked suitcase that you can bring out and conjure that sacred space where you are free to do whatever you want. When I lived in New York City for a year, I had no studio space and so I turned to making small hand-bound art books of tiny paintings. The studio and the work will influence each other. Your available space doesn’t have to hold you back from making something. In our last house, I set up a giant tent in the backyard!

I think it’s an accomplishment to overcome these challenges and not let them hold me back from creating. I have a vision in my head of my ideal studio…big, bright and clean, with plenty of storage for finished work…I’ll get there eventually.

ANNE-LOUISE’S PAINTING MANIFESTO

• Aim to proceed with a devil-may-care work ethic, both cheerful and reckless to investigate, invent and rediscover.

• Let the first-hand personal experience of aesthetic arrest be the true north that guides me, allowing room for an epiphany.

• Aim for nothing less than to create things that transcend oppression, violence, hate, ignorance and existential ennui.

• Focus on the music over the lyrics. In other words, though there are recognizable objects in my paintings, the subject matter (the “lyrics”) is not what primarily motivates me.

• Be virtuous in sharing my work​ with the world

“IMPORTANT” ART

I feel strongly that people should be more discerning about when they use the word “important” to describe art. Often what they mean is that a particular work of art or artist is currently influential, popular or expensive. This does not make it important. What the world needs more of are cultural offerings, which inspire and strengthen humanity's more virtuous qualities like empathy, sensitivity to beauty and love of life.

MORE ON ANNE-LOUISE

Online store: EwenStudio.com

Portfolio: EwenFineArt.com

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“Creativity takes courage.”—Henri Matisse

A STORIED HOME: Small Town Junk

From FOLK’s Slow Living 2020 Issue

Rural Ohio resident Jessi Green (@small.town.junk) has established herself as a curator of storied antiques and vintage pieces. She works with clients and customers to create homes that have a story to tell.

THE LOVE FOR OLD GOODS RUNS DEEP IN ME. As far back as I can remember, I found the beauty in antiques: I would buy trinkets and vintage beaded purses as a little girl. I practically grew up at the flea market, as my parents sold new and antique military goods, and I was rolling around rummage sales in the stroller.

At Small Town Junk my husband, Brad, and I are purveyors of antiques, avid collectors of bits and pieces of history that make homes warm and give individuals an ideal sanctuary they can retreat to.

Brad and I started our business seven years ago after visiting a local antique shop and discovering our addiction to hunting for old goods. I previously worked as a florist and my husband worked in landscaping, so we’ve always had an eye for design, and we jumped into the antique world headfirst. Our company means so much to my husband and me. It’s a dream come true to say I love my work.

We like to think of ourselves as personal assistants in finding gorgeous pieces to fill your home with life and stories. “Putting History Back Into Homes” is our motto. Everyone’s looking for statement pieces, but most don’t think to turn to antiques. Yet the quality and craftsmanship of old-fashioned goods is unparalleled.

Being around vintage goods has made me aware of the beauty in old things, the way wear shows up almost like artwork. A farmer’s shovel has an imprint of his hardworking hands. These little details intrigue me. They are bits and pieces of our history, our story, and our legacy.

New things can be beautiful, but the story that comes with an antique has an immeasurable value. Knowing that someone used this, worked with it, or kept it because it had sentimental value brings joy. Everything had a purpose back then: They didn’t keep old blue mason jars just for decoration, but to use them! The beauty shows up in the details, with a rich history you just can’t find in brand-new products. I like to say that antique buying is not a fad but a lifestyle.

That’s certainly been true for us: Not only do we scout vintage treasures for our customers, but we fill our own home with our finds. I love knowing that our home is over eighty percent antique and vintage. I prefer not to stick to one specific style or era of antiques, but instead buy what speaks to my soul. All the “chaos” blends into a well-curated and storied home.

Our home brimming with vintage gems fits in perfectly in our hometown of Hillsboro, Ohio, a simple town of small businesses, farmers, and historic charm. Our farm is around one hundred years old and is a work in progress we enjoy building together. Right now we’re working on a storefront venue and workspace for our business, a project we hope to finish within the year. We’re carving out the space in a barn on our property. We love the quiet life on our little piece of land and watching it flourish into our sanctuary.

Our passion for antiques is a proud part of our family culture. Brad and I have five children and our family is everything to us. We love raising our children to appreciate the beauty in antiques, and value history, style, and authentic goods.

Antiques are so much more than just sturdy, well-made products. To own vintage goods just for their value is to underestimate them, when so much of what makes them wonderful is the story behind them. That’s why I’m passionate about antiques: I feel as if I’m restoring and showcasing our nation’s history in my living room or bedroom—giving them life and passing them on to my children as family heirlooms.

The technical definition of antique means a collectible object, such as a piece of furniture or work of art, that has high value because of its considerable age. But I would say an antique can be anything aged that you find valuable in your soul. My great-grandmother’s handwritten recipes are framed and are prized antiques to me.

I’ve learned to find value even in the rustiest, dirtiest little objects. It’s a revelation to see how beautiful they look when they’re cleaned up, and transformed as if by magic into stunning home decor or art. One classic example is old bee skeps: We love turning them into floating shelves and risers. They have so much character and look amazing hanging on the wall.

My years in this business have taught me that even as trends fade, some hold on strong. For instance, ironstone collections have been around for years and will never be out of style. I’m always on the hunt for small antiquities that ignite curiosity. I love searching for ironstone pieces and Shakespeare leather-bound books to add to my collections, as well as woven rugs to use in my home and antique frames to hold our family’s photos. For Small Town Junk I search for unique books, vases and mirrors. My customers always appreciate architectural salvage and pieces that they can use in their own homes.

People told me growing up that I was an old soul, but I never understood them until now. My love for old things runs deep in my family; my mom, dad and grandmother taught me how to find the beauty in antiques. Their houses were full of vintage gems and I admired the history of each piece and all my family heirlooms. We’re a family of collectors, from hunting books to hand-stitched quilts, so I grew up learning the ins and outs of antiques.

I love turning my passion into my livelihood, sharing something I enjoy so much with my husband and children, and helping my customers fill their homes with beauty, history, and deep meaning.

FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP

My ultimate Favorite place to shop is The Springfield Extravaganza Spring and Fall, I can find a wide range of smalls and good antique furniture. I love shopping the Country Living Fair and City Farmhouse Popup, I always find those unique smalls and one of a kind gems there. Summer Market, Over The Moon Vintage Show, and Charm at the Farm are just a couple others we love to shop. Brad and I also love going to auctions and shopping locally.

FAVORITES TO FOLLOW

@86andeverettedesignco, @objekts1, @thetatteredmagnolia, @themaplehouseco, @arstidenbasta, @roseandgracemarket

GONE COUNTRY: Urban Exodus

GONE COUNTRY

Alissa Hessler, the creator of Urban Exodus, a website featuring ex-urbanites who left the city and moved to rural areas, as well as current city dwellers who have urban farms and homesteads within cities, takes us inside her rural Camden, Maine garden.

MY HARBINGER OF SPRING IS THE BLOODY GUTS OF RHUBARB POKING THROUGH THE DIRT. Gruesome when it breaks the surface, it quickly blossoms into beautiful ruby stalks. In Maine, we have few perennials, and rhubarb is the first to make its return to the garden. I love celebrating spring with a batch
of rhubarb syrup and combining the sieved remains with some strawberries to make homemade fruit leather.

I’ve lived in a historic farmhouse in the mountains of Midcoast Maine since 2012 when I moved from Seattle with my husband (then boyfriend). Living in a rural area was familiar, but it took a few years to make the transition to the different rhythms of country life, and it took me growing my own food to awaken the cook in me.

I grew up in northern California near the redwood forests, one of five siblings, with a menagerie of misfit animals. I had a pretty idyllic childhood, and while there was tons of music in our house, there was not much good food! My mother, bless her, tried her best in the kitchen. But, she was born during ration times in England after WWII. Food was limited, and she was raised on canned food and the obscure entrails of animals cooked into pies.

Once I was old enough to safely use the stove I started to cook for my two younger sisters...just the basics. When I left home, I survived on Trader Joe’s pre-made meals and salad. I ate to survive;I took no pleasure in the process or procurement of ingredients. Looking back, I can’t believe I lived for so long without really thinking about what I was eating!

Meeting my husband and moving to Maine altered my relationship with food and cooking. My husband grew up in Maine, and his mother is an incredible cook. (I consider it a great accomplishment if she compliments one of my meals!) Her cookbook collection spans six large bookshelves; cooking is her therapy, and she’s joyful when she feeds people. My husband’s step-dad was a “Back-to-the-Lander” who moved to Maine from New Jersey in the late 60s. He keeps an enormous kitchen garden in growing season, and from this, they construct most of their meals.

When we moved to our farmhouse, there were a bunch of stone-lined garden beds, all horribly overgrown. Inspired by my in-laws, I made it my mission to grow food during my first year in Maine. It took the better part of a month to dig them out and restore the soil. I had no clue what I was doing, but I bought some seedlings, added some compost, weeded, and watered diligently.

That first year’s bounty was beyond my wildest dreams. I couldn’t let any of it go to waste—they were my babies—everything had to go to good use. I scoured the web and found recipes for making sauces and meals from scratch using fresh produce.

So at 30, I first tasted a homemade pasta sauce made entirely from things I’d grown...and I nearly fell over. It tasted like heaven. It tasted how I wanted everything to taste. Right then, my passion was born, and its been growing ever since that first delicious spoonful of sauce!

I’ve taught myself to cook. Cooking—like jazz music—requires improvisation and intuition. Baking— like classical music—requires precision and following what is written. I love that cooking rewards experimentation. I find it boring to follow recipes. I typically look at what ingredients I have available, research some recipes online, and choose a few to roughly follow along with.

Even though I discovered cooking later than some, and my cooking passion was fueled merely by necessity to use what I had grown, it’s truly become an everyday joy. I feel so lucky that I get to grow and cook food for my family. I just wish I had done this in the city where I even had a green space in my apartment complex. I just didn’t understand that growing food would be a life-changing event— how simple cooking can be—and how much cooking your own food impacts your life.

I think we are living in a time where convenience outweighs quality for many, and this isn’t good. I know that anything of quality is better, lastingand more fulfilling. And I think while we are in an uncertain time in society, it’s even more important for people to connect with their environment and learn basic self- sufficiency skills. We are just a fewgenerations removed from a time when nearly everyone played a major role in their own survival—growing their own food, sourcing their own water, making their own clothes, etc.

I’d like to become savvier with these “old-fashioned” skills because they are so useful.

I’m drawn to simple, healthy recipes that pack a flavor punch, and I love simple ingredient combinations that work perfectly...like torn, fresh basil sautéed with green beans, salt/pepper, and olive oil.

So, we embrace a slow lifestyle...we make a lot of household things, we grow our own food, we can, and store food to get us through the bleak winter months, we try to fix things before throwing them out, and—most of all—we welcome whatever the harvest brings us... . Every year some things thrive while others wither. A new pest arrives, there’s a drought or a downpour. Living slow and living close to the land...it always leaves you guessing, learning and growing.

— UrbanExodus.com

THE LITTLE THINGS:

Maine is one of just two states where the median age of the farmer is decreasing. Maine celebrates farmers and their fresh produce with many farm-to-table restaurants. I really appreciate the ingenuity of chefs like Sam Richman of “Sammy’s Deluxe” and my dear friend Annemarie Ahearn who started “Salt Water Farm Cooking School” they’re great at using local ingredients to make delicious food year-round!

Southwes and the Thin Place

Southwes and the Thin Place

The creative art of Wes Walker

When did you first become interested in photography? I started shooting in 2011 when I worked at a camp in the mountains in New Mexico during the summer.

Were you self-taught or did you learn in school/from a mentor? My older brother was into photography first and he showed me a lot. My mom is also a painter and we grew up in a very creative environment. But I started to work and figure out my route and style after a few years of on the go learning.

How did you develop your style? I don't know exactly what to call my style. I love western life, and I love the outdoors, and especially love shooting in low light situations and seem to give photos a sense that they might be on another planet. Basically I want to create a world that is different from everything else you might see on social media, but is still real and out there somewhere.

What themes do you explore through your work? Western life, semi-adventure, and minimal landscape. I love strong colors, and it's one of the main things I look for when shooting.

How do you find and choose you subjects or locations? I actually shoot at a lot of the "hot-spots", but try to portray them in a different light. Other times I'm on a road trip and just find something I think looks cool and try to find a way to turn it into art.

What inspires your work? Music and God. I think music and visuals go hand and hand, that's why most favorite movies have good scores, why special memories trigger a certain song. There's a certain spiritualness to nature, when you're in it you can't exactly describe it. But certain places on earth feel "thin." Call it God, call it magic, call it a "thin place" it's a place that we feel is special and inspires us to be more than we currently are.

How do you compose an image? Do you go into the shoot with a specific shot in mind, or does the inspiration strike when you place your model in the setting? Rarely do I have a certain shot in mind. I could almost count on one hand the number of times I've dreamed up a shot, planned it, and then it has actually panned out. It's like expectations are predestined let-downs. When creating pieces that are just for me I go into it with an open eye. The opposite of a commissioned job.

What has been your biggest lesson learned through creating your art? That waiting is everything. I waited and worked through a desk job three years after college. Spending every weekend and all of my time shooting photos where ever I could. Then making the jump to a full-time creative...but then still wasn't getting to shoot the kind of content I wanted because that's not would pay the bills. It's a process, big time.

What do you hope your art says to people? That there's a world full of "thin places" for everyone to go find and make memories at. I hope it conveys emotion, no matter what kind.

Why did you choose your craft (photography)? I actually started as a sketch artist. Drawing anything I saw for years and years. I never really choose it, it chose me haha. I just wanted to do something more, try and capture the beauty and it found its way to me.

If you couldn’t be doing your craft, what would you do instead? More into music, I play a handful of instruments and have a dozen or so songs I need to try and develop but just not really the time right now. Or flipping houses, a different type of creativity.

Any favorite moments of your career so far? I stood at the base of Cerro Torre at night in March of 2019. I realized just how small I am. How millions of people have stood and seen this mountain. All the stories that have happened and mine is one of them. It was when I realized that I had to start developing my own story and stop doing what everyone else was doing.

Is there a defining moment in your career so far? Probably taking the jump from working for a company to working for myself. Being able to plan trips whenever I want and take them is incredible and opens a huge door to possibilities that just are not there otherwise.

Is there anything you really enjoy in your craft vs another line of work? I love editing. But it truly depends on the content. I used to edit for the company I worked for and would've never made it through if The Office wasn't on full blast in the background. Now I edit my own content and it's light jazz that's in the background. 

Biggest pet peeve about the industry? Companies wanting creatives to work for comps and free goods. I get it, I've done it. On both ends. I would save the free stuff and comps for influencers and actually pay your creatives and photographers. They are creating viable content that is going to drive marketing, something most influencers would never begin to do.

Is flannel really always appropriate? Cabins. With pancakes. To impress the country girl I have a crush on. All appropriate occasions.

Bold Exploration - J.K. Winders

Bold Exploration

Following J.K. Winders’ Adventures

“You’re willingly throwing yourself into personal unknown territory for the sake of discovery and illumination.” I love hearing his outlook on adventure and taking in all the things he has learned. Keep reading to see how J.K. Winders finds adventure in the risks.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore? I like to think that adventures can put you in touch with the broader possibilities of what life can offer. On top of taking the chances to do some incredible things in awe-inspiring places, adventures show you that the set plan is not always the best way and that the worst times today can make for the best stories tomorrow.

I think the biggest misinterpretation I come across from people is that they seem to view exploration as simply wandering aimlessly hoping you stumble on something that made it all worthwhile. In reality, exploration is a journey, it’s a process of discovery, it’s the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. Out of exploration comes illumination, not just in a new field, but within oneself as well. I discover new capabilities and transcend limits through exploration. I can’t speak for everyone, but that’s why I explore. It makes me a little bolder, a little less fearful, and maybe, hopefully, a little bit better. I like to think that all-around betterment is birthed from exploration. As someone who grew up a little shy and timid, exploration has made me more sure of myself and more courageous. 

Where are you from? I was born near Atlanta, Georgia and lived there for the first eighteen years of my life. And no, unsweetened tea was not a part of my vocabulary. Since then I have lived in Los Angeles, California, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and now I am based out of and roaming full-time in my 25ft Thor Majestic R.V.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? The script for my life changed very frequently growing up. There was a time I wanted to be a missionary because I loved the travel and I loved Jesus and it just made sense to little five-year-old me. There were also periods where I wanted to be a train conductor, a filmmaker, an author, a painter, a chef, even a theme park designer. I had so many different interests growing up that gave so many directions to steer my life into.

Why take risks in life? I think we all know deep down that anything worth achieving requires some sort of risk. If you want to experience a beautiful sunrise from a mountain top, you have to be willing to first take a step in the dark. Exploration in and of itself is a risk. You’re willingly throwing yourself into personal unknown territory for the sake of discovery and illumination. Every trail that we’ve traversed was laid down by someone else exploring a part of the empty sandbox. I absolutely understand how crippling the idea of the great unknown can be. But I also know how valuable the growth and discovery that comes from facing it. The first time you jump over a hurdle is always the hardest. You either soar over it or trip and face-plant into the ground. Either way, the fear of the unknown is vanquished because of the action taken against it. 

Favorite place you've visited? Picking a favorite place I’ve visited almost feels like picking a favorite child. But the place that I always search for reasons and opportunities to go back to is Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Growing up in Georgia, we had the Smoky Mountains which I thought were about as majestic as they came. But then when I saw the Grand Teton range, I couldn’t fathom that mountains like that could exist in this world. It’s also a place where I’ve found peace and inspiration to be perfectly abundant and never too difficult to obtain. 

What place do you most desperately want to visit? There are so many places that are still on my list. But right now at this moment I’ll say Southeast Asia. I have yet to venture into Asia and would love to unlock the entire region. I’d love to take the time to do some backpacking through the more off-the-beaten-path parts of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. But as I said, there are countless places that my journey has yet to take me to that I would love to experience.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I really believe that it’s impossible to harbor any thoughts or feelings of bigotry or intolerance when you venture outside of your cultural bubble. You learn that there are different ways of doing simple things, different values, from different wants and needs. It is a humbling experience to be the outsider in a foreign country. For instance, I’ll never make fun of or be mad at someone who doesn’t speak my language, because I have been that person abroad who’s the only one in the room that doesn’t speak the language. 

I’ve also discovered looking back on my travels is that none of my worries or fears that I stressed myself out over ever really happened. Other stuff definitely happened, but not the terrible, awful, unspeakable scenarios that I had fabricated in the deep dark spaces of my mind. Traveling does put you a little more receptacle to the things you can’t control. Delayed trains, closed roads, bad weather; all inconveniences that can add spice to the stories you’ll one day tell. And it terms fear overall, I know plenty of people that are still addicted to 24/7 news and it instills that anxiety that the world is full of evil and things to be afraid of. I no longer allow myself to fear something or someplace from afar. 

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? I’ve known countless people that have inspired me in very profound ways. But the one that comes to mind currently is one of my best friends from my days of living in Los Angeles. His name was Andre and he was an absolute character that taught me the value of living your life as a work of art. He dressed exclusively in clothes from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, was incredibly industrious in so many areas from wine and spirits to calligraphy, and antiques to craftsmanship. I really was under the impression that he was all-knowing. If we were ever walking down the street together, the people passing by would be so enamored with his overall appearance. He taught me the lesson of how you present yourself is a story of itself, and if you carefully craft it, it has the potential to bring joy to others. He was the one who encouraged me to live your entire life as a story worth telling.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? I would love to provide some really profound answer like Jack London or the Fitzergeralds or someone like that, but I keep thinking about my great Uncle Buddy who is maybe the most jovial person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. He’s someone that in his age loves experiencing things that he never would’ve thought he’d get the chance to experience. He’s a true adventurer in the sense that there is always something to smile at and laugh about. He’s just a happy, infectious soul that you love being around and I would love to travel the world with him. 

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? I’ll give you a couple of rapid fire ones first; Always be in a mode of learning. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself. Always be aware of your surroundings. Life is too precious to waste it by wearing a fanny pack. The wrong train can sometimes take you to where you really need to be. Pump yourself with plenty of probiotics and vitamin C. 

I also tell people that if they’re going to someplace with a heavy tourist culture to see the tourist traps first and then just get lost. I’ve done the touristy stuff, it’s not that bad, but when you can collect some of those off-the-beaten-path experiences you’ve got gold. For instance, if you’re visiting Venice, swing by the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square, they’re worth seeing. But then pick a direction a start walking. If you’re lucky you’ll end up in the Campo Santa Margarita or some other place where the locals hang out where you indulge in the good pizza and apertivos. The best discoveries are made when you don’t know where exactly you are.

Don’t feel like you have to see and do everything. If you have that mindset, you’ll go through your trip completely exhausting yourself and most likely walk away disappointed  and unsatisfied. Whenever you visit someplace, go with the notion that you will be back one day.

Pack as light as you can, you probably won’t be very far away from someplace where you can pick up a bottle of shampoo if you leave yours behind. Don’t be afraid of ever being wrong or of appearing foolish. Most locals love taking the opportunity to teach outsiders about their culture and their way of doing things, so always try to be humble and teachable. And just be kind, you are the guest after all.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will he impactful to the reader. Speaking of Venice… I was passing through a few years ago, and it happened to be my birthday. Up until this point I had been scrambling around parts of Europe trying to see and do as much as I can. I had plans to take the day and get lost in the city. I stopped by a cafe to grab a coffee to take with me on my metropolitan adventure. Like a typical American, I stepped up to the counter and ordered with my money in hand ready to take my morning Joe with me on my merry way. “Okay, go sit I’ll bring it to you.” the barista said to me. I looked down at my money, and back up at her and asked, “Do I go ahead and pay now?” To which she responded, “No you can sit and enjoy it and pay after.” This was new for me, just sitting ands enjoying a cup of coffee. But I did just that, and I still think about that coffee and how slow and beautiful the world seemed in that moment. I actually felt like I was a part of the city for a change which is something I now strive to do with every place I visit.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? This one’s a little outlandish and cliched I’ll admit, but it’s the one that’s coming to mind.

On one of my first overseas expeditions, I was visiting a friend of a friend in Southern France. He was the kind of guy that I used to be so intimidated by; a tattooed, leather-clad, care-free motorcycle rider on top of being a tall, dark, handsome, suave Frenchman. I was passing through Nice for the night, he picked me up from the train station. Along with my behemoth backpack, I climbed onto the back of motorcycle and we raced off through the streets of the city. At this point I could’ve counted on one hand the number of times I’ve ridden on a motorcycle. I don’t think I blinked the whole time.

After a while he shouted back to me, “When we come into a curve, you got to lean into with me so we don’t wipe out.” That goes against my natural thinking. The is the thing that’s going to hurt so of course I’m leaning away from it. But the way he said it was so profound, mainly because I try to find deeper meanings in most mundane things. But I took that to heart; when you come to a change in the direction of the path, lean into it, commit to it, take advantage of it or it’ll take advantage of you. Embrace the twists and turns because they are a part of the journey.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? When I first arrived in Los Angeles, there were plenty of things that frightened me. I spent the first couple of months couch surfing before I was able to get on my feet. One of my biggest fears was that I would end up having to sleep in my car. There was a short period where I had to do just that. The first night I slept in my car, I found a quiet spot to park in the San Fernando Valley. I buried myself underneath my denim jacket and a dirty towel and settled as best I could into my cramped back seat. The next morning after a surprisingly decent sleep, I snagged a quick shower at the YMCA and I made my way to my favorite diner to indulge in a large, warm Lumberjack special breakfast. If I couldn’t sleep like a king, I sure was going to eat like one. I finally secured a living situation in the trawling city, but this was just a step I had to take to get there.

Since that first night in my car, I have crashed in my backseat countless times and even a few train stations and bus stops. It’s something I don’t even think twice about anymore. And now I live in an R.V. The biggest thing I learned looking back on that is that the desire for comfort can often times be your biggest deceiver and can hinder you from getting to the place in life in which you really need to be. My desire for comfort and stability was one of the biggest constraints for growth that loomed over me. I tell myself now that if I’m scared of doing something, do it scared. 

What would you say to your former self? I really do wish that I could go back and tell myself that there’s nothing wrong with being lost. I haven’t always been adventurous and used to detest the idea of facing extreme situations and uncomfortable circumstances. I liked structure and the times when I could actually plan something. But now I operate in the mindset that no great story has ever happened when someone knew exactly where they were going. But at the same time, I’m glad that I was able to go through a type of metamorphosis and learn these lessons in due time.

What gives you hope? Hope has never been something difficult for to find. The biggest thing that gives me hope, at least for myself, is the notion that there are endless options. The are countless places left to explore, countless things left to learn, people to meet. If you miss an opportunity to capture a story, there are plenty more waiting down the path. I’m in love with the concept of indefiniteness. It’ll be this way until one day when it’s not. I’ll do this until one day when I won’t. Indefiniteness is an integral part of the unknown. It gives me a sense of hope that something could last, but that even if it does end, it can be as beautiful as the beginning and can lead to something better. I love the idea of creating even when I’m an eighty, ninety, or a hundred-years- old, still venturing out, climbing mountains, seeking beauty and wonder. But I also am at peace knowing that some things aren’t supposed to last forever. If something good has come along for you in the past or present, something good can come along for you in the future.

Where to next? Naturally given the current state of the world, plans are changing almost everyday. I had plans for the month of May and June to do some exploring in the California Sierras that had to be scrapped. I even had a weekend retreat for creatives in Yosemite planned that unfortunately had to be postponed. But the changing plans are all a part of the journey.

Currently I have plans set to be in Glacier, Montana for the month of July, and to do some roaming around mountains and coastal regions of Washington and Oregon through the rest of the year. Next year, I’m hoping to make the long trek up through Canada and into Alaska for the summer.

Is flannel always in season? I’m never fully dressed without flannel being a part of my outfit.

See more of J.K. Winders at his website and be sure to follow his work on Instagram and Facebook.

Pursuit of Adventure - Jeff Brenner

Pursuit of Adventure

Through the lens of Jeff Brenner

Definitely caught the travel bug after going through this interview. Until then I’ll just be living through Jeff’s photographs and story telling. There’s something special about the beauty he finds in travel and I think you’ll feel it, too.

Why do you adventure? I adventure because we have so many amazing places around us. I was lucky enough to grow up only two hours away from Yosemite. It's always sad to me when I hear people in my town say that they've never been. I feel like it's such a missed opportunity to be so close to a place where people travel across the world to see. This is what initiated my pursuit of adventure. There's an insane amount of diverse places to see in the US.

Why take risks in life? I've always been a thrill seeker. I chased the adrenaline rush since I was a kid. The short answer is that playing it safe has never appealed to me. I'm not knocking those that do. To each their own. But even if I crash and burn (which has happened many times), I'd rather have the satisfaction of knowing I took a chance on something.  

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? As a kid, I was really into archeology. I was convinced I'd be digging up fossils in my adult life. I'm not too sure when that changed, but I still have an infatuation with that stuff. I've got a few fossils displayed on my desk to provide inspiration whenever it's needed!

Favorite place you've visited? Hands down, my favorite place in the world is Yellowstone National Park. That entire place is absolutely wild. The landscapes are otherworldly and the wildlife is abundant. My wife and I joke that we have so many other places we want to see, but find ourselves going back to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons whenever we get the chance.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Alaska and Africa are tied. I gravitate to places with a lot of wildlife. We are planning on going to Alaska this summer, and hopefully Africa will follow soon after. That being said, we have an ever growing list of places we want to experience and photograph.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Truthfully, I can't think of any one major event that was life-changing during my travels. It's the little conversations I have with strangers along the way that has an effect on me. I think it's an amazing thing to find common ground with someone you don't know, while on the road. I feel like our daily lives can be so fast-paced, and we often give our attention to our technology. But I've found while traveling, people tend to disconnect and are genuinely interested in who you are and where you've been. It's a pretty beautiful thing.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? My brother. He's only 18 months older than me, but we can be very different. He challenges me, without judgement, to be a better person and to be intentional in my relationships.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? Easy. Teddy Roosevelt. Although John Muir and Ansel Adams are close behind. But the legacy Teddy Roosevelt left, in terms of conservation, has played a big role in modern day public land and wildlife protection. Plus, he was just a legendary person in general, and one of the most interesting people in US history.

Any travel tips? My biggest tip isn't a hack of any sort. It's merely a reminder to enjoy the journey just as much as the destination. I don't like to overcomplicate things when my wife and I are on the road. Our agenda is loosely constructed and allows for a lot of backroad detours. As a photographer, it's easy to get caught up in making sure you nail your shot list, but it can cause you to lose out on actually experiencing those memorable moments.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will the impactful to the reader. As a photographer, I often find myself getting too fixated on getting "the shot." It's easy to make sure you don't waste any good light for sunrise or sunset. During our last trip to the Tetons, I found myself so concerned with finding a good spot for sunset that I was actually getting frustrated, forgetting that I was surrounded by some of the most beautiful nature in the US. I ended up finding a good spot, grabbed a quick photo, and then just set my gear down. I sat down at the edge of a river, staring out at the mountain range and just watched. There was no talking, no Instagram story updates, and no more concern for getting that "banger". Social media culture plays a huge role in our need to get as many photos as we can, but we often forget to enjoy it for ourselves. I'll never forget that moment, and it's something I now include in my process during every shoot.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? There needs to be a greater respect for nature, especially wildlife. People send me videos all the time of tourists invading the space of/ taunting animals. These often lead to attacks, but even if they don't, it's extremely important to respect the rules. Social media can be a great thing, but at the same time, it has created a culture where people ignore rules, deface landmarks, and abuse animals just for attention on Instagram. I believe we need to hold each other accountable, and use our voices on social media to encourage ourselves and others to be better.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? I talk with a lot of people who have never traveled, and some of them have no desire to do so. To each their own, but for the ones that say, "I want to travel, but haven't gotten around to it", I just encourage them to set a date to go on even a nearby day trip and stick with it. I guarantee only a couple hours in Yosemite will be enough to light that spark and get them back out there.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? It's hard to pick a single lesson that I've learned from someone different from me. I find that I learn the most from others that have different upbringings, faiths, cultures, etc. I always appreciate when I can have an authentic and respectful conversation with a person that sees the world from a different perspective. 

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? I competed in track (pole vault and high jump) from elementary school and in college. My identity was essentially tethered to that and I had a lot of plans to have track remain a part of my life. After a pretty extreme back injury along with multiple knee injuries and surgeries, I was forced to throw in the towel. When that part of my life was over, I felt my life as a whole was outside my comfort zone. I had no clue what to do or what to pursue. I didn't realize it until later, but this set in motion the best things that have ever happened to me. I met my wife through the process and I rediscovered my love for photography. I learned many things during this time of my life, but the biggest lesson was to not let my identity be determined by something I do. My career and interests do not define the person I am.

What gives you hope? A lot of things give me hope. My faith and my wife constantly give me hope during those bleak times in life. Photography is a big one too. It gives me hope that the more fiercely I pursue this career path, the more experiences I can make with my wife during our travels.

Is flannel always in season? In California, you'll definitely pass out if you wear flannel in the summer, BUT I intentionally go to colder places in the summer so I can wear them. So yeah, it's most definitely always in season.

What are your hobbies and interests? Photography is at the forefront obviously, but I've always loved building things and working with my hands. I've built some pieces of furniture for our house and also do some knife making and vintage hatchet/axe restorations. Lastly, I love playing piano and guitar. Nothing like playing some Bon Iver and The Head and the Heart!

How do you get inspired when working at home? I've built my home office to look like a cabin and get really inspired by the feeling I get when I'm in there. The aroma of tobacco, wood, and leather gets the creativity firing on all cylinders.

You can shop Jeff’s prints or learn more at his website and follow his work on Instagram.

Stories Within Squares- Vintage Giggles

STORIES WITHIN SQUARES

QUILT MAKER VINTAGE GIGGLES

“We make quilts, but we also write the stories of people’s lives within those squares.” Located down in Miami, Florida, Rebecca Lambert shares the heart behind Vintage Giggles and what being a maker means to her.

What is your business? We make quilts from personal items that carry a lot of significance to people.  Basically, people call on us when they want to clear out storage bins of unused, but significant pieces of clothing or linens.  Instead of taking up space in the attic, unseen, their items that hold memories can now be seen and used everyday.  Most commonly, we work with collections of outgrown children's clothes, an eclectic collection of t shirts, select items from a loved one's wardrobe who has passed away, a combination of items from multi-generations of family members, wedding party attire, and even grandma's crocheted doilies.  You name it, we quilt it.   

Did you come from the corporate world? Were you always a maker? My background is education.  My degree is in elementary education.  I taught fourth grade for two years before handing in my resignation and looking for ways outside the walls to teach and inspire people.

Tell us about your process to becoming a maker. It started with my mother always telling me that a man should have a toolbox and a woman should have a sewing machine.  I never understood.  I could buy anything I needed, so why should I make it?  Until one day, when I needed a gift and no store had what I had in mind.  So, because my mom won the battle of me owning a sewing machine, I was able to make that gift. Not knowing how to sew, I literally lost sleep trying to figure out how to sew squares together, maneuvering around corners and how to put an edge on a finished quilt. What way did I need to fold the fabric?  How did I need to cut the pieces?  How do I cut fabric? I needed to figure it out myself.  My own stubbornness held me from learning in conventional ways.  I didn't want to be told how to do it, I just had to try. And it was so much fun, that I made a lot of things for that gift.  And I am still making those things that I gave as a gift that day. 

Why are you still a maker? I am still a maker because of the happiness it makes people feel when they receive what I make. To give someone a tangible way to hold memories in their hands is something that I will never tire of making.  

Is this your main job? Yes, second only to raising our family of six kids.  

Tell us about your creative process and the evolution of that process as you've perfect your craft and as you've grown as a business. Listening is the biggest part of our creative process.  Reading people's handwritten stories pinned to articles of clothing that hold their memories, hearing the trembling in a voice on the phone telling us they don't know how many more days their loved one will have to live, reading descriptions of siblings' bubbly and artistic personalities, holding the fabrics that memories were made in is where it all starts for us.  We make quilts, but we also write the stories of people's lives within those squares.  And so, we don't operate under strict rules.  Rather, we let what is important to each customer lead us.  

What inspires you? Colors and stories.  Colors inspire us as if each one carries it's own frequency, creating visual melodies and harmonies when they are combined.  And stories of families, generations and heritages sit cozy in our hearts, surfacing as squares of colors that become a quilt.

Who inspires you? Anyone with a story to share stirs our hearts. Nostalgic stories about traditions laid forth by grandparents, love stories that celebrate the little things, stories of loss and the seemingly insatiable heartache it leaves, sporty stories of athletic achievements, childhood stories of our own fast growing children, or stories of our childhood, as told by the worn thin knees of a bell bottom pair of corduroys and a matching peter pan collared polyester knit striped shirt. It all matters.

Who are your role models? Our role models are people who have not missed the opportunity to take a chance.  To see a person with a passion so big that they take a leap and put it into action, not knowing if it will work or not, will always be the people we look up to.  

Who has been your biggest champion as you've progressed as being a maker? My family.  My husband's continued encouragement and belief in this little company that I started has carried me through times in which I didn't know if I had what it took to make it through.  He leads me when I get stuck, and helps me handle it when the workload is high, easing my fears and building my determination. And my kids.  They see me working when the first wake, and they know that after tucking them in bed at night, I will probably go to my studio to finish the day's work.  They look at and point out their favorite squares as the quilts come together.  They know that they can do hard things because they see me pushing through, when it would be easier to give up.  And to be able to teach them that, by example, makes them champions.

How have you grown your business? Social media has been the biggest community in which my company has grown.  The platform it gives to share pictures and stories is such a beautiful way to show what we do.  Word of mouth and charitable offerings have also increased awareness of what we do.  And from a phone call to a dear friend of mind that started out something like, "you won't believe it, but I started a company!", she has believed in what we do, owns one of the first quilts we made and has shared our work on her social media platform, and organically becoming one of the biggest influencers and advocates for my company.

How have you perfected what you make? Time and practice.  Over time, our methods have become more streamlined, and through practice, we are able to take on challenges with the confidence that what we make is quality and has the durability to last for generations to come. 

Has this growth been easy? Easy, hell no.  Because it has required a lot of patience.  Patience when poor decisions have been made. Patience to perfect our sewing.  Patience to learn how to operate the machinery.  Patience for sales to be made.  Patience for people to like our product and believe in what we do.  Patience when life happens and time does not allow for the focus that the business needed.  Patience to find a like minded team who doesn't just sew, but works from the heart.  But, the one saving grace is that from the beginning, we allowed the company's growth to happen in it's own time, in God's time.  And so, the patience has been hard, but never stressful.  

What advice would you give based on your own experience? Slow and steady wins.  A shotgun start with record growth will tire soon.  Pumping funds into the hopes of a successful business may leave pockets empty.  Take baby steps. Small, but steady. Put love into what you do. And the results will speak for themselves.  

What are your goals as a business? Our biggest goal is to keep doing what we are doing, keeping the same attention to detail and methods of making as we continue to grow.  We will always be a team of makers that laugh and cry together as we create each quilt.  We will always put our hearts into what we do.

What does the future hold for you? We will always continue to create huggable memories through our heritage quilts. We also make a line of hooded towels with the same attention to detail as our quilts are made. In addition to that, who knows....we are always up for a challenge!

Give us three tips you've learned as a maker that can be applied to everyday life. When you come to a bump in the road, use it as an opportunity to increase your capability.  Always think positive by putting your mind on the results you are aspiring to achieve.  Gratitude keeps your success in check and ensures that your drive is coming from the heart.

How do you find the divide between work and personal? That's a million dollar question for me.  With four of the six kids at home with me, (now all day since the quarantine), a lot of my in home studio work is done in small segments of time when I see the opportunity.  It has taken me literally years to be able to do my work and be present for their needs as well.  But, on top of those stolen moments, it helps to keep to more of a rhythm than a schedule.  It's a rhythm where I know what parts of the day I can dedicate to each, but not so much of a rigid schedule, so that bumps and changes can be accommodated for more easily.  Being able to flow with the moment is key. 

Why should we support and buy maker and American made? Buying something from a maker gives you an item that is not as easy to come by, and it gives a maker the opportunity to keep creating something that is otherwise not available in mass.  And in today's world of tension and confusion, purchasing from a fellow American is a way to give a pat on the back to our struggling nation in hopes that the roots that made us will stay strong.

How do you ensure quality of your brand and your products? We have refined our methods to the point of confidence in our work.  Everything is looked over closely and pre-washed to ensure stability to be washed and used often!  

Is flannel always in season? Flannel is most definitely always in season.  Even in Florida.  In fact, anyone ever seen a good flamingo flannel?  Asking for a friend.  

How do you live authentically? Focus on what is important to you and not what the world says is important.  Let your inner passions and talents lead you, being mindful as to what influences your work.  

You can find Vintage Giggles products for purchase on their website or follow their work on Instagram. For custom requests contact threads@vintagegiggles.com.

Victory Garden of Tomorrow

IN A TIME WHEN PINEAPPLES, GUAVA, AND ASPARAGUS ARE AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND AND NEARLY ANY FOOD IS STOCKED ON THE SHELVES OF MOST GROCERIES, JOE WIRTHEIM OF VICTORY GARDEN OF TOMORROW WANTS TO FURTHER EXPAND YOUR SELECTION.

If you want fancy French lettuces that your local market does not carry or heirloom blue pumpkins from Australia, he wants you to have it. The one caveat Joe has is that you grow it — on an organic farm. He also wants you to make compost, and to have a few backyard chickens.

BY: DAVID GOBELI | 2012

The Victory Garden of Tomorrow has its roots in Portland, Oregon, a city that has long been seen as a center of political and cultural activism, so a poster campaign that wants us to re-identify our eating habits is fitting. He hasn’t always been in Portland though; he moved there in the mid 2000’s from Columbus, Ohio.

Remembering Columbus, he says, “I was...one of the small group of people getting around on bicycles — I had no car at the time. I was living in a neighborhood that was a little out there in terms of low rents, and eccentric

In an age when most everything is available year round, Joe sees it as more of a perceived choice. Processed foods come at a very high price to our health, the environment, and in petroleum dollars. “Our entire food system is built on oil and corn subsidies. Today there’s no reason to believe these will last. To top it off, the industrial foods we’ve been eating are terrible for our health. Childhood obesity makes my ears turn red. I realize that in many ways, it’s difficult for an average middle-class person living the urban or suburban lifestyle today to see a reason to supplement their diet with a backyard garden. But that’s why I make propaganda, to insert the message that gardens need to become a normal part of what Americans do again; and even if the amount they produce is small, there occurs an important education and rise in awareness.”

Joe calls his propaganda campaign The Victory Garden of Tomorrow. He designs and prints art posters that
are based on the iconic American propaganda posters of both World War I and II. Using their style, and sometimes actual posters as inspiration, he has begun to create a new type of propaganda; this time it is about what we eat and where we get it.

artist types. I suppose being on a bike and being around a sensibility that is acutely aware of waste, the greater city seemed strange to me. I wondered why it was the way it was, why it was segregated, why
the suburbs were so popular, [and] why shopping centers were a thing to be excited about. Parking lots everywhere. I just felt that this wasn’t normal.” So, Joe left Columbus and moved to Portland, where bikers rode in crowds and morning rush hour traffic jams involved not only cars but cycles. In awe of the city and the old main street aesthetic that housed small community businesses, he enrolled at Portland State, the local university, where he met and has since had the chance to work with a variety of talent that he can draw inspiration from.

Then came The Victory Garden of Tomorrow, his self- described poster campaign that is “designed to channel the bold energy of historical poster propaganda. It is committed to civic innovation and social progress — better food, better gardens, and better cities. It is design, politics, and whimsy for the modern home front.” Drawing inspiration from the Victory Gardens of WWI and II and the 1939 New York World’s Fair (“The World of Tomorrow”) he developed the name of his campaign. “... like a lot of nerdy kids of my generation, I was enthralled with the idea of space exploration, loved the images and stories of moon landings, and just loved the idea of heroic, capable explorers. I imagined our mid-century economic era as a kind of fork in the road where America sort of chose the industrial path. However, the world of tomorrow could have been, and still can be, the path illustrated by the Victory Garden and waste-reduction movements.” He began to imagine the “Victory Garden of Tomorrow” as an “exciting new 21st century place of discovery, innovation, and excitement. A place where young people are needed to urgently man the gardens and consider creative, imaginative ways to solve contemporary problems.”

Then Joe designed atomic lettuces, atoms spinning around the leaves in mid-century simplicity; pickles
in space; and heroic chickens standing guard like B5-2 bombers over the airstrip. Taken out of the posters are airplane hangars, rockets, and industrial powerhouses pumping out wartime munitions. Common everyday backyard heroes now take their place. In his design about compost, a father and son peek into a compost bin watching the micro-organisms doing all the dirty work. Another, emblazoned with the words “Break New Ground,” calls to mind a soldier’s boot on the edge of a shovel digging a trench, but instead urges “Plant an Urban Farm Garden.” Even the flying bee in the poster’s background is reminiscent of a warplane, whimsically crafted into the modern, backyard air force.

Each piece calls to mind the strong imagery and text of the old propaganda posters. Bold, normally few colors, heavy strokes, and implied detail make every design speak with the same intensity as the originals. Joe loves the idea of “... turning the hero into something that is common, that is understated, and right in the backyard. To me, chickens, compost, [and] lettuce all speak to the idea that there’s more power in small and ordinary places. Our society has been all about industrial sized power moves, and I’m just thinking that the future might be a place that’s smaller scale, more human, er, chicken powered.”

A whopping 1.5 million people contract either e. coli or salmonella per year. Many of these cases involve large- scale industrial farming and crops that should never be exposed to those bacteria. Type 2 diabetes (which was once an adult disease but now is found in 1 of every 400 children), obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer are all on the rise. It is thought that the current generation is the first generation that will have a shorter lifespan than their parents—the first time in American history. Our food plays a direct role in all of these diseases as well as our mental states and, it has been said, our general state of happiness. Millions of Americans are sick and the food they eat has a lot to blame for it and Joe Wirtheim is trying to do something about it.

“I believe that ... America needs a culture change around food and eating. People need to set examples for each other, begin discussing these things in their community, demand better foods from their grocers, demand variances for [egg-laying] hens from their municipalities, and so on. We need critical mass of demand before government programs are successful. I’d like to see more support for local farms and gardens, while seeing a reduction of government support for the industrial corn and soy based products. But to get the ball rolling, folks have to demonstrate this is something they want, not something imposed. That’s why I make the art I make; I want to charm while accessing people’s imaginations as to what is possible.”

SHOP

A Conversation Dan Carter

I recently started following London born photographer Dan Carter and his images of South Africa. The purity and the honesty of the images had me wanting to learn more…

Where are you from? I was born in the UK but I’m currently living in Cape Town, South Africa and right now, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It’s the most beautiful, complex and fascinating place and I am determined to dedicate years and years to building our nation. My heart for this country grows every day.

Why do you explore/ what’s changed about you from traveling? For a long time, travel was just an excuse to explore the most beautiful locations and simply to seek out adventure wherever I could; an escape from everyday life. I’m a natural introvert so there was nothing I enjoyed more than heading out to the Alps, finding a little chalet up in the mountains and spending days on my own, running the trails. There’s an unmatched tranquility out there.

These days, it’s slightly different. My greatest goal is that through my work, I can tell a new story and begin to change the narrative.  There is so much beauty and diversity across South Africa and a whole lot more untapped creativity. There is a desperate need to change perspectives and challenge a lot of stigmas. I think it’s really important to remember that whether or not you are a photographer, we are all storytellers and we have to be really careful how we use our voices. We have the privilege to tell stories but even more importantly, a responsibility to play a part in changing stories. Photography has become an outlet to share hope, light and to give someone a voice.

What is your 9-5? I am a full time photographer and have been freelance for the past 4 years, focusing primarily on social media content creation. Before going freelance I talked my way into a number of jobs I was unqualified for, from pizza chef to barista. In the early days, I was desperate to work for myself so I suppose I was chasing the ‘freelance lifestyle’ more than I was pursuing a passion for photography but I fell in love with storytelling in the process. I find so much beauty in the untold.

What is your favorite place you've visited? Without a doubt, Malawi and Rwanda are some of the most incredible places I’ve travelled to so far. Most of us arrive in a country like Malawi with so many preconceived ideas of how it will be yet hour by hour, with every conversation and each km they were broken down. The reality is, we are all somewhat the product of our upbringing but if we are not open to having our perspective challenged, that can be a pretty dangerous place to be.

In Malawi we experienced the most beautiful scenery, staying in mountain huts at the summit of Mount Mulanje and beside Lake Malawi’s pristine beaches. Everyone we met was incredibly welcoming and hospitable; it was a beautiful adventure. The diversity of Southern and East Africa is unmatched and I would love to spend the next few years exploring there. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling? On one of my first visits to South Africa, I met a young guy by the name of Shawn. He was a car guard which for those who don’t know, is when people (often homeless) will look after your car and help you park for small change. What started with a hot chocolate led to a great friendship and I’d meet Shawn at his spot every evening, chatting about life, hopes and aspirations. It was the biggest blessing to me, that I was able to walk alongside him as he faithfully fought to change his situation. He never lost hope. He never stopped believing that there was more for him, even in gruelling winters, he would never lose hope. It was in these moments that I was reminded why South Africa would one day become home. He’s now living in Johannesburg with an amazing job and a transformed life. His determination, friendship and never failing hope has been a huge inspiration to me.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? One of my favourite photographers is a man called Andile Bhala from Soweto. We were hiking table mountain a few months ago when he turned to me and said, “If you look after the neighbourhood the neighbourhood will look after you…so when the neighbourhood has your back, you’re safe.” It was then that I realised, we can’t always choose where we find ourselves but we can choose what stories we tell and we can choose to seek out the beauty everywhere we go. Honestly, that has shaped my photography forever. I no longer care to tell my own story when there are thousands upon thousands of untold stories that will impact and transform the mindsets of generations. If I can just play a small part in that, I’ll be happy.

What would you say to your former self? Don’t try and do it all on your own. Consistency is always key, just one step at a time and trust the process. You don’t have to see the end from the beginning and perfection isn’t always the goal, sometimes it’s just about telling the story.

What gives you hope? I see a generation who is not defined by their surroundings. I see a generation rising up who refuse to accept the way things are and are prepared to work towards a brighter future. Social media so often gets stick because we’ve created a ‘me me me’ culture but actually, it can be a great platform to showcase your work and tell important stories. Let’s not blame the tool for how we decide to use it.

Where to next? As I write this I’m currently on route to Sydney which is super exciting. The only place I’ve visited in Australia is Melbourne so my expectations for coffee in Sydney have been set pretty high. After that, I’m really looking forward to getting home to Cape Town and spending as much time as possible exploring my city and its' surroundings.

— dancarternow.com | @dancarter

Lakes of teal -Emanuele Mariotti

There’s one word that comes to mind scrolling through Emanuele’s photos, breath taking. Okay, that’s not one word but still. Scrolling through his pics I can’t help but marvel at the insane places he’s been and seeing these places through his lens (literally) inspires me a ton. Plus, I’m always a fan of seeing gay relationships portrayed the way he and his boyfriend are in Emanuele’s pics. Please, if you’ve gotten this far you HAVE to check out his images down below!

Why do you adventure?

I've always had a beautiful relationship with nature since I was a child. I started camping when I was very young as a boy-scout and I never stopped exploring because I really love the forest and the wildlife.

Why do you explore?

I explore because I'm curious. When I was young I always wanted to see the landscape behind the hill, and now I still want to go beyond the surface of things, to see the hidden beauty behind.

Why take risks in life?

I think that everyone needs to take some risks and get out of their comfort zone sometimes to feel alive, without always being worried about the consequences.

Where are you from?

I'm from Rome, Italy, a city that I love and where I was born and raised.

What is your 9-5?

I do many things during my day, I don’t have a routine. When I’m in Rome I try to work-out in the morning with my boyfriend, the rest of the day is always a surprise. I work as a photographer and I develop personal photography projects. During the weekend I always try to explore new places.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

I grew up nurturing many dreams. One of my favorite dreams was to be a wizard like Harry Potter, to have the power to change things and to live in a magic world (which happens also without having superpowers XD)

Favorite place you've visited?

I have many favorite places. One of the latest that I have added to the list of favorites is definitely Lake Braies, which is a lake in the middle of the Dolomites. I've been there because my boyfriend gifted me a weekend there for my birthday and it was amazing. The atmosphere was perfect, and that place looks amazing every time of the year, so you never get bored. Another beautiful place I’ve been recently is Trentino Alto-Adige, in the north of Italy, in particular, Resia and Carezza lakes. I also loved Japan, in which I lived for a month.

Place you most desperately want to visit?

Iceland for sure, but also Canada (I’d love to spend some time in a cabin house in the middle of the forest), Cuba, Thailand. The entire world :P

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? There are many. The ones I liked most are the stories of the old men and women I met throughout my trips. We should learn from those stories, they could be very precious.

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I have become more curious. I think the more you travel and get to know other cultures the more you want to know and discover in the world.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

My boyfriend for sure. It's thanks to him that I grew my passion for traveling, discovering new places, and sharing experiences with him. He's a really curious person, even more than me, so it's always cool to arrange new trips together. We travel a lot and we never want to stop.

If you could travel with one person in history or in the present who would it be and why?

my grandmother in history, because I loved the way she lived and the passion she had living her life. My boyfriend in the present because of all of the things I said before.

Must-haves for travel?

For sure a camera. I can't imagine traveling without that. For the other things, I don't think I'm the best person to ask this kind of question because It's always hard for me to pack -every time I'd like to carry half of the house with me. The essentials... camera, a good book and someone you love by your side.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before?

You're definitely wasting your time. Open your eyes with the beauty of our world.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

It is very important to understand that everyone is different, and everyone deserves respect. So, respect, learn and listen to who is in front of you. Don't be selfish and accept the world and its differences.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?

I always feel out of my comfort zone when I do something I don't know. Doing things we don't know can be scary, but it helps us to improve, to prove our limits and be aware of them

What would you say to your former self?

feel free to be who you are because you deserve it. Don't be afraid to do what you like and fight for your dreams.

What gives you hope?

love. Human love is the thing I most need to be hopeful.

Where to next?

I’d like to go to Bali at the beginning of the next year. I’d love to come back again to the mountains of north Italy before it gets too cold.

Is flannel always in season?

I think so. Flannel means forest to me. So it's always the season to go to the forest wearing a flannel shirt.

Travel tips? Live with locals, as a local: taste the local food, explore the historical sites, dive into the daily life and get in touch with people living in the place you are visiting, try to understand their habits

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader?

I had many little ones but I don't think any of them would be very impactful. I think many interesting stories have to come on my trips.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

Be more helpful to each other. Because only together can we be stronger.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

SUBMIT YOUR STORIES AND ESSAYS TO EDITOR@FOLKLIFESTYLE.COM

I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person... -Marijus Kuokstis

“I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person” is my biggest take away after learning a bit more about Marijus and his travels. He’s a down to earth photographer who just so happens to have one of my favorite pictures ever, one that I have titled ‘the 0’ -hope he’s okay with that haha. scroll through some of his pictures and read about some of his travels below!

Why do you adventure? Adventures give me the feeling of living. We all want to do many things, be in many places, meet so many people, going through on an adventure helps me do these things which makes me happy.

Why take risks in life? You can't get anywhere in life without taking risks, you only do good when you are taking risks and pushing your boundaries.

Where are you from? Siauliai, Lithuania.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Full-time filmmaker/photographer.

Favorite place you've visited? The Austrian Alps.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Machu Picchu, Peru.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Visiting Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, it was a pleasure to meet such good people who are taking care of elephants who have suffered from working long hours in the logging and tourism industry.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel like the more I travel the more I grow as a person, being in a new environment lets me appreciate the little things that make life so exciting and memories so unforgettable.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? Probably, Christopher McCandless - his story was told in an amazing movie 'into the Wild' he probably was a cool guy.

Must-haves for travel? Comfortable shoes and a camera of course to capture these moments.

Give us some travel tips: First off, rise early. Going out before sunrise will let you see and experience a place in a completely different and unique way. Don't be afraid to travel alone, you'll learn a lot about yourself.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Always be kind and helpful.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Start with exploring places around you, sometimes you'll be surprised how many beautiful locations are just around the corner.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Don't think, just do it, you'll see the world in all different colors.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

The more you learn to adapt the more you will feel your similarity with them.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson?I remember my first trip to USA, I went there as a student with work and travel program and being from a small country like Lithuania and barely speaking English was a challenge for me, but at the end of the day I spent there 4 months, met amazing people, improved my English and had one of the best summers in my life.

What would you say to your former self? Be patient and never stop wandering. 

What gives you hope? Sunrise and sunset 

Where to next? Austria

Is flannel always in season? Flannel is always a good choice.

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Youtube

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We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating -Mica Veras dos Santos

What stands out to me most about Mica Veras dos Santos is his unique travels. I am used to hearing about the most photog-famous places (which, makes sense, we are photographers after all) but Mica has been to places I’ve mostly never heard of. After seeing his breath taking pictures of these fairytale like castles or mountain ranges that look like something i’ve only ever seen in movies and hearing some crazy stories (spoiler: one includes a 7 hour journey for a charger) I have quite a few new locations on my bucket list I need to add.

Why do you adventure? Adventure is the driving force that pushes me out of my comfort zone and my routine. We, as humans, usually live a life very based on daily or weekly schedules, and sometimes we have not a lot of flexibility or will to break those. I believe that this is where adventures play a massive role in breaking that chain and motivating me to go beyond my area of convenience.

Why do you explore? Because we have (unfortunately) a deadline. Life is short and we should make the most out of it. See as much as we can, share and live the biggest amount of experiences that we can imagine. Exploring puts all this together. It allows me to get in touch with other realities, other personalities, other cultures, other ways of looking into life, world, environment. And at the end of the line the outcome we take out of it it's translated into a rich juice with a lot of good and balanced values inside.

Why take risks in life? What is life without taking some risks right? I mean look at what we have achieved as humanity. If you really think about it, those who brought big positive changes to our world were mainly people that took severe risks in their lives. I believe that this should be reason enough to challenge ourselves to take the risks we believe that we should take.

Where are you from? I was born and raised in the south of Portugal (Algarve), really on the coast side. I used to live 5 min walking from the beach. I might say I kinda miss home 

What is your 9-5? I work as a financial analyst in the heart of Europe (Brussels)

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? The funny part is that for almost my entire childhood I always wanted to be an army official, mostly because of my father's influence. In the end, things didn't really go in that direction. However, I believe I always wanted to be someone with a story, an experience to tell, and someone that could bring something positive to the world as a whole.

Favorite place you've visited? The group of islands in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Place you most desperately want to visit? Iceland

What has changed about you because of your travels? My travels helped me to reconnect myself to nature and to live a more simple life. Being born in the south of Portugal helped me to have my first years of life a strong connection with nature. I spent most of my childhood years at the beach. Growing up, I was going further and further from this environment moving to more big and dynamic cities, which kind of broke a little bit this connection, at least in a certain part. Starting to travel more helped me to rebuild this link and to reconnect me to what really matters.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? Chris Burkard without any question. Chris is one of my biggest references in photography and mindset. He left his "comfort" zone, where he was very successful, to pursue something more. He went from shooting surfers on exotic and beautiful beaches to wandering and chasing the most remote surf locations with super harsh conditions. Just because he felt that it was what he was supposed to do. I believe he might have a lot of good stories to tell.

Must haves for travel? If you have a sensitive stomach like me, Iberogast will be your best friend while traveling (no commissions here ahahaa)

Travel tips? Always try to follow the good advice from the locals, especially in places were people are kind and have good hospitality towards you. Usually, such recommendations provided me the best experiences of my life.

Give us a story, any kind of story, from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader? On my trip to Sri Lanka earlier this year, I forgot the charger of my camera at one of my accommodations. I only noticed it some days later when I was already super far from that city. I met a tuk-tuk driver that drove 7 hours under a thunderstorm and rain just to pick my charger and to give it back to me. He didn't want to accept my money and in the end, invited me to have dinner at his house and to meet his entire family. It was one of the most special moments I have lived in my life.  

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? I strongly believe that humanity should take a step back to where we were before in order to reconnect to nature and the environment. We should review a lot of our actions -what we eat, what we wear, what we consider life goals and what we believe being "happy" means. We have reached a breaking point and we must take severe and radical actions to try to save and rescue the values that can allow us to thrive. We have disconnected ourselves from people, trying to connect ourselves with social media. We have killed and damaged thousands of species, trying to seek proximity to something that it's not meant to be close to us. We have destroyed, with the purpose of creating. The question at the end of the day is really what matters? What is really important in our world? We should be less selfish, think less about us, and more about future generations. For this reason, I believe that we have reached a sad point where we are not capable of loving in the long run. We are able to love our sons and our grandsons, but the harsh truth is that we are not able to love our grand grand children. If we could, we would not be hurting our world as much as we are. Fortunately, humanity has recovered from a lot of crises of values in the past and I strongly believe that we should stick together to overcome this one. 

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? You will never be too old to start, that's point number one. The second important point is that traveling is the best investment you can do in your life. It's something that will bring you countless and priceless experiences that will follow you during your entire life. At the end of the day, who does not want to have some cool stories to tell? eheheh

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone different than you? Relativity. What is important for me, might not be that important for someone else and vice-versa. We should always try to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person. 

What would you say to your former self? Don't worry. Everything is going to work out ;)

What gives you hope? People. At the end of the day, it will be always about people.

Where to next? Vietnam (so excited)

Is flannel always in season? Are there even shirts made of something else? eheheh

You can follow more of Mica’s adventures on his Instagram and Facebook

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I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling -Ivan Diaz

Ivan Diaz has lived a life as colorful as the images he captures. I always love seeing creatives be able to personify themselves through their work and from learning more about Ivan I can’t help but feel that he has turned his intensity for life into such an eye catching unique style of capturing the life he lives.

Why do you adventure? I adventure because I love to explore life’s many unforgettable moments and all the wonderful cultures that surround us. It’s truly amazing being able to see things differently in someone else’s perspective.

Why do you explore? I explore to discover something new, something beyond my own adventure. Life has so many great adventures to discover, so I feel exploring isn’t just about traveling but finding yourself during that moment.

Why take risks in life? If you don’t take risks in life your missing out on what could be an incredible journey. There’s a saying “ You miss half the shots you don’t take in life” so my view is if you don’t take risks you’ll never know the outcome. Good or bad life’s about growth and we definitely learn from every aspect of that.

Where are you from? I’m from Miami, Florida but my ethnicity is Dominican and French.

What is your 9-5? Currently, my daily schedule includes working with clients on banking issues and financial planning, but when I’m not doing that I’m learning and working with brands on photography projects and my own growth as a photographer.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? Like any kid growing up I wanted to be a firefighter or a storm chaser because I love the aspect of that feeling of rush, it’s exciting. As a photographer, I feel that same rush when shooting.

Favorite place you've visited? My favorite place I’ve visited so far during my adventures would definitely be Portland, Oregon. It was my first trip and my first time flying on a plane without ( snakes lol ). It was the trip I’d be asking my girlfriend to marry me, so I asked her at silver falls and it was beyond magical during December.

Place you most desperately want to visit? Without a doubt, it’ll have to be Tokyo, Japan!!!! Please, anyone, sponsor my trip hehe.

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? The greatest experience I’ve ever witnessed or encountered of humanity would have to be a moment I saw someone literally take their shirt off to give to someone who needed it more. That person then proceeded to buy that person food this great moment is something that made my traveling experience even greater. This showed me that humanity can truly come together and show so much compassion.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I feel I’ve always been incredibly true to myself as a person and husband, but I feel most grateful throughout my life because of traveling. It’s helped me understand more cultures and the way people in different places communicate better and show gratitude.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? I would say my wife has to be the person that truly provokes my heart and pushes me to continue reaching my limits in life. She’s always telling me to think and process everything I want to accomplish and that alone is a great gift in life. Having someone provoke your ambitions and starve yourself to climb higher.

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would without a doubt travel with Post Malone because I seriously love his work and just his overall incredible sense of being alive and insane lol. If we would travel together we would smash a lot of beer, food, and great laughs along the way. While capturing great photos and listening to great music.

Must haves for travel? Must have for traveling without even getting crazy is beyond important to carry water, snacks for energy, extra clothes just in case of weather changes during hiking. For camera essentials, it would be great for extra batteries, straps, covers, lenses, the camera of course and any other important equipment needed like drones, and lastly yourself haha.

Travel tips? Traveling can get crazy, but I always make sure to get to the airport about three hours or even four hours earlier. Traveling is hectic and even stressful if your flight gets delayed. Always be ready for a quick change and have food ready to eat while waiting.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? In the smoky mountains in Tennessee, my wife and I took one last hike our last day there. The forecast was to snow but we still wanted to go out and adventure. Halfway through our hike, it started to snow. It was my first time seeing snow falling, which was breathtaking to experience. As we kept hiking up the mountain the harder it became because the snow was getting heavier and more slippery. I almost fell to my death but thankfully I did not and was able to continue the hike. When we finally started to hike down it seemed to last for hours. The second we got to the car we realized we left it on the entire time. It was a rental and I never had a car where there was a button to turn on and off. Good thing there was still gas left because the rangers were closing down the national park. It may not be the craziest story but it was definitely one to remember.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? To me, during my travels, I’ve seen a lot and I’ve discovered myself more exploring and finding these wonderful moments. The most improvement I believe humanity can have is to continue growing together. I see it all the time people helping others and we need more love spreading around and impacting our hearts and lives.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Traveling is an experience that let alone is beyond unforgettable. I remember when I got on a plane for the first time it was traveling to Portland, Oregon. I was scared flying for the first time, but my wife told me everything would be great I think it was that fear of the unknown. Discovering new places, creating unforgettable memories with loved ones. It’s the greatest feeling you’ll never regret especially chasing those early morning sunrises. If you don’t believe and take the unexpected jump you’ll never ever know what’s waiting for you out there.

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? I personally feel we learn some valuable lessons every single day in life and even more important lessons from those we’d least expect. Someone I work with that I highly look up too once told me that “ our greatest fear in life is not being able to jump and take that great risk. I know that may seem odd, but to me, this made complete sense. We wait sometimes so long to do what we love most and then without truly realizing it tome passes us by quicker and faster, so take that unpredictable leap and discover your great adventure.

What would you say to your former self? I feel I’ve always been able to adapt to even being under pressure. I think our greatest help comes from believing in yourself and in that single second you’ll feel those discomforts fade away. I’m not saying I’ve never been comfortable because there have been a few moments in my life that I’ve been out of my comfort zone, but I learned to be more confident.

What gives you hope? I’d say make those mistakes and learn what you're worth. Continue taking risks, because you’ll fail sometimes, but you’ll also grow stronger. Push the limits that you don’t think you’ll overcome. It’s alright to not have everything in life, but everything will fall into place at the perfect moment in life.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? Honestly believing gives me hope... Why? Because if we didn’t believe in something we wouldn’t have that fire in our hearts to succeed. I believe in our ability to impact, the impact we can all achieve in life. We can seriously come together if we truly focused on changes. This universe has so many great gifts the beauty of life is powerful and I believe that we can make more impacts just believing and overcoming obstacles together.

Where to next? Heading to Tennessee for thanksgiving just upgraded to the Sony A7iii been working hard on making this possible. I’m beyond excited to chase the journey and create more unforgettable moments with my wife because this life is full of beautiful moments and they’re waiting to be discovered.

Is flannel always in season? Haha honestly I live in Miami, so if anyone’s wearing flannel I’d think they work inside a cooler lol. I personally like flannel, but for somewhere colder

Learn more about Ivan’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their website and Instagram account!

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What is life if not experiences? - Edgar Querol

From Bali to the barren cold of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Edgar Querol has had his fair share of experiencing all the facets this Earth has to offer to photographers like us. Throughout his life, he always gravitated to art, from graffiti to paintings, then to discovering his ability to express himself through photography which has helped shape who he is today. As soon as I saw these images I was like, woah, I need to book a plane ticket STAT.

Why do you adventure? When you visit a place that you don’t know or have never been, even when you’ve been before, there’s a new world waiting there for you. You just know that you’ll live new experiences, some of them bad experiences (like getting scammed in a bus in Indonesia), but most of them will be great experiences that you know for sure you will bring back home with you and your luggage. What is life if not experiences?

Why do you explore? You can’t just go somewhere and expect something to happen, you must go out, get there inside the mess, and experience everything about it. For me, that’s one of the most important things about photography: you must get inside the mess.

Why take risks in life? Life without risks would be very easy, but also very boring. Only if you risk something can you win something you desire.

Where are you from? Barcelona!

What is your 9-5? At the moment, I’m studying for a national medical examination for graduate school in Spain. I just graduated in June!

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I’ve always loved science and was curious about how the human body works. At first, I wanted to be the one who would discover the AIDS vaccine, and as I grew up I knew I wanted to be a doctor. However, when I was 15, after a trip to Scotland where I took as many photos as I could with an old compact camera, my parents gave me a camera as a present and I’ve loved photography since then. 

Favorite place you've visited? I always think there’s no place better than the other one, I tend to think the best is yet to come. For example, I’ve been to Bali 2 times and I lived it very differently both times, so it is more about how you live it than the place itself. Oh, but I fell in love with the West Coast in the USA and Indonesia, to be fair.

Place you most desperately want to visit? I’ve always wanted to visit the arctic and a lot of places in Africa, such as Kenya and Namibia.

 What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you’ve experienced while traveling? There was this woman in Indonesia who ran a small hotel. She didn’t have a penny in her pocket when she was young and tried her hardest to get to university. She worked very hard to be what she wanted to be. Now that she doesn’t have any financial problems, she has built a business in which she not only gives the best local experience to her guests but also hires local young women and men and pays them 3 times the usual salary in the area to help them be able to be what they want to be. One of the workers was very happy to work there and was building a new house for him and his family. Most of the business managers just want to make money, I was amazed by how this woman helped her employees.

What has changed about you because of your travels? I’ve been in almost deserted beaches where you couldn’t count all the plastic objects in the sand. I’ve seen people throwing rubbish from the car in the middle of the road and the monkeys waiting on the edge to get something because they know almost everyone does it. That’s so sad and got me thinking about how beautiful the world is, how we are destroying it, and we’re not realizing the damage we do. We must change our lifestyle if we want it to survive.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met? My best friend left Spain when we started uni. She studied in London and she’s become an epidemiologist. She’s been in Kenya literally saving people’s lives with just a drinking tap water, and now she’s working in Mozambique and I can assure you she’s making a change in the world. 

If you could travel with one person in history or present who would it be and why? I would like to travel with some local that’s been trying to change the place for best, sometimes the unknown people are the most important ones.

Must haves for travel? A passport and a camera!

Travel tips? Buy the flights 4-5 months before the trip if you can. That’s my best option when traveling, it allows me to spend the money in the best places rather than on the flight itself because it’s cheaper! I also try to meet the locals, they’re going to help you and maybe you’ll discover something “instagrammers” just don’t know yet.

Give us a story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the readers? When you live in the first world, you don’t really know how poor people are in some places. I’ve seen a man in Morocco biting a rat in the streets. That’s something you would never do or think anyone could ever do. But some people, in some places, have a life you can’t imagine and maybe it is not as far as you would think it is.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? We are not alone. People who really care are not alone. We can make a change, we just have to take a step forward.

What would you say to someone who has never traveled before? Your life isn’t forever, what are you waiting for?

What is the single greatest lesson you’ve learned from someone that is different than you? That being different than me is not a bad thing. That’s something a lot of people should learn: there’s no need to (and you just can’t) hate people just because they’re different from you.

What would you say to your former self? Do everything you want to do, don’t ever be afraid!

What gives you hope? Humanity is better than we think.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that lesson? We were on a bus in Indonesia and we were the only western people for miles around. We knew that the public bus ride was just 2 dollars each, and a random guy asked us for 20 each. We looked at the driver looking for help and he didn’t stop the scam, instead of that, he asked for those 20 dollars with more hostility than the first one. You just have to breathe and try to make yourself understandable. If you can’t win, you’ll laugh about it when you get home!

Where to next? London! In our study break in October

Is flannel always in season? For sure, at any season for moody photography 

Learn more about Edgar’s travels and a glimpse at their life on their Instagram account!

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Where do I Want to Adventure to Next? — Mayank Thammalla

Why do you adventure / Why do you explore? I grew up in a small coastal town in New Zealand, exposed to nature and this has influenced me to always explore more of the natural world.  I had started to appreciate the outdoors more once I began to take photos about 7 years ago, so photography and adventure go hand in hand for me. Photography to me is a very therapeutic process. To be able to take away a framed memory of a certain place or moment comes with a certain privilege.

Why take risks in life? I think big strides forward can never be taken in the comfort zones of life.

Where are you from? Born: Hyderabad, India. Home: Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. Currently: London, UK.

What is your 9-5? Currently a Junior Architect working in London.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be? I wanted to be astronomer. My grandmother bought me a telescope when I was 11 years old and I remember spending countless nights staring at the stars.

Favorite place you've visited? Very hard to answer because there are a few places that come to mind. Tongariro National Park in New Zealand is mind blowing. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were on the top of my bucket list and I finally visited a few months ago!

Place you most desperately want to visit? Northern Norway, Greenland and more of Iceland!

What is the single greatest moment of human humanity you've experienced while traveling? Traveling through India with my parents in 2014, my dad wanted us to experience some authentic modes of getting around Jaipur; one being the man powered rickshaw. I was very uncomfortable with the idea, even more so when the cyclist of our rickshaw changed in the last minute to an elderly gentleman who would have easily been around 65-70 years old. I shared the rickshaw with my mom who was also felling very uncomfortable. Throughout the 15-minute journey I was trying jump off and help him to push us along or to make him stop but I didn’t.  It still makes me teary thinking about it. My mom and I decided that this was wrong, but it was his only source of an income; she grabbed his hand and closed them with a few notes in it. He gave us the warmest and whole-hearted smile and hugged my mother.

What has changed about you because of your adventures/ travels? Slow down and be in the present – that moment will never come back! I used to tend to always let my mind wonder and think about yesterday or plan for tomorrow when not realizing that the best moment you have is right now (sounds cliché I know but it’s true). It wasn’t until I heard the whispers of the mountains or the deafening silence of the woods that really got my attention and created moments where I lost track of time…  Made me realize how beautiful and rare our time is on this planet. I feel, the more you pause and awake to the present, you will realize how great your life is.

Who is the most dynamic and thought-provoking person you've ever met? For me, not one person has been most dynamic or thought provoking. My family and my very small knit of friends are all dynamic in their own way who have all impacted and shaped my life.

If you could travel with one person in history or in present who would it be and why? My grandfathers. I never got to spend too much time with them and it would be amazing to hear all their stories and adventures while going on an epic hike!

Must haves for travel: Sketch book, camera, open mind.

Based on your travels what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger? Be patriotic towards Earth as a whole. Not just what is good towards your country.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before? Give it a go, you won’t regret it!

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you? No one is you, and that is your greatest power.

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson? Doing a TED Talk in 2017! I had absolutely no prior experience or confidence speaking in front of people, let along a large crowd. But with months of work and practice, anything can be achieved if you are well prepared!

What would you say to your former self? Be you… The world will adjust…

What gives you hope? I have always believed in the ‘good’ in people. There is ‘good’ in everyone, if they like it or not.

Where to next? Eastern Europe and Tromsø, Norway!

Is flannel always in season? Always (wearing one now)!

Learn more about Mayank’s travels and a glimpse at their life at her website and their Instagram account!

A Conversation with Jörn Henn

German based photographer Jorn Henn has quickly become one of our favorite photographers. His moody vibes and greens and blues have us captivated. The landscapes he shares have us dreaming of escaping the cities and heading deep into nature! We sat down with him to learn more.

Why do you adventure? Why do you explore?

My biggest motivation is keeping moments. I love to be outside in nature feeling the elements. I am a very curious person as well. That’s why I love to visit and explore new countries or places.

Why take risks in life?

It’s more fun. Without risks, life would be boring and you would not be able to surpass oneself.

Where are you from?

Cologne, Germany.

What is your 9-5?

I am an art historian.

When you were growing up what or who did you want to be?

A famous architect.

Favorite place you've visited.

Rio de Janeiro and the Dolomites.

Place you most desperately want to visit.

New Zealand and South Africa. 

What is the single greatest moment of humanity you've experienced while traveling?

Meeting poor people. Like, really poor people. And the fact that when you realize that their struggle is connected to the global economy. 

What has changed about you because of your travels?

I became more attentive about my needs and about climate and environment.

Who is the most dynamic and thought provoking person you've ever met?

I met Edda Moser, a German opera singer, during a lecture at the Cologne Opera House. Her voice was recorded singing Mozart’s Magic Flute aria “Queen Of The Night”, which is part of the Voyager Golden Record. 

If you could travel with one person in history or in present, who would it be and why?

Otto the Great. He was a Roman German emperor in the 10th century. The kingdom of Germany was a travel kingdom, meaning because of its huge size, the German kings and emperors had no static residence. Several spread over the whole country, and he had to live a nomad’s life, like a lot of explorers do now. Well, and I’ve loved knights since my childhood.

Must haves for travel / travel tips?

Good shoes and a good jacket.

Give us a story any kind of story from one of your trips that will be impactful to the reader.

The feeling of slowing down when you are in the mountains. No rush and no stress. And the fact that you have to choose your equipment since you cannot carry everything with you.

Based on your travels, what is the single most needed improvement for humanity to be stronger?

A change in economy. I think big multinational companies and their urge of growth is one of the causes of the climate change and crimes against humanity.

What would you say to someone who has never travelled before?

Travel and collect moments and take off your blinders. That you don’t need to travel fast. That there are nice spots just around the corner.

What is the single greatest lesson you've learned from someone that is different than you?

My grandfather. He thought me to ask questions, not following the mass and trust one’s own heart (he was a soldier in WWII).

When did you feel you were most out of your comfort zone? What did you learn from that lesson?

During exams or just when I have to give proof about my skills. E.g. when you ask me for this. But I learned to fight against these fears and keep them small. Hiking helped me as well. The first glimpse of a mountains I wanna climb is always frightening. But on top, you feel like a king! 

What would you say to your former self?

Trust yourself and your skills!

What gives you hope?

That love always wins.

Where to next?

Italy and Rome in October.

Is flannel always in season?

Flannel is always classy. Love it.