Rooted Soles

Appreciating the small things today, like this cool old door hardware.











@ Woodstown, New Jersey

There is something so calming about being able to appreciate the simple beauty around us. I could sit and stare at these beautiful colors and textures for hours. Have any of you caught yourself admiring the line of a leaf on a houseplant? Have you ever felt mesmerized by light and shadows being cast on your wall by a window? Being able to take in these details might come naturally or maybe it’s a form of mindful practice you have to consciously engage in, either way it’s a powerful tool for the mind and spirit. And if you’re an artist or maker it’s a critical ingredient in feeding your creative soul.

When the world is heavy and your emotional bandwidth is stretched to its max how do you stay creative? How do you stay inspired? Because, at least in my own experience, the place where my creativity and inspiration is borne from, is the same place my emotions are drawn.

So for today I am quieting myself, insulating myself from the world- so that I might take notice. Practicing a form of emotional care that will hopefully allow me to tap into some creative mojo. Because I can’t do my best work and I’m not my best self when that tank, so to speak, is empty. So tell me, what are you doing to keep your tank filled?

2020 seems to be a weird mix of making do and not settling for BS. So many are displaced from their studios, workshops, classrooms and offices- “making do” at home. Partial setups or hacks to get our work accomplished. The kind of creative problem solving that can open out minds to different ways of doing things, better ways. But also presents challenges that burden the already taxed system of a one person show. Or maybe that’s just me?

At the same time, there is a whole movement of people, spanning many generations and backgrounds, coming together to demand justice and action. Supporting the BIPOC leaders of this movement- donating, listening and amplifying their voices- gives me hope right now.

Very aware that my own personal struggles and those of my family’s are struggles of privilege. And that it takes the steadfast dedication to change and taking action by myself and people like who look like me- to do better for those that have suffered for generations because of the privilege we have. White people- we need to do all we can to make sure and win in November. I have to believe there are more of us that want Trump out of office than those who do. Fight for democracy. Fight for justice. Vote.

“You will always live happy if you live with heart.” - morning tea

Slow Sunday pouring over this amazing vintage book gifted to me by my dear friend who is my family at this point. “How to Build A House for $6,000.” It’s terrific. She also gave me that little journal to document the start of this new business and the next 5 years. I’m terrible with journals but I love the idea of getting it out in 10 years and seeing the development over the first years.

In many ways launching a new business on the heels of shutting one down is overwhelming and definitely challenges the parts of me that struggle with confidence. But as different as running a hotel/b&b and farming may be from making shoes- it also seems like a physical embodiment of exactly the type of community and experience I’ve been trying to create for the last eight years. And when the entrepreneurial spirit runs through your veins- it’s just what you do.

I am so appreciative of the support, excitement and encouragement my friends, family and Rooted Soles community has shown for this new endeavor. It’s definitely helping me drown out those threads of doubt that creep in from time to time.

This time next month we should be getting settled in our new home 🤞🏻 a home we hope to open to the community. ❤️

Popped in to see .sallade today at her studio. Custom fit her painted sandals and finished them on the spot! Felt good to see an adult and make something. I love the small dots she choose for me to paint. Thanks for the order and letting me make in your studio today Laura!





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The work must continue until we live in a world where EVERY SINGLE PERSON has the same rights, protections and opportunities.

I’m no longer spending time engaging with people to try to get them to understand, to get them to care, to get them to realize that their personal gain and their personal experience isn’t the most important. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind. It’s way beyond that. I’ve continued on the journey and left you behind. If you say All Lives Matter, if you think Breonna Taylor’s sentence makes sense, if you think the president is a savvy businessman who is draining the swamp, if you’re still talking about Hillary’s emails, if you’re not wearing a mask, if you cashed your stimulus check but bitch about hand outs— I’m leaving you behind.

What I am focused on is connecting with everyone that already believes and getting them to do MORE. To take action, to vote, to donate, to examine themselves and take responsibility for their part, to change. Because I believe when you get down to it, there are more people who believe in the two signs in this photo than those who don’t.

I don’t post this to center myself. I post because the momentum in the white community is waning and that can’t happen. DO NOT shrink back into the comfortable ambivalence your privilege affords you. Spend your energy where it is most effective. Do not get caught up in efforts that drain your energy and don’t promote change. Need a tangible way to help today? Donate to and reach out to 5 people to make sure they have a voting plan.

I’ve realized over the last six months that I really struggle in the unknown. I like to have to plan. I like to have a goal, create the path to get there and put my head down and do the work.

That feels pretty much impossible since COVID has struck. We are all basically doing whatever we can to stay afloat but are also in the holding pattern. So many unknowns. So much unrest. Of course this is only exacerbated by the s**t show that is “governing” this country and the impending election.

In addition to this kids are at home, parents are either putting their careers on hold or trying to power through both schooling and working without totally losing their will to live. It’s a mess.

I get through by knowing that one day COVID will be over and the hope that our country will do better. That my fellow citizens can see the power of leading lives of compassion and empathy. That by supporting our most vulnerable, we are stronger.

Each and every person deserves the same rights, protections and opportunities. Your neighbors “having” does not take away from what you have. There is plenty to go around. We can’t be daunted by the great challenge of shifting to this way of thinking, this way of governing, this way of LIVING.

Your vote does actually matter. Vote Biden/Harris and get us out of this mess!

Reposted from 💙

We’ve lost an icon. Rest easy Ruth, you fought so hard for so long. I hope we get our s**t together and do you proud.

Creating space.

We want to create an inspired space for people to connect in a meaningful way to themselves, each other, Art/Craft, and the earth.

We think we’ve found the perfect location outside of Philadelphia to move our family, and set up the family business. Designing and building custom tiny homes together!!! Some of which we hope to tuck in our own woods, as rentals.

We hope to offer weekend retreats, workshops, events and lodging. We hope to draw from the abundant community of farms, breweries and wineries when hosting community dinners and events. We hope to invite many of the talented makers we know to teach workshops and programs. We hope to do some growing of our own, food, flax and cut flowers- partnering with leaders in regenerative agriculture.

We are inspired and we have been wanting this for some time now. We are hopeful to have our first tiny house completed by next summer and available to rent for wooded summer escapes.

There’s much to do in the meantime. We don’t even have a name yet! So far just a bunch of lovely words that resonate with us. Gonna share all of it right here.

So so excited! In the next months expect us to do some open calls for makers and artists- for workshops/events as well as to trick out our new lodging! Swooning over my lovely incense holder by 😉

Well well, who is this handsome guy?

Meet Dusty! If you came out to last year you got to meet him, which is where this photo was taken. Dusty and I have been together for 15 years and married for almost 11 of them. We met at a bar I worked at in college.

Dusty is one of those annoying people that can basically make anything with his hands and does it extremely well. He grew up on job sites and worked as a foreman for his father’s construction company. He climbed towers. He’s a furniture maker and an incredible craftsman. He currently works for a high end custom furnishings company out of Philly. He has a passion for manufacturing technology. He single handedly glued the soles for all my kids’ boots for the first 3 years and cut many many outsoles by hand for me.

He can be funny, though he fully embraces dad joke humor. He’s a fantastic father to our two kids. He likes “drinkable” beers. 🤔He’s cautious and can be reserved- in many ways we are a perfect balance of one another. He believes in me and he believes in us.

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And so it is incredibly exciting to finally be envisioning a brand that we will build together. A brand that will help create a lifestyle we’ve always wanted for ourselves. And we’ve decided to share the building process. We aren’t going to wait until everything is perfectly executed and we are ready to launch. We are going to share the entire journey. And we can’t freaking wait!