2018 is just around the corner which means it’s gift-giving season. We’ve gathered some of our favorite gifties for her. So whether you’re looking for something to arouse the senses, keep your lady warm, or gifting ethically made goods is important to you, AW has you covered. So, without further adieu, here are our choice picks for her:
Do you have an amazing coffee table that needs a little life? Architect’s Wife asked her go to girl, Hillary , to add some energy to our new, substantial, mahogany coffee table (so substantial was this piece of furniture, it took four grown men to move it in to the shop). Here are Hill’s fail-proof suggestions for styling your table.
1) Stack Books. Stack your favorite books as an anchor. Books are a great conversation starter and they create an additional surface for you to layer accessories.
2) Add Height. I added a cloche to create height and add interest — this helps lead your guest’s eye through “the scene”.
3) Add Life! Instead of flowers, add a low maintenance plant to the mix for color and life!
4) Personalize the Space. Personalize the look with some of your favorite objects. Here I added some petrified wood and a gorgeous handmade wood bowl by local maker, Lui Ferreira.
And, there you have it — Hillary’s super-simple steps for creating a dazzling scape for your coffee table. To shop the look, click links in the copy or visit our Bozeman shop and have our expert staff guide you to the perfect pieces that will set your coffee table apart.
When you visit Shaw Thompson at Misco Mill, it’s easy to see where his inspiration comes from. I had the opportunity to visit him in November as afternoon light bathed his work shop with a late autumn glow. His space was magnificent and the stuff every artist dreams of for their studio. Shaw is both a visual artist and furniture maker and the visit to his studio and gallery was a little like coming home because it’s where our sister business, Abby Hetherington Interiors, began and where the idea for Architect’s Wife was born.
Even more impressive than the light-filled studio space is the fact that Shaw along with his brother and father renovated the 80 plus year old building starting in 2000. The grain mill was functional until the 1980’s, but fell in to disrepair after it closed, so much so that Shaw says it resembled a pigeon coop when his family took possession of the building. Their hard work over the last 16 years stands now as one of Bozeman’s most iconic landmarks and home to a family that worked really hard to keep the space alive.
It’s hard to believe 300 square feet of this inspiring space was occupied by Abby Hetherington Interiors just a little over two years ago. Our little design firm began here in a tangle of fabric swatches and tile samples and quickly grew to three employees who, in turn, outgrew our modest one room office. Not only do I have great respect for Shaw’s work I also have really great memories of dreaming big and toiling away until I made those dreams a reality. So, take a minute to learn more about this great guy who breathed new life in to a great space.
I have been building furniture since 1992. I was going to San Francisco State for a painting and drawing degree and someone asked me to build a desk for them. I obliged and loved everything about it. I realized it would be something I would love to do for a living. So from that point on, I have always divided my time between furniture making and painting. Furniture gets more of my time these days, but painting is really how I want to leave my mark on this world.
Tell me about your process.
What’s my process? Well it varies a lot. Sometimes I have a beautiful piece of wood, which I want to be the main focus. So then I might make a simple steel platform or base that showcases the wood. Other times I might find a piece of farming equipment which dictates the overall design of the object. For example, for years I have looked at and loved the shape of this old plow which I found. So, I thought really hard about a way to compliment that shape. (I get a lot of inspiration from shapes of objects.) I decided the plow would lend itself well to a floor lamp and the rest is history. A lot of the objects I incorporate in to my furniture are antique, but then I like to give it a simple modern context in which it can live. I find it very exciting to try to find a balance between old and new.
You renovated the Misco Mill. When and how did this project come about?
My dad, brother and I have renovated this grain elevator from a pigeon coop to a home, workshop and gallery over the course of several years. We bought the building back in 2000 and it seems like the work is never done. It is a lot to keep going, but we feel very fortunate to be able to call it home. It was built in 1933, which highlights how agriculturally rich the Gallatin valley was even during the Great Depression.
Anyone who is a furniture maker or artist knows how important your creative space is.
This building spoke to me immediately. And maybe it was the shape of it… There is something special for me about the roof lines of this grain elevator.
Initially, I was looking for a live/ work space, which this is, but just a lot bigger than I was thinking in the beginning. But when you put all the family members in it- then it makes sense.
Tell me a little about the gallery and the artists whose work inhabits the space.
We are a little selfish with our gallery space :). Most of the work in the gallery is either mine or [belongs to] my brother, Nate. But we do have some amazing walnut tables by Lance Hossack and some incredible veneer work by Phil Howard in the form of walnut burl side tables. We also have some beautiful textiles by Abby Foster which she’s made into pillows. Her fabric is also available for purchase and can be made in to wallpaper as well. All of these artists call Montana home.
How long have you lived in Bozeman? What brought you here?
I have lived in Montana for about 16 years now. I was passing through this beautiful state when I was 15 and it struck a very powerful chord inside me. It took me awhile to get back here, but I made it. After a life of moving a lot [I was raised in a military family], I feel very lucky to call Montana home.
What do you love about Montana?
I was initially drawn to the rivers and mountains, and just the empty space. This continues to fuel my spirit. This part of the country never disappoints.
What’s your favorite place to go out in Bozeman?
It is becoming harder to leave my little northeast neighborhood these days. I’m still trying to figure out my favorite place — it’s between Wild Crumb, Treeline and Rendezvous food truck. It changes every day :).
What are the last three things you Googled?
1. How to cook potatoes au gratin (substituting sweet potatoes).
2. An old car on Craigslist
3. What time is it in Morocco?
What’s on your shop playlist?
The Black Keys ( older stuff), for getting the blood moving and just spark some gritty motivation.
Built to Spill, for cerebral thoughts and more driving motivation.
First Aid Kit, for a truly lovely sound and inspiration… “Keep on keeping on…”
If you’re in Bozeman make sure you stop by Misco Mill and check out Shaw’s gorgeous original furniture and art. He’s around most days, but it’s worth it to give the gallery a call and announce your arrival, because he might just be grabbing a pastry at Wild Crumb when you decide to come a’calling.
The Architect’s Wife is certain that Havoc Hendricks was predestined to be an artist. Not only does his name vibrate the abstract art concept, his inspiration for becoming an artist came at a very young age when he noticed an abstract painting in a neighbor’s living room and he was determined to make beautiful paintings just like it.
Ours is a modern day love-affair with Havoc. We discovered his conceptual take on mountains, geodes and moonscapes on Instagram and quickly asked him to send several pieces for the shop. Read on to learn more about why we’re so smitten with this guy and discover his hidden talent (hint: it involves the color blue and it is spectacular). Without further ado, meet Mr. Hendricks.
All images by Laura Hendricks unless otherwise noted.
How long have you been working as an artist?
Almost 8 years.
How did you get started working with paint?
My neighbor had an abstract painting in their living room that I really loved as a kid and I remember thinking that I wanted to learn how to make beautiful paintings like that. I’m a self taught artist. While art students learn a lot of valuable things pertaining to the craft, I feel like I was able to discover a lot of informal techniques that helped shaped my creative expressions in ways that might have been stifled by academia.
Tell me about your process.
Each series employs different techniques, tools, etc. My Mountain Lines series uses a technique where I build up different layers of paint on a canvas and then I strategically remove certain parts of the various layers to expose what’s underneath whereas others in the same series require me to hand paint each line individually. My Geode Collection uses a type of marble technique that involves making the oil paint as thin as possible to help it take on the natural fluid shapes that I’m looking [to illustrate]. My Moon series involves a process where I mix different colored sand (sourced from places all over the United States) in order to give the paintings a three dimensional texture that really gives the illusion that’s realistic and abstract at the same time.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Anything that combines “MINIMAL – ABSTRACT – POSH – ORGANIC”. I am on a journey to make organized chaos in the most beautiful way possible. I’m also inspired [a great deal] by “future me”. Future me is a person that has his dream house and he tells me if something I’m making is of a high enough visual quality to belong in his perfect home and [whether] it’s something that he’ll want to stare at for the next twenty years.
Name a living artist that you admire.
I have so many, but Ran Ortner drops my jaw without any thinking required. What do you like about his work? Ran has the ability to capture one of the most complicated patterns that nature can produce.
Emerging artist?
Mike Nesbit is an architect in L.A. who creates amazing abstract art using his architectural expertise. What do you like about his work? I Love how Mike uses his extensive architecture training & profession as a platform from which to express his abstract art. There’s a touch of perfect, mathematical undercurrents throughout his pieces that I’m always drawn to.
Non-living artist?
Sol Lewitt explored lines and shapes in a way that I find myself referencing quite often. What do you like about his work? Sol Lewitt did all the hard work for me. He explored and pushed to the for-front of the art world the many patterns and relationships that lines share with each other- both two & three dimensionally.
Your pieces have a strong tie to the natural world, but your pieces have an abstract quality to them. How did you decide to blend those two very different worlds?
I am obsessed with the fact that the same line patterns can be found in all of nature’s elements: rock, water, cloud patterns, wood, fire, etc. I also found through many years of making art that my true talent lies in abstract expression. It was a simple marriage of the two for me.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
I think a hard thing for aspiring artists is to come up with a style that is unique to them and them only. I’d say you’ll only be as good as the amount of time you put into developing your skills & through years of practice you’ll naturally gravitate toward some aspects [of your technique] and discard others. Eventually what you have left will be unique and have a quality others will respond to. Before I was making organized chaos I was just making . . . chaos.
Your wife is also an artist, a photographer to be exact, do you draw inspiration from one another? Do you do old-fashioned critiques like you experienced in college?
More than you could ever imagine. We literally run everything by each other to have that second tier of visual approval before we [reveal anything to our audience]. Being brutally honest about each others art is indispensable and I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without her input. Often times we leave the house and realize we’re dressed almost exactly the same!
How did you two meet?
We were both in college at a rollerskating party. I thought she was the hottest girl I’d ever seen. I almost messed everything up when I squirted her with a squirt gun to get her attention. Lucky for me it was dark and when I introduced myself to her a month later she had no idea that I was the same annoying guy from the skating rink. How did she express her annoyance? The second time I skated by her I was met with a soul-penetrating stare of pure dissatisfaction. She later told me that she was “just kidding”.
How long have you lived in Utah? What brought you to Utah (please disregard if you are a native)?
We’ve lived in Utah for a total of 5 years now. We originally moved to Utah because of the outdoor opportunities and it happens to be a central location between both of our families.
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in a small neighborhood in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The neighborhood was literally called “McDonald’s Farm”. On one side of our house was an open canal and acres of potato fields on the other. I attribute my creativity and attention to detail to many long childhood years wandering the countryside with nothing but nature and my own mind to keep me company.
What do you love about Utah?
We live in a narrow valley that has a lake on one side, a mountain range on the other side, and only three miles between at it’s shortest point. The inspiration and recreation is endless! Provo, Utah is one of the best kept small city secrets in America.
What’s your favorite place to go out in Utah?
There’s a pretty amazing burger house called Cubby’s that isn’t predictable, boring food.
What book are you reading right now?
Catch Me If You Can, by Frank W. Abagnale
Favorite color?
Black
Favorite TV show?
Survivor
What music are you listening to these days?
Only the best from the genre of Chillstep.
No cheating. What are the last three things you’ve Googled?
Ha, ha! This is such a good question!
1. Timberland winter extreme 9″ super boot.
2. Who & what issues will be on the 2016 ballot Utah county.
3. Build your own Adidas Superstars.
Anything else you’d like me to know about you?
A lot of people don’t know that I had a short stint as a Blue Man in The Blue Man group. ?
Do tell more! How and where did this come about?
I was attending Grad School at James Madison University (in Virginia) when I saw an ad for open call auditions for The Blue Man Group. I went out of pure curiosity and only to get a free “behind the scenes” experience. Only, when I auditioned, they got really excited and kept telling me that I was a “real” Blue Man in real life & that they didn’t think they’d have to train me very much. After a couple more days of call-backs and auditions they hired & spirited me away to live in Manhattan where I trained with four other recruits from around the country. Because I was the only one who didn’t have a degree in acting, I had no idea what language the trainers were speaking every day. After a couple months they finally admitted that I should take a hiatus to get an acting degree & then promptly return to join their ranks. However, instead of going to acting school- I realized the world of professional creativity was at my fingertips and I chose a route that has been much more suited to my long-term artistic goals. And that’s how I became a Blue Man on accident 🙂
Stop by The Architect’s Wife downtown furniture store to take a closer look at Havoc’s work and to understand why we love his work so much.
Russ Fry and Dotty hard at work. Photo by Cathy Copp[/caption]
I rolled up to Russ Fry’s shop yesterday and was greeted by Dotty, his 10 year old English Bull Dog. Her welcome was less than enthusiastic and, I have to admit, as a Bulldog owner I was a little offended. I have REALLY good bulldog juju, or so I thought. I walked right past her to say hi to my buddy Russ and she barely blinked an eye. After a couple of minutes she got her self upright and made her way over to say hello. It was a strain for her to move her stiff, front legs and I realized it wasn’t because she lacked interest in m e she just needed a little time to get up the gumption to move. Once she got up, she didn’t leave Russ’s side. She may not be the creative genius behind this dynamic duo, but she is his loyal companion.
For the last twenty years, Russ has honed his talent for furniture-making in Bozeman by combining wood, steel, and found objects that he molds in to one-of-a-kind pieces. AW has the privilege of showcasing his work in our downtown shop and we are thrilled to reveal his handiwork for the good people of Bozeman. Find out more about Russ including what’s on his playlist, his most recent Google searches, and much more. Join us from 5-8 for drinks supplied by Map Brewing, food catered by Blue Smoke, and music by Ian Thomas and The Band of Drifters.
How long have you been working as a woodworker/metal-smith?
About 12 years now.
How did you get started working with wood and metal (where did you learn your trade)?
When I bought my first house there were a lot of improvements I wanted to make, but didn’t have expendable cash to pay someone else to do it [so I did the work myself]. Also, I took a design internship at Media Station for Ole Nelson. He was making all of the cool signs around town out of metal. I watched an learned a lot about working with metal through this experience. Shortly after that, I just started purchasing one tool at a time and learned by trial and error.
Tell me about your process (techniques, tools, etc.).
Every day is different. Some days we’re welding, others we make mountains of wood dust. I’m usually approached by designers or architects that have an idea and then we decide what medium would best make [the project] a reality. I welcome good ideas and opinions, as well as collaboration. When a few people selflessly bounce ideas off of one another, I feel like the end result is much stronger.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I’m constantly inspired by other artists. Here in Bozeman/Big Sky, I have the opportunity to see some of the best craftsmanship and fresh, innovative design in the country. I also get lost in Houzz and my Instagram feed scrolling through space after space and dissect all the pieces.
I notice you work with some found objects in your pieces. Where do you find them?
Random places. I get invited to old farms that will have trucks, tractors & old pieces all around. Garage sales, and antique malls often have some great scores. Other times, people will show up with something they’d like me to incorporate into an original piece.
What advice do you have for young furniture makers?
Be confident in your own creativity, but don’t forget to draw inspiration from others as well. Listening to others’ ideas and keeping an open mind will help make the end product better. If you let your ego get in in the way I think the project suffers.
How long have you lived in Bozeman? What brought you here?
I moved here in 1995 for college. At the time, my sister was living in Jackson, she and I made a trip to Bozeman. She said I’d love it here and she was right.
What do you love about Bozeman?
What’s not to love? It all started with playing in the snow and water. I quickly made good friends to play with and found rewarding work which sustains me.
What book are you reading right now?
David & Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite color?
Black
Favorite TV show?
The Blacklist
What music are you listening to these days?
Sturgill Simpson, Ryan Bingham, Turnpike Troubadours, Chris Stapleton and Alt J
No cheating. What are the last three things you’ve Googled?
The Architect’s Wife has been hot on the trail of some new succulent pots for quite some time now, so when she came across this awesome DIY in Sunset Mag which utilizes candle shells from Le Feu De Leau candles (sold at our downtown store!), she got busy planting her Panda plant and Echeveria in a spent purple candle shell she had at the furniture shop.
Find out how to create your own mini succulent garden below (it’s super easy)! Images by Cathy Copp
Hanging out with Wallace Piatt, aka @WallaceisArt, is like jumping on the bumper cars at the state fair and then magically hopping over to the wildest roller coaster ride of your life. But it’s not just any roller coaster, it’s a vintage coaster with chipped paint and squeaky wheels like the tumbledown Cyclone at Coney Island. One minute you’re chugging slowly up a rickety track, the next you’re being jerked to the right and flung down a steep hill. It’s a madcap, colorful, stylish ride with a true original.
Wallace is a vintage freak. His obsession with thrift shops, began in high school and his proclivity for junking accelerated through college. Back in the early ‘90’s he started working as a graphic designer in Santa Barbara and met his match in then girlfriend, Jill Johnson. “We were true vintage enthusiasts. Full on biker meets cowboy meets American Indian junkers.” They translated that love to designing their own clothing line, creating original screen-printed tees, stickers, pamphlets and bus cards (wait, what?!).
“Jill and I [ravished] thrift shops. We’d go in and [knew the clothing and the value of each piece]. It was so da%$ fun going into these small towns and scoring cool sh&%, on the cheap. Old movie posters, denim you name it. And it wasn’t like today’s thrift stores that are full of mass produced surf crap. Back then, American denim was HUGE in Asia. Once we sold $4,5000 worth of jeans to a guy from Japan. We thought we were rich.”
So fantastic was their success, that within days they were making money. In 1991, Wallace and Jill took that $4,500 and opened a brick-and-mortar shop. The name? True Grit, of course. The shop was an overnight sensation — a magnet for style watchers in Santa Barbara and accounted for “7 of the best years of my life” according to Wallace. “We hosted parties and truly were the hub of downtown. It was absolute pure fun!” says Mr. Piatt.
That meteoric rise came crashing down 15 years after Jill and Wallace first opened shop. The store closed. “I went broke. I was homeless and on drugs.” He lost everything. “Clubs were my favorite place to drink. It was truly an insane time. And I loved it, except for the excruciating hangovers.”
In the midst of the late-night party haze, Wallace became laser-focused on his art. He lived and breathed art. He began dating a new girl after he and Jill split. This new girl broke his heart. It was this heartbreak that catapulted his success. One night Piat came home to find her with another man. The next day he started working on a Lichtenstein-esque portrait of her with ruby red lips and glittery eyelids. In bold-face print at the top of the poster read: “WALLACE I KNOW HOW YOU MUST FEEL FINDING ME IN BED WITH ANOTHER MAN, BUT I’M REALLY…” And at the bottom in HUGE letters he wrote “EVIL.” He plastered the giant posters all over town. And the recognition rolled in. “I was a hero in every man’s eyes in Santa Barbara.”
This recognition fueled a new-found success and he dedicated all of his time to his craft. Live. Breath. Dream. Art.
He begins many pieces by sewing canvases together. It’s no surprise that many of the canvases are found at thrift stores and paired with new canvas. “I sew first and then paint. The thread in my American Indian pieces means the most. [To me it represents] how [Europeans] tore apart Indian culture. The stitching is my way of bringing the [culture] back to life.” And, perhaps the canvas are symbolic of Wallace’s own life. He jokingly says, “These [canvasses] have a lot of dirt and crap all over them. I actually step all over these pieces as I paint. …with time, they get filthy and look more and more like vintage. Kind of like me.
Wallace is sober and back, riding a different high. By all accounts he is successful. Still living, breathing and preaching; pop-layered-silk-screened, vibrant art that is full of life. He attributes his sobriety to increased creativity and a work ethic that is “through the roof.”
The Architect’s Wife and the world are the benefactors of his new-found appreciation for life and art. At the beginning of the summer, the prolific Wallace and his new love, Angela (aka: #pooter), made the epic journey from Cali to Bozeman to deliver a collection of eleven pieces to our downtown furniture store. The collection ranges from pop-art to screen printed pieces; some political, some not but all of them layered with meaning. We are grateful to have found his talent and to share it with our Bozeman friends. Stop by to check out his collection and delve into the layers of meaning in each piece.
The Cupcake Craze is in full-swing in the U.S. and with good reason, they’re darn good. Lauryn Mathis and Keith Robins of Luxe have embraced America’s love of mini-cakes and pretty much perfected the whole cupcake concept. Not only did they make it mobile, they put a boozy twist on many of their from scratch recipes (think Cosmo or Margarita in a baking cup) but they’re serving them fresh from an old DIVCO milk truck. The whole experience is like stepping back in time; the truck, the cakes served by the hands that baked them, the recipes, many of which are inspired by classic cocktails — harken back to a bygone time.
So, without further ado, sit down and take a minute to get to know Lauryn & Keith.
Lauryn Mathis & Keith Robins co-owners of Luxe Cupcakes
When & How did you get started in the Food Truck/Baking Biz? Lauryn: I’ve always loved to bake, I learned alongside my mother for a number of years until I found that the kitchen was “my domain!” It wasn’t until my early twenties that I found a career in the baking industry. I started my career in my hometown’s very first cupcakery and from there I moved to Denver where I found myself working for two extraordinary cupcakeries that taught me so many of the skills that I use today. After moving to Bozeman from Texas, I couldn’t find the niche that I was craving so I began developing my own line of cupcakes. I was baking cupcakes for about a year & half before I found a complete concept that interested me. It was at that point that I convinced Keith to join me & become my business partner. From there the Mobile Tasting Room and the entire Spirited Sweets menu was born.
La Margarita: A buttery lime, orange cake, topped with a lime buttercream & margarita salt
Is baking your first love? Lauryn: It’s a close tie with my dogs & chickens! Keith: I don’t bake, I taste test!
Why cupcakes? Lauryn: Cupcakes are nostalgic!
How did you come up with the idea of boozy cupcakes? Lauryn: Keith & I come from a long line of food & beverage jobs. I have a baking background & Keith is a mixologist, so developing Spirited Sweets & becoming bakeologists just felt right.
What’s your favorite cupcake? Lauryn: Having one favorite is too much of a commitment for me. Keith: The Southern Gentleman, it’s BOURBON & BACON.
Keith’s favorite cupcake: The Southern Gentleman, it’s bourbon meets bacon in a cupcake.
What’s your favorite thing about being in the Food Truck Biz? Keith: Everyday is new. Lauryn: I love to see how customers react to our product!
Where’s your regular perch? Keith: We don’t have a “regular” perch per se. During the week and on weekend nights you can find us on Main Street.
Do you have a favorite event/venue?Lauryn: Food Truck Fridays at The Architect’s Wife are the most exciting, but we love going to brew festivals around the state!
The DIVCO in all her glory.
Where did your truck come from? Lauryn: Keith studied dairy science in college and knew that he always wanted an old DIVCO milk truck. When the idea of opening up an actual food truck came to the table, he brought the idea of purchasing a milk truck & I fell in love with the idea. There is something about the DIVCO that says “sweets!” We started scouring the internet for milk trucks – making inquiries in Pennsylvania, California and Nevada to name a few. We even road tripped out to Kansas to look at a vehicle. Finally, we found this beauty in Dallas, Texas!
Photography by Devin Helen Tanner
The Deets:
Join AW fof Food Truck Fridays
’til July 1st
From 11:30am – 2:00pm
The Line-up:
Luxe Cupcakes
Grille 406
Mo’Bowls
Oba Acai
Tumbleweeds
Vogue Mobile Fashion
Don’t forget to stop by our downtown furniture store this Friday to get your hands on this cakey goodness!
How do you kill time while you’re waiting for your Tumbleweed’s taco during Food Truck Friday? You shop for clothes, of course! This week the FTF Digest visits with the latest in Bozeman’s mobile mix: Kelsey Schuerg of Moda Fashion Truck and Kelley Krekelberg of Vogue Mobile Fashion. They are two of the newest members of Food Truck Friday AND Bozeman’s mobile scene! A visit to these trucks feels like you are stepping in to the ultimate closet (right outside the ultimate furniture store 😉 ). When you read who Kelley and Kelsey’s fashion icons are you will see that the content of their trucks are very true to their individual style: one is drawn to a more edgy look the other classic and clean. Read on to figure out who’s who.
Kelley kicking back on her latest venture – Vogue Mobile Fashion. Her truck is full of fun and funky pieces, which are great for mixing and matching!
When & How did you get started in the Fashion Truck Biz?
I opened the truck in April 2016. I was perusing Pinterest and found the concept of the fashion truck super intriguing, so I thought, why not?
What’s your signature style?
My signature style is retro bold and colorful. High waisted shorts and crop tops and funky footwear. Anything that is unique and different.
A playful romper, strappy heels and a pop of green. Bold and fun pieces define Kelley’s clothing collection.
What’s your favorite thing about being in the Fashion Truck Biz?
My favorite thing about owning a fashion truck is that I get to do what I love and I get to dress people up to feel their best! I also love seeing people push the envelop with their style. It’s really rewarding when a person says oh I could never wear that- then they try it on and look amazing and now it’s now their favorite shirt
Who’s your fashion icon crush?My fashion icon crush is Kendall and Kylie Jenner but Taylor Swift is always a classic.
Kylie and Kendall Jenner, two of Kelley’s style icons. Image courtesy of Facebook.
Who is your favorite fashion designer? Well I love Moschino and discount universe. But I also like more classic designers like Ted Baker or BCBG Maxazria. My style is very heavily influenced by the UK style markets!
Do you have a favorite event/venue? (besides the Architect’s Wife of course 🙂 )
Dry Hills Distillery! Thursday night is ladies’ night!
Where did your truck come from and what did it take to make it operational? My truck came from Minneapolis, MN. It took about 2 weeks of planning and sawing wood to go on the walls and some led lights with metallic peg board. I had everything rennovated in Minneapolis and had it shipped back to Bozeman.
Meet Kelsey, owner of Moda Fashion Truck
Kelsey Schuerg hangs out in her ultimate “closet”.
When & how did you get started in the Fashion Truck Biz?
Moda Fashion truck has only been on the streets for 6 weeks so far, but the idea came to me in August 2015. I knew I wanted to pursue my own business as a boutique owner but wasn’t sure which avenue would be most cost effective with the least amount of risk. It was my husband who actually said to me “Why don’t you do something like a food truck, but for fashion?” I researched online, and little did I know there are over 500 fashion trucks throughout the U.S. I reached out to some of those owners and got as much information from them as I could to get started. Fast forward 9 months, and here I am!
What’s your signature style?
My signature style is classic, staple items with the perfect accessory to jazz it up. Something like a little black sheath dress with a scarf or statement necklace. You’ll see this style in my truck with merchandise that almost anyone would feel comfortable and fabulous wearing, no matter their age.
What’s your favorite thing about being in the Fashion Truck Biz?
My favorite part of this whole process so far has been seeing the reactions of customers who come through the truck. For someone who has never been in a fashion truck, it is a fascinating thing when you step up and realize there’s a fitting room, quality clothing, and boutique decor all within a big truck! I have received such wonderful feedback from my customers and the community that it makes my job not feel like a job, but instead a fun day of styling ladies and finding the perfect piece that makes them feel happy and confident.
True to her style: Kelsey’s clothing collection in classic and feminine.
Do you have a regular perch?
I like to move around! Since I’m still starting out, I like to park in different areas reaching different customers. So far I have LOVED doing private shopping parties where I take the truck to your house or business and you and your friends/employees can shop the truck for a couple hours (and typically there’s wine involved, because why not?).
Who’s your fashion icon crush?
This is a tough one! I would say currently my fashion crush is Olivia Palermo. She brilliantly walks the edge of trend and classic styles. And she’s not afraid of prints or taking risks. She masters putting pieces together that when looking at them separately you would never think they’d go together, and then BAM she creates a killer outfit – all while looking classy and sophisticated.
I have always loved Kate Spade ever since I can remember because her collections are always relatable, elegant and classy. That’s my style. A close second would be Alexander McQueen. A more high fashion designer whose work continues to grow even after his death, Alexander’s pieces are so thoughtfully designed with bold lines but soft fabrics that I just swoon over. I mean, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was Alexander McQueen for goodness sake!
Do you have a favorite event/venue? (besides the Architect’s Wife of course 🙂 )
Of course Architect’s Wife has been my favorite event so far 🙂 but I’ve also been able to meet some awesome women through private events. Like I mentioned before about private shopping parties, it’s one of my favorite things to bring the truck by to a group of women who are ready and excited to shop! Duh! But that way I’m able to spend some one on one time with each of them, getting to know their styles and what their best colors are, what fit feels best on them, etc.
Where did your truck come from?
My truck hails from Pennsylvania originally. And with that, came A LOT of rust underneath the truck from salted roads in the winter. After some patches, a new transmission, and some hard labor from my mechanic, Moda was happy and healthy again! The truck was originally a bread truck with an awesome wood floor (I still have the original floors) and a translucent ceiling. I gave it a pretty hefty face lift when it arrived, including walls, a tin ceiling & electrical work and now it just feels like a beautifully decorated dream closet when you walk in :)!
The Deets:
Join Us Downtown Every Friday from Tomorrow – July 1st
Jeff Syc and Jesse Collins pulling the late night shift in The Barmuda Triangle.
There’s a steady stream of Mac ‘n Cheese seekers converging in the Barmuda triangle where brothers Jesse and Tyler Collins have perched there fire-engine red food truck, Mo’Bowls, for the night. They’ll stay in front of the confluence of Bozeman’s most notable late night bars, The Molly Brown, Scoop Bar, and The Haufbrau ’til 2 am. It’s shift number 2 for the siblings — earlier that evening they were serving up heaping bowls of made-from-scratch mac-n-cheese and they’re signature dish, Fried Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese Balls, at Livingston’s Farmer’s Market . It’s a long night, but worth it come October when they switch gears and trade Food Truck life for the ski hill.
The Architect’s Wife had a chance to sit down with Jesse and ask him some questions about Food Truck Life.
When and how did you get started in the food truck business?
Tyler and I had always thought about owning a food truck for a long time. We have both worked in the food industry I got my feet wet a little bit with Tumbleweeds [Food] Truck when it started and then finally, in 2014 we made it happen.
Getting lost in theThe Barmuda Triangle, Mo’Bowls part-owner, Jesse Collins in the late night groove.
Why mac & cheese?
Why not mac & cheese? We figured all kids love mac & cheese and when I say that I mean kids from 0 to 100.
What is your favorite bowl?
Our personal favorite on the truck is the red curry bowl. It’s pretty spicy which we love. The most popular bowl would be the double bacon cheeseburger or the Chicken Parmesan Bowl. All of our recipes are original and from scratch.
The Buffalo Bleu Bowl and Mo’Bowls famous Fried Bacon Mac Balls. (So damn good.)
What is your favorite thing about being in the food truck business? I would have to say that one of the best things about this business is working for myself and owning my own business. We also get plenty of entertainment from regulars and the bar crowd. Not only that, but we get to work next to a lot of other great people who run small businesses as well.
Where is your regular perch? When we first started we kind of got in to the late-night nitch. We still do a lot of late-night gigs, but we have added more daytime service like, Food Truck Fridays at The Architect’s Wife , Lunch on the Lawn and the Livingston Farmer’s Market and we LOVE all of the local festivals like Red Ants Pants, Slam Festival, Moods of the Madison. It’s so fun to work and listen to music.
It’s all in the wrist. Jesse mixing a fresh bowl of Mac ‘n Cheese.
Where is the truck from? We bought the truck from Portland and it was hardly finished so my brother built the rest of the truck in the barn at Rocky Creek Farm. When we built the kitchen it felt like a giant puzzle. Every piece of equipment and counter had to fit perfectly in a limited amount of room. It’s a pretty tight space , but we make it work.
The Deets:
Join Us
Every Friday at our Downtown Furniture Store from May 27th – July 1st