How many cards have you thrown in the trash or filed in the back of a drawer, never to look at again? Today, we’ll to introduce you to a maker whose specialty is breathing new life into paper scraps and turning them into a plantable product. These birthday cards, Texas greeting cards, and travel prints bring a smile when they’re first received and every day once they start to bloom! We know you’ll grow to love Kelly from Rockywoods Studio!
Hi Kelly! Thanks for sharing your story with us today! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hey y’all! I’m Kelly, an art teacher and paper maker in Austin, TX. When my hands aren’t full of pulp, you’ll likely find me taking long morning walks listening to a new podcast, teaching at a few different community art studios, or attempting to keep a growing collection of plants alive.
Plantable pulp from Rockywoods Studio
We are sending you all the green thumb vibes for your plant collection! Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration in trying to get one more use out of things that are meant to be discarded. It’s how I found myself originally making paper. My background is in public art education, and there was no shortage of paper scraps to recycle from the classroom. I’ve stayed with paper-making because I enjoy the tinkering and experimenting this medium allows. I don’t think we get to play as adults and paper-making allows me to play.
Paper scraps used to create plantable paper at Rockywoods Studio
Making time to play at every age is so important! Tell us about your business— how did you decide on the name, and what do you make?
The name Rockywoods Studio comes from the street I grew up on!
I make all my paper products by hand. I started with plantable greeting cards and slowly added more plantable products like gift tags and calendars. I then transitioned into custom-colored wedding stationery, where I incorporate the wedding colors into the paper itself. I most recently added prints on my handmade paper. Each piece truly is unique, with it being made out of paper scraps.
Wedding invitations from Rockywoods Studio
Your unique products are the perfect addition to any special occasion. What are you most proud of?
It’s a time-intensive process, but I get to take paper waste and give it another use. I was pretty conscious when starting my own business that I didn’t want to be putting more stuff out there in an overstuffed world. By recycling all these materials, I feel good knowing that I’m taking old to make new.
Plantable wedding invitation in Texas from Rockywoods Studio
Plantable products are such a great way to reduce waste and grow a lasting reminder of a sweet sentiment. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’ve been pretty fortunate in the traveling I’ve been able to do. In fact, in was during a year-and-a-half-long backpacking trip through four different continents that I found myself in an Australian shop where I first came across plantable paper. It was a real light bulb moment when I decided that I would start making my way home, teach myself how to make plantable paper, and go from there. To be all kinds of sentimental about it, I feel like this craft found me and that’s how one becomes a paper maker!
Plantable Dallas print from Rockywoods Studio
Many people travel to find themselves, and it sounds like your travels led you to exactly where you need to be! We are so glad your passion led you to be a maker at Mosaic Makers Collective!
Want to learn more about our makers or shop Rockywoods Studio? Check out these additional resources:
- Visit our shop in the Bishop Arts District
- Shop Rockywoods Studio online
- Follow Rockywoods Studio on Instagram
- Meet more of our Mosaic Makers on the Blog