We All Have Stories
It started with Manderley Exotic Teas
And grief.
I lost my mom to cancer, and didn't think I would feel alive again. But life went on and time crept forward. I became an obsessive night owl and put my inner macabre on paper. In an odd twist, the numbness I felt emboldened me to start a tea business, an idea I had written down years ago but never had the courage to pursue.
I poured all of my influences into Manderley Exotic Teas. My love for horror, the occult and dark arts somehow molded perfectly with the tenderness of tea. My newfound community responded with resounding support, and I began to heal.
A calico cat and a second chance
Almost a year into my mom's passing, Henrietta found her way into my home. A then four-pound nervous ball of angst taught me how to laugh and feel joy again. She gifted me with a drive to continue the pursuit of my artistry beyond Manderley Exotic Teas.
Calico Society is my dream factory. It is a gathering place for cat people, a curated space of meaningful objects, and an ongoing collaboration with the incredible artists and makers I have connected with over the years.
Finally, this is a love letter. To my mom and my family, to my eternal muse Henrietta, and to those who are navigating through the treacherous terrains of grief - you are not alone.