Musicians are like storytellers. The same way we can thumb through the pages of black ink on crisp white paper to read an enchanting love story or watch a film about a historic hero, we can be told a story through the whimsical coalition of music and lyrics.
If I'm stuck on ideas in a painting I'll usually sit the work in progress somewhere in my room where I know I'll look at it when I open my eyes. I sit up in the middle of the night and watch what my mind creates in its lucid state. Then I wake up and try to paint it. I can close my eyes right now and make myself go into a lucid dream within five minutes and create whatever situation I want.
"We are very lucky to live in a community that is so focused on local makers. I can tell you, pretty confidently, there are not a lot of places like that. It’s really nice to have that support. I can’t tell you how many times, in Golden, we hear, “How nice to have a local company.” And that’s kind of our home playing field. Small business in Colorado is a unique environment. And the maker community around here is incredible."
"I believe it's true that if you have a dream you should pursue it with unwavering commitment. That said, I also believe that preparedness is the key to success in anything in life."
This week, we had the privilege of speaking with Brandee Castle, co-owner of Judith + Joe, a small boutique in RiNo with a big emphasis on giving back. The shop shares a Backyard on Blake store front with La Lovely Vintage, a community that, according to Brandee, is a great depiction of small businesses in Denver.
We’re definitely in a time where interest in trades is at an all-time low; some people want to pay the same price for a custom-built piece that they would pay at Ikea. But I think working hard and staying humble still goes a long way in today's society. Pursuing a craft like carpentry means you have to be ready and willing to take on new challenges, be consistent and show great pride in your work.
How, I prodded, did she find the strength to go all the way, especially knowing she could catch a ride into any of the towns she passed by? “I’m stubborn!” she laughed. “I’m also a big believer that language creates reality. For me, how I work, I have to say I’m going to do it. That creates a pressure—I said I was going to, so I have to. I didn’t want to be a quitter.”
