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Altar + Vine: Healing Through Moss, Crystals, and Creation

Altar + Vine: Healing Through Moss, Crystals, and Creation

  1. Tell us a little about yourself and your journey—how did you get to where you are today? My journey has been a rough one, but worth it. I started working with moss for fun in 2021 and realized that I had a bit of talent in my hands! I’ve always been a DIY’er at heart and loved being able to try anything once. Plants and art have always been a passion of mine so mixing them felt so natural.Shortly after starting my business, my dad who was my absolute biggest fan and best friend, was brutally murdered at Christmas. It changed my life completely – I shut my business down, my life down, and I just felt like I died in that moment too. 

    Coming back to my art was a way to heal me. When he died I was in the process of making him a guitar moss piece as his gift that year. He was a musician and I know would have loved it. It was extremely hard to walk back into my shop and work – but in doing so I found an even bigger purpose. I knew I was meant to use my hands not just for art, but for healing. Thus after many years of prepping and designing, Altar + Vine was born! A unique art that brings the grounding properties of moss and the healing benefits of crystals together 💕

  2. What inspired you to become an artist? What are your biggest creative influences? I’ve always love creating! Through drawling, designing, creating – it’s my passion, to be the ultimate DIY’er. I just love to make things pretty and enjoy finding ways to do it ethically and resourcefully.

  3. Can you walk us through your creative process? Any special techniques or materials you love using? I’d love to say I’m an amazing sketcher, but my hands work best in the moss lol. I don’t have a draft I work from, I use my mind a lot to design my pieces. The fun is in the process of taking what’s in my mind and making it a reality. The moss is so unique in each piece that it usually always takes on a look of its own. But I truly enjoy working with the various textures and shapes. It makes creating art truly unique.I love using various elements to complement to moss. I’ve used stones, wood, succulents and plants and even resin ponds and waterfalls! It’s honestly endless to what you can do. Now I used crystals to amplify the meaning behind this mossy Mother Nature landscape. Blending both grounding and healing has been so a beautiful and unique blend.

  4. What themes, emotions, or messages do you aim to convey through your art? I want my art to not just be another art piece or decor for your space. I want it to truly transform your life. Moss is a gift from Mother Nature and the fact that we can use it preserved while still feeling and looking live is incredible! She’s grounding and gorgeous and life – that paired with energetically charged crystals has the ability to take on life itself. You can literally use these Mossy Magical Portals to ground, protect, and inspire yourself and space. Your own true zen garden – fully customizable to you and your space and energy needs.I want connection, self love, and peace to be the focal point and emotion behind every art piece that is touched by my hands.

  5. What role does nature play in your work? How do you see moss and other organic materials fitting into your artistic vision? I originally started creating with moss during the pandemic because my youngest at the time was born with heart disease. The most scariest time to be born into and she was already set back. Being trapped in the house and knowing how much Mother Nature could help her was devastating. I am terrible with live plants if I’m being honest – as much as I’d love to have a jungle home I just don’t have the time, patience, or thumb for it. So I turned to moss art and its healing properties to just give her and the rest of the family the opportunity to still be around nature! I think in such a busy world we all forget that nature is the easiest way to recharge and heal.
  6. Have you faced any unique challenges as an artist, and how have you overcome them? I’ve faced a few challenges along the way, but the most important would be to trust myself. Moss is becoming a very popular trend and use for decor and art, and the best advice I can give is to trust your own vision. Moss is forgiving and so unique, the possibilities are literally endless! Find what lights you up and make it all your own. The world doesn’t need more copy and paste designs, she needs YOU and your unique ideas and styles to shine through. So always trust your gut and find what lights you up.
  7. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other artists looking to work with natural materials? QUALITY! The quality of your moss matters. These projects can last 10+ years in ideal conditions so it’s best to use the best available materials you can get – and I would have to say in my 4 years of experience, Supermoss is one of the best!

  8. Are there any upcoming projects or pieces you’re particularly excited about? I just launched my Summer collection – The Healing Era – an 18 frame collection of unique frame styles and designs full of preserved moss and energetically charged crystals. Real life Moss Portals of magic.The majority of my work is custom commissions, but I love to design a few collections throughout the year where I can get in and just design away all these ideas in my beautiful mind! 

  9. Where can people find more of your work and support what you do? You can find me and all my designs at Altarandvine.com or on Instagram/facebook at /altarandvine