Jennifer Carleton and her husband, Jeff, “have never been big beer drinkers and generally gravitate to wines and mixed drinks.” But after a visit to Ireland, they became “hooked on ciders.” They especially loved the hand-crafted ciders available at the pubs they visited. “The dry, gluten free, crisp refreshing taste was a perfect fit for my palate and system,” Jennifer says, … [Read more...]
Following Your Passion: from Mexico City to Utah
At Utah Stories we like to take a deeper look into the lives of our local makers and artists to learn why they chose the difficult path rather than the much easier corporate lifestyle. We had a pleasure to ask Adriana Serdán Vázquez the owner of Ceramica Artistica ASV a few questions. Adriana Serdán Vázquez describes herself as “a potter”, she continued, “I work with … [Read more...]
At Spinderella’s Creations They Spin Wool, Alpaca, Mohair, and Llama Fur
It has been said that necessity is the key to invention. Such was the case for Lynn Snell, the lady behind Spinderella’s Creations. Mother of four, all of which she has homeschooled, as well as caring for her youngest son, Deanie, who has a disability and continues to spend his days with mom in the shop, Snell learned how to weave. After discovering she was unable to find … [Read more...]
Utah’s Salsa Queen
Most people don’t wear a crown to work, but Maharba Zapata is not most people. Though she is approaching the two-year anniversary of her wildly successful company, Salsa Queen, she hasn’t lost any enthusiasm for her brand, and frequently travels to local stores in her Salsa Queen-wrapped truck. Sporting not only her crown but also a matching apron, she offers samples of her … [Read more...]
B&T Barrel—Ogden Couple Crafts Unique Chairs From Wine Barrels.
Born and raised in the wine country of Napa Valley, California, Brian Booth started his love for metal and wood creation early. By trade, his father and brother are machinists and cabinet builders. However, the majority of Brian’s career was spent as an accomplished welder for a large manufacture. But because of a plant closure late in his career, he found himself wondering, … [Read more...]
Ramblers Relics Showcasing the Wildly Beautiful
Sykarri is a Deep South woman turned Utah local who proudly pays homage to wild Utah through her jewelry business, Ramblers Relics. Made of stones, bones, wood, and other natural findings, her jewelry pieces are as wildly beautiful as the places that inspire them. We spoke with Sykarri about her creative process, her inspiration, and the message she wants to send through her … [Read more...]
Waterpocket Distillery—Long-Lost Spirits are the Guiding Force Behind Utah’s Newest Craft Distillery
Like many craft distillers, Julia and Alan Scott’s path to creating Waterpocket Distillery has been long and winding. Yet, like the landscapes in Capitol Reef National Park that the distillery is named for, the Scott's have trail-blazed into the often unknown nature of distilling in Utah, using long-forgotten recipes and spirits as a guide. “Our goal is to make spirits as … [Read more...]
Hippie Skin Products
Bethany Forest became the founder of Hippie Skin after failing to find a product that could treat her adult-onset acne. Forest spent a lot time perusing articles and studies about oil cleansing methods. “I’m really just passionate about sharing with others who deal with the same struggles—and we have since found out it’s great for all skin types, so that’s even better,” she … [Read more...]
Petra’s Backstubchen—Traditional Pastries from the Old Country
Growing up in Kliding, a small town in Germany, Petra Vigil, owner of Petra’s Backstubchen, learned how to bake from her mother and her aunts. “I always baked. My Mom was always baking and cooking big meals. It was normal to me,” says Petra, “I think if my Mom hadn’t taught be so much I wouldn’t be here.” When Petra moved to Utah over 25 years ago, she brought her baking … [Read more...]
Farm to Bath at Simply Eden
Athena Steadman made her way from food management to soap management, creating some of the state’s most organic, natural products. She made the jump more than ten years ago, testing and tying recipes for her own skin. When Athena was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she chose to make changes by watching what she ate and what she put on her skin. This evolved into the … [Read more...]