Community News

Although she didn’t know it – of course there never is with these sorts of things – it all started with a Polaroid camera Taylor had in middle school. That camera helped foster a passion for photography, which would become her chosen career path in time. As she got older, she upgraded to a point and shoot digital camera, which she used to take pictures for her Facebook profile. In her friend group, Taylor was the photographer. She worked to get the right angles and lighting for the perfect shot, something her friends were less interested in by comparison. At this time, however, Taylor hadn’t considered photography as a possible career as another of her passions held her attention: sports.

She had been an athlete her whole life and, when she enrolled at UofL, she majored in sports administration. After graduating in 2017, Taylor ended up working at a car rental business full-time, coaching basketball on the side. While this enabled her to live comfortably and travel as she wished, she knew she needed more.

In December 2017, just before Christmas Eve, Taylor realized that she wanted to become a photographer. She headed down to Murphy’s Camera and bought her first professional grade camera. From that moment on, Taylor dedicated herself to studying and practicing photography. Part of what drew Taylor to photography as a career was its open-endedness; there’s more than one way to approach it. This presents each photographer the opportunity to develop their own style. When not working her full-time job, Taylor dedicates her time to learning and building her portfolio.

Starting out, Taylor met clients to shoot on location. This was problematic though as it meant she had no control over several key aspects of the shoot, including lighting and the background. Taylor knew she needed a studio. After speaking with her friend Jaelynn, who owns MesmerEyez, Taylor decided to take on a studio here at Mellwood in January 2021. It’s been a leap of faith, but in taking that leap Taylor has been able to have her own indoor space to work more consistently and have greater control over those aspects she couldn’t when shooting on location.

Ever eager to learn new things, Taylor is open to all forms of portraiture, whether it’s weddings, maternity shoots, sporting events, or senior portraits. She’s open to expanding her body of work to include street photography and event photography. She hopes one day to work with celebrities, possibly capturing the cover shots for magazines. For more information, or to see some examples of her work, check out her Facebook or Instagram pages at @tailoredshotz.

While last year’s quarantines were difficult, they provided many of us time to try out and learn new things. For most, this was a way to pass the time. For a lucky handful, these news skills transformed into something more than a passing interest or new hobby, they became new small businesses. Torie of Carrot Cottage Market is one of those lucky few.

Prior to COVID, Torie worked as a freelance writer. But after 12 years, interest was waning. Regularly covering topics which were of little to no interested to her took its toll; she knew it was time to find something new. When COVID hit and the quarantine started, she took it as an opportunity to learn a new skill: candle making. After reading about it in a magazine, Torie thought it would be fun to try. She made her candles out of a soy-based wax and poured them into antique mason jars. She enjoyed it some much she soon amassed an inventory and took to Etsy to sell them under the name Farmhouse Market. They sold well, but it wasn’t long until the market became too saturated. Soon, materials to make more candles were hard to come by – and expensive when you could find them.

Torie knew it was time to shift gears and transitioned into sewing. At first, she made small throw pillows. As those sold well, she expanded to travel pillows and blankets of varying sizes. She also expanded her offerings to include keychains, bracelets with stone or glass beads, room sprays, and tote bags. As she diversified, Torie saw the name Farmhouse Market no longer fit and changed it to Carrot Cottage Market. With this growth, came the need for more space; it got to the point where Torie could no longer work from home and needed a dedicated workspace. Two months ago, she found it here at Mellwood.

Torie has sold her wares at various farmers markets, flea markets, and other similar events. Torie nearly sold the remaining Carrot Cottage’s inventory at the recent Market on Mellwood Fall Festival. As a result, everything is currently made to order. Torie plans to rebuild her inventory at the start of the new year. She also plans to further expand her offerings to include rag dolls, collage art/shadowboxes, and handmade costume jewelry. For more information or to make a purchase, visit Carrot Cottage’s website at carrotcottagemarket.com. You can also find Carrot Cottage on Facebook and Instagram at @carrotcottagemarket.

Life is equal parts planned and unplanned. For every conscious choice we make that shapes our lives, there’s a fateful encounter or occurrence just as impactful. In the confluence of choice and chance exists HypeVision Studios.

Started by Rodney Cox and Darryl Stephens, the foundations for HypeVision began with the draft of a script. Known around town for his DJ-ing, Darryl worked on a movie script in his spare time. In discussing his script with a friend, Darryl was referred to Rodney. At the urging of their mutual friend, Rodney agreed to meet with Darryl and review his script. While Rodney saw potential in the script, he told Darryl it needed to be reworked. When Darryl returned with a revised script, Rodney knew they had something good on their hands. This revised script was the basis for their first movie, Frat House. First released in 2018, the movie is a comedy about two college friends who encounter a dangerous fraternity brother while on their way to an epic campus party. Prior to producing this movie, Rodney already had a film company, Rizm Vision, and initially urged Darryl to form one of his own, Hype Man Studios. The two eventually merged their companies together, forming HypeVision Studios.

Today, HypeVision has expanded their staff to include Line Producer Kerry Stallworth and Sales Manager Joe Tapper. They have since produced two short movies, Facemask and Black Koffee. Both movies have been selected for various film festivals, including the Florence Film Festival, the Mumbai International Film Festival, and Uruvatti International Film Festival. Additionally, Facemask has won Best Comedy at the Chicago Indie Film Awards, Best Picture at the Mumbai International Film Festival, and the Special Jury Award at the Uruvatti International Film Festival. Outside of their films, HypeVision has also produced the web series Techniqolor, a music mix show which won Best Web Series at the Hip Hop Film Festival in New York in 2020. They recently started work on a new movie, Savage, and are currently auditioning for the lead roles. For more information about HypeVision Studios, their past films, or their current projects, check out their Facebook at @HypeVisionStudios or their Instagram at @hypevisionstudios. You can also find them on YouTube at youtube.com/channel/UCbE7IWhSYlep5Kl0897rXkg.

Sometimes the inspiration for a business can find you unexpectedly. For Toni from IMME Waist Beads, this was her experience. And although she wasn’t actively looking to start her own business, Toni’s past experience and connections prepared her to recognize and seize the opportunity when it presented itself.

After graduating from Murray State University with a major in public relations and a minor in marketing and advertising, Toni worked as a trade marketing representative. She also the marketing director for the Kentuckiana Minority Business Council, worked with Leadership Louisville, and made Louisville Business First’s 40 Under 40. She wanted to see and do more, which led her to Washington, DC and then Ohio.

It was while in Ohio that one of Toni’s daughters struggled with anxiety. To help curb this, Toni and her daughter took up beading, making bracelets and necklaces together. It was a calming, meditative activity which refocused her daughter’s mind on creativity rather than her anxieties. Reconnecting her daughters to their father’s African roots, Toni acquired beads made in Ghana to work with. In helping her daughter, she also saw a chance to help the bead makers in Ghana. After finding her first vendor, things began to fall into place and Toni opened IMME Waist Beads in her hometown of Louisville.

The name IMME is a combination of the words “I’m me.” It celebrates individuality and being one’s authentic self. In the beginning, Toni sold handmade beaded goods — bracelets, necklaces, and waist beads — imported from Ghana. Today, about 50% of IMME’s handmade goods are imported; the other 50% is made by Toni and includes bracelets and candles. IMME has also expanded their inventory to include goods from Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, India, and Tibet. Along with the beaded goods, you’ll find crystals, journals, incense and incense holders, oils, and even singing bowls.

Through IMME’s Bead the Change program, Toni donates at least 10% of IMME’s quarterly profits to two organizations in Ghana, the Osu Children’s Home and the KBC Women’s Entrepreneurial Program.

In honor of IMME’s one-year anniversary on November 22nd, there will be having a belated ribbon cutting ceremony at IMME with representation from the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce present. For more information about IMME, visit their site at immewaistbead.com. You can also find IMME on Facebook and Instagram at @immewaistbead.

Some people look at what is, while others look at what could be. Rhonda from Not Too Shabby belongs to the latter group. “I love pieces that people no longer love; I see so much potential. I’m not into antiques, I’m into vintage. These are things that people can buy and change. They haven’t got a tremendous amount invested like they would with an antique, but they’ve got a fun piece for their home.”

Building and creating have always been Rhonda’s passions. It’s part of why she became an occupational therapist. But that wasn’t enough for Rhonda, she needed more. She found enjoyment in breathing new life into worn-out pieces of furniture. However, the catalyst for what would become Not Too Shabby wouldn’t come until 2015, following her sister developing cirrhosis of her liver after contracting hepatitis C from a blood transfusion.

Years after undergoing a liver transplant, Rhonda’s sister, Sue, was distraught to find a buffet she had for many years in disrepair after pulling it from storage. Rhonda suggested they work together to fix and paint it. The sisters enjoyed working on the project and Sue was thrilled with the results. To continue refurbishing and reinvigorating furniture together, Rhonda opened Not Too Shabby in November 2015. Unfortunately, Sue’s health took a turn for the worse a month later. After another few months, Sue passed away without being able to see the store. Today, Rhonda continues to work under the name Not Too Shabby to honor and feel connected to her sister.

Rhonda regularly picks up discarded pieces to rebuild or rework them into something completely different. She’s fond of bright, vibrant colors and regularly implements them in her refurbishments. Rhonda also takes custom orders from people who have furniture they want redone in Rhonda’s style. Outside of her furniture work, Rhonda also paints, typically animal portraits, which also showcase her love of bright colors. If you’re interested in having some custom work done, you can contact Rhonda at queenrhonda@gmail.com.