2016 Babe of the Year: Claudia Gizell Aparicio-Gamundi
It's appropriate that Claudia Gizell Aparicio-Gamundi derives her creative energy from community as she's been such a creative force for ours, whether through her work with Chulita Vinyl Club, Mosaico Experiencia, or Puro Chingøn Collective.
Photo courtesy of SA Current
In the first few months of the new year, we're celebrating the babes who helped buoy our community in 2016 with their inspiring ambition, work and success.
It's appropriate that Claudia Gizell Aparicio-Gamundi derives her creative energy from community as she's been such a creative force for ours.
Whether it's helping to get people grooving through the formation of Chulita Vinyl Club (the all-girl DJ collective that played at our August meet and, more recently, at our State of the Uterus event), to get them together through Mosaico Experiencia events, or to create for them as Puro Chingøn Collective does via designer toys, zines, videos, and murals, Aparicio-Gamundi is in the business of creating spaces for "those that might feel not spoken to."
Still, with all of those projects in her corner, the thing she's most proud of accomplishing is finally accepting that she's just not a fan of speaking in front of crowds. That's a sentiment we can absolutely get behind — may we all learn to accept that some things just aren't for us in the new year.
Where does the drive to do what you do — even when the struggle bus pulls up — come from?
The drive comes directly from wanting to create what I would like to see out there, not just for me but for those that might feel not spoken to.
What have been your favorite moments of creative energy this past year?
Getting together with the community during Puro Chingøn, Mosaico Experiencia and AIGA's events. Making people come together through sound and making them groove with all the chulitas from Chulita Vinyl Club — it just makes me super happy to be surrounded by pure light & great energy.
What have been the most challenging moments throughout your career and perhaps in this year in particular?
Not enough spaces for POC in the Austin creative scene.
What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing this past year?
Collaborating with great people and being challenged to speak in front of an audience. I don't enjoy it — never have — so I finally realized it is just not for me and being ok with that.
2016 Babe of the Year: Davia Roberts
Therapist, blogger, documentarian, and community organizer, Davia Roberts has made a career out of affirming women's worth through the creation of content focused on self-care and mental health. We're saying cheers to this babe and the things she accomplished in 2017.
In the first few months of the new year, we're celebrating the babes who helped buoy our community in 2016 with their inspiring ambition, work and success.
Therapist, blogger, documentarian, and community organizer, Davia Roberts has made a career out of affirming women's worth through the creation of content focused on self-care and mental health. By helping to remove the stigma and cost burden that are so often barriers to seeking therapeutic help, Davia made wellness more accessible to women of all backgrounds in 2016. This year, she continued to advocate for the mental health of women by organizing the first annual SHE IS wellness retreat and by launching a biweekly podcast called AFFIRM.
To learn more about Davia and the work she's doing in 2017, check out her wellness blog, Redefine Enough.
Photo by Tia Boyd Photography
Where does the drive to do what you do — even when the struggle bus pulls up — come from?
I believe altruism plays a major role in my life and career choices. I feel a deep sense of purpose when I’m able to support others.
On occasion, my desire to help others means I may overextend to my own detriment. The past 6 months of 2016 were particularly challenging as I found myself overextended trying to be a support for my community in the midst of racial injustice and national traumas. I was burnt out. I wasn’t able to find balance until I stepped away, created space for daily affirmations, and became honest about my personal limits as a healer. Over time, I began to whisper gentle words like…
I’m not expected to be perfect.
I don’t have to do everything or be everything for everyone… and that’s okay.
Those affirming statements kept me going when I felt like my work wasn’t enough. They served as reminders that the core of my therapeutic work is to create space for women to be powerful within their vulnerability — and that I deserved to create the same opportunity for myself.
What have been your favorite moments of creative energy this past year?
I hosted my first wellness retreat with 5 other amazing women in July. I was blown away by the energy and creative style of each woman. We’re completely different but our creativity flowed together and we were able to create a restorative retreat for each of the attendees.
Needless to say, beauty is guaranteed to show up when women collaborate with one another.
What have been the most challenging moments throughout your career and perhaps in this year in particular?
The most challenging moments were realizing that some of the people I love dearly wouldn’t understand or support my work. This is difficult when you believe your work is an extension of your identity.
At times, I still struggle with the desire to have loved ones “understand,” but I have to remember that I don’t need validation to affirm my life’s work. Instead, I shift that energy to my God-given purpose and focus on creating spaces for healing and growth.
What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing this past year?
Honoring my voice.
Although I’m introverted by nature, I’m not shy when it comes to advocating about certain issues. Yet for some odd reason, I’ve struggled to truly advocate for my personal needs. 2016 has been the year where I’ve seen the most growth in my ability to honor my voice. Regardless of the outcome, I feel free when I allow myself to be authentic by expressing my needs or concerns.
2016 Babe of the Year: Pooneh Ghana
In the first few months of the new year, we're celebrating the babes who helped buoy our community in 2016 with their inspiring ambition and success. We're kicking things off with Pooneh Ghana, an Austin-based music photographer whose work spans an incredible array of artists and whose clients include everyone from Vans to Tumblr to Billboard Magazine.
In the first few months of the new year, we're celebrating the babes who helped buoy our community in 2016 with their inspiring ambition, work and success.
We're kicking things off with Pooneh Ghana, an Austin-based music photographer whose work spans an incredible array of artists and whose clients include everyone from Vans to Tumblr to Billboard Magazine.
In 2016, she continued her hustle in a male-dominated field, photographing the first-ever Sound on Sound Fest and shooting her first-ever music video for Cage the Elephant's "Cry Baby" while on tour with the band in Europe. We can't wait to see what she tackles — and photographs — in 2017.
Here's to you and your new year, babe.
Where does the drive to do what you do — even when the struggle bus pulls up — come from?
Being a freelancer as well as working in a creative field definitely has it’s fair share of ups and downs. I always have to remember that at the end of the day, I’m the only person who can push myself forward and drive my success, and I enjoy being motivated by that. Being my own worst critic helps too, haha. I’m always striving to learn more about photography and get better at what I do. It’s easy to be lazy, but falling behind is not an option. I love every aspect of this career, even when it’s a challenge. I wouldn’t have done this for so long otherwise.
What have been your favorite moments of creative energy this past year?
Day For Night Fest in Houston recently was a blast! It felt like a hyper-sensorial theme park put together by artists from all walks of life. On top of the music, they brought in some incredible art installations and different interactive aspects inside this 1+ million square foot warehouse. It’s definitely one of my favorite festivals not only to photograph now, but just to experience. Sound on Sound Fest was sick too. You can’t go wrong with a Ren Faire-themed music festival put together by Graham Williams and co. There was BMX jousting!
What have been the most challenging moments throughout your career and perhaps in 2016 in particular?
There are always challenges but I believe they’ve only helped me grow. When I first started out, the biggest challenge was just establishing a name for myself and convincing people to give me a chance and, on top of that, pay me, which in the creative field is always a fun process. Haha, er. Then there’s a more personal struggle which is kind of what I mentioned before — just wanting to constantly progress and get better at photography. Pushing myself to find new ways to shoot, practicing new light setups, playing around with camera tricks etc. etc. just helps keep things fresh, as well as keep me on top of my game. Also, being a female in this field can be a challenge because there will be those people who assume you got to your position any other way outside of just being a good photographer that people want to work with. So fighting that stigma is just something that’s always there. Not just for me, but for a lot of women in many fields.
What's the one thing you're most proud of accomplishing this past year?
Oh man, I’m not sure. I suppose off the top of my head, shooting my first music video with Cage The Elephant (for "Cry Baby") was really fun. I jumped on the tour bus with them in Europe for a couple of weeks and we filmed it over that time in different locations. Of course, winning a Boss Babe of the Year award was an awesome way to cap off the year too! :)
Peep Our Spring 2017 Calendar
Mark your calendars and stay informed! We've got our 2017 event schedule live.
Mark your cals and stay tuned for more details. 2017's gonna be a great year!
To RSVP for events that have already gone live, please visit our event calendar. **RSVPs for all events on this schedule will be released on a rolling basis.
If you're curious about contributing to event activities, getting involved with production or sponsorship/partnership opportunities, please email thebabes@bossbabes.org.
If you'd like to volunteer with us on an event, please fill out our volunteer form.
Looking Back & Moving Forward
At our final meet of the year, we asked you — our amazing community of babes — to give us both one lesson you learned in the past year and one goal you have for the year ahead. This is a selection of responses.
At our final meet of the year, we asked you — our amazing community of babes — to give us both one lesson you learned in the past year and one goal you have for the year ahead.
Your hundreds of responses were both inspiring and indicative of the growth you've had over the course of the past 12 months. In the interest of lifting up our entire community, we're sharing a selection of those responses below.
As you read them, reflect on your own year of triumphs and trials and think forward to the lengths you still have to go. Then get ready to kick some ass with us in 2017.
Safe Spaces: Writer and Performer Andie Flores
Writer and performer Andie Flores won’t live here long, but for now this spot on the East Side — not far from Hillside Farmacy and just down the street from the George Washington Carver Museum — is home.
The environments we inhabit and the spaces we create for ourselves inform and shape us just as we go about shaping and decorating them. “Safe Spaces” is a new series meant to explore that relationship, by visiting female and female-identifying creators and doers in the spaces and places nearest and dearest to them.
Writer and performer Andie Flores won’t live here long. By the beginning of the next year, she’ll be in a new space in Cherrywood — a different house with enough natural light to suit her plants and one with designated work and lounge areas to suit her lifestyle.
For now though, this spot on the East Side — not far from Hillside Farmacy and just down the street from the George Washington Carver Museum — is home to her, as well as to her partner, graphic designer Ivan Alonso, and their dog, Baxon.
At times it’s ‘work’ too, as the setting of most project meetings and brainstorming sessions conducted with cast members of Doper than Dope, the award-winning original sketch show she helped write. A small office space below a reading and lounging loft is the home base from which Flores operates Muy Excited, an online shop of “handpicked vintage treats for the disco diva.” Wherever the workspace in her multimodal home, Andie prefers to keep it tidy to limit distractions.
But, there’s also room for play. While Ivan is the plant man, furnishing the one-bedroom home with ample greens, Andie brings a playful aesthetic to the interior as inspired by PeeWee’s Playhouse. A Big Bird planter nestled among more modest pots is the perfect marriage of what both bring to the table (a sleek, modern, wooden-topped table, if we’re talking dining). It’s likely that the plastic, pink Power Ranger mask hanging in the home’s living room is Andie’s doing as well.
Walking through the house, one can count two Frida Kahlo self-portraits and one Frida Kahlo portrait in three separate locations — a clear through-line of decoration in what's otherwise a colorful collection of eclectic, inspiring pieces, like the wall of framed art in the living room.
It's those pieces that make the house feel like a lived-in home — pieces that will likely follow Andie, Ivan, and Baxon to the next space they inhabit.
Shop Local: Small Business Saturday
On Small Business Saturday, once the dust has settled and the relatives have cleared, we invite you to give thanks once more — this time for the awesome creatives, makers, and babes who make our local economy what it is.
It's tradition, on Thanksgiving Thursday, to give thanks for what you have. And it's tradition, on #BlackFriday, to go out and buy more of it.
This Small Business Saturday, once the dust has settled and the relatives have cleared, we invite you to give thanks once more — this time for the awesome creatives, makers, and babes who make our local economy what it is. To support you in that endeavor, we've rounded up 25 incredible, worthy small businesses that we believe deserve your hard-earned dollars this holiday season.
Shop local, support Austin women, and be merry.
Byron & Blue, byronandblueshop.com, 908 E. 5th St. #106
Bath and body goods, home goods, blankets, jewelry, and clothing — Byron & Blue's curated selection of independently created items is sure to include something that appeals to you or that gift recipient you're still on the hunt for.
Aro, shop-aro.com, 906 E. 5th St. #106
The brick and mortar complement to Aro's virtual storefront, browsing the shop's independently designed jewelry is as good an excuse to get out the gift-shopping as any. Likely, the perfect hidden treasure for that perfect person awaits.
Trash Vintage, shoptrash.com
Two birds, one stone. Shop Trash Vintage on Small Business Saturday to both shop local and to support sustainable fashion — or rather, trash (vintage) that's been recycled.
Eythink, eythink.com
You know you could've used a "Can I live?" tee during this year's turkey tango with critical relatives. Next year, you'll be prepared, thanks to Eythink. The designer also has an awesome selection of small gifts available for purchase, including a "Male Tears" koozie.
Realm, shop-realm.com
Shop Realm for creative expression you can wear on your sleeve or carry in your handbag. Straight from the cranium of the line's one-woman designer and maker, each piece is the result of a playful process combining hand sketching, embroidery, and/or wordplay.
Meridab, instagram.com/meridabboutique
Sweater weather is finally here and Meridab delivers. This Austin-based, online boutique carefully curates vintage pieces with an eye toward color, print and personal style.
Desert Flower Designers, instagram.com/desertflowerdesigners
Desert Flower Designers uses parts and pieces of nature, and even vintage jewelry, to create eccentric designs ranging from necklaces to hand pieces to head pieces.
Sunlit Fire Jewelry, sunlitfire.com
For the babe in your life who can't acquire enough crystals and gems, Sunlit Fire Jewelry captures the angular, light-refracting qualities of those beautiful stones. And with studs starting at $12, it's an affordable gift option as well.
Fibrous ATX, fibrousatx.com
If your space already has its fair share of woven goods — and honestly, you can never have too many — Fibrous ATX also offers workshops where you can learn to create your own woven necklaces.
Zanny Adornments, instagram.com/zannyadornments
Deep colors, rich stones, and bold designs — Zanny Adornments offers inimitable, one-of-a-kind pieces for inimitable, one-of-a-kind shoppers.
SomarATX, somaratx.com
For women who identify as Xicana, for women who love Selena, for women who wear their culture loud and proud on their tees, Somar ATX exists to dress you.
Rosa Rebelled, rosarebelled.com
You know that favorite tee you have that's so soft you could crawl up inside it and live forever? Rosa Rebelled made that tee into a pair of upcycled panties that are every bit as adorable as they are comfy.
New Bohemia, instagram.com/newbohemiavintage, 4631 Airport Boulevard
The Austin vintage gem was part of the great South Congress exodus of recent years but — lucky you — has since opened a new locale stocked full of quality vintage on Airport Boulevard.
Olive + M, oliveandm.com
Tread a loved one — or yourself — to wonderful smelling, soft-feeling, great-for-you body and face oils made using locally sourced olive oil.
Red Planet Pottery, redplanetpottery.com
Red Planet Pottery elevates the oft-gifted coffee mug to something of an art piece, with vessels taking the shape of cacti, female forms, and clasped hands.
Consuela, consuelastyle.com, 912 Congress Ave.
Locally owned Consuela can't be beat for variety with their wide selection of totes, handbags, clutches, beach bags, gym bags, backpacks, and bag accessories.
Fox & Brie, foxandbrie.com
Shop menswear "in homage of the gentlemen" online or find bow ties, bandanas, and bows (for men, women, and pets) at one of Fox & Brie's local stockists.
Dylan Wylde, dylanwylde.com, 2324 S. Lamar Blvd. Unit B
A one-stop-shop if there ever was one, this South Lamar storefront offers accessories, home goods, shoes, and clothing for the local lady. They also ship nationwide, if you're an out-of-town babe.
Pscyhe Jewelry, ninaberenato.com, 1720 Barton Springs Road
Shop graphic, sculptural jewels online or stop by Psyche Jewelry's airstream on Barton Springs Road to purchase quality, handmade pieces and support a local maker.
Luella, etsy.com/shop/shopluellatx
Pins are in, plus you know you need to signal that you're an "Introvert" from the safety of your lapel or that you're a proud card carrying member of the "Big Booty Club."
Discover LOLA, discoverlola.com
Give or get a membership to this online clothing boutique to give or get access to trendy tops, bottoms, and dresses, free shipping, and additional savings.
Dear Valentine Candles, etsy.com/shop/dearvalentinecandles
Candles are always a great gift idea, made even better when concocted with soy by a local babe. Plus, who doesn't want their home to smell like "Frida Kahlua"?
Sunfern Studio, thesunfernstudio.com
Art isn't always meant to hang on walls. Sunfern Studio's vibrant and colorful pieces can be worn, adorned, hung, or used as home decor.
Hey Murphy, heymurphy.com
Hey Murphy uses clean lines and geometric shapes to hand craft jewelry on a small scale that ensures the quality of each and every piece.
Hauntwell Apparel, hauntwell.com
Each piece of Hauntwell Apparel comes hand-printed with a sigil, or a magical symbol "designed using the letters of a specific intent or key phrase, meant to remind of a goal, provide protection or increase personal power."
Safe Spaces: Sailor Poon's Converted Tour Bus
Whether it’s crossing the state of Texas, performing around the local Austin scene, roadtripping out to NOLA, or making the short drive to their recent appearance at the inaugural Sound on Sound Fest, Austin band Sailor Poon gets around on their converted airport-shuttle-cum-tour-bus.
The environments we inhabit and the spaces we create for ourselves inform and shape us just as we go about shaping and decorating them. “Safe Spaces” is a new series meant to explore that relationship, by visiting female and female-identifying creators and doers in the spaces and places nearest and dearest to them.
All-grrrl, punk-influenced, “post-sincerity,” local Austin band Sailor Poon gets around.
Whether it’s crossing the state of Texas, performing around the local Austin scene, roadtripping out to NOLA, or making the short drive to their recent appearance at the inaugural Sound on Sound Fest, the six piece performs a sound best captured live.
The transitory nature of their most powerful platform — the stage — necessitates a certain level of mobility. While the band practices at the home of member Mariah Stevens-Ross, they hit the road in an airport-shuttle-cum-tour-bus dubbed “Cream Puff” by bus driver/owner Cheraya Esters, Sailor Poon’s drummer.
Cheraya came to acquire the bus, capable of running on both vegetable oil and male tears, in January of this year. When she purchased it from William Kennedy of Reptar, it was impounded and covered in tags — though not yet graffitied with the “Cream Puff” signifier that would become its namesake. That was just one of several renovations she undertook to make the bus Sailor Poon’s own.
Cheraya also removed the standard bus chairs, outfitted the interior with steel and wood cabinets and added an appropriate “white rockstar futon” inside. The result is an open “floor plan” that can currently fit all six members and (most) their instruments.
Cream Puff is now all set to see Sailor Poon through their next tour out to New York and the Northeast. In the future, the band hopes to add a studio/living space, a full kitchen, and a sleeping area.
E.A.S.T. Round-Up: Babely Studios You Don't Wanna Miss
To help you navigate all of 534 artists at this year's East Austin Studio Tour, we've created a roundup of our favorite participating female creators. Check it out so you can be sure to support the artists in our community this weekend.
Every year for the past 15, members of Austin's creative arts community have had the opportunity to showcase their work (and oftentimes their work spaces) during the East Austin Studio Tour.
Tis the season again, and for the next two weekends, 534 artists — the most in the tour's history — will exhibit pieces representative of their respective styles.
To help you navigate all of that expression, we've created a roundup of our favorite participating female creators. Check it out so you can be sure to support the artists in our community this weekend.
You can view all participants here or grab a complete tour catalogue and map at any Austin Public Library branch. Finally, let us know which studios you'll be checking out in the comments!
**FOR MORE INFO ON EACH ARTIST'S STOP, PLEASE CLICK THE ARTIST'S NAME. ALL CAPS SO YOU DON'T MISS THIS. XOXO**
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We're about to stun you with this craftHER Market Recap!
In case you missed it, #bossbabesATX hosted its first comprehensive vendors and resource marketplace, craftHER Market, on Oct. 23 at Fair Market. We had more than 80 vendors in participation and a slew of panels featuring some of our favorite geniuses around town. More than 2000 people attended to shop, support and learn about women-owned businesses and female-identifying artists, makers and creators in Austin's community...
Yeah. 2,000 people came, y'all.
And to be honest, this turn-out surprised everyone. No, really, even we were stunned. We've hosted large events before, but never have we ever seen the city of Austin rally so hard for the women who live here. It was truly dreamy, if you can't already gather that from our Vendor Coordinator Ashlee Pryor's face:
So, it's safe to say we'll be bringing craftHER Market back in the spring (so stay tuned via the market's Instagram). Of course, there were a few reasons the market went so well.
First off, we had an incredible lineup of panels.
We reserved a corner of the market for speakers and educational talks, featuring some of our own inspirations. See the schedule below:
SIDE HUSTLE: Starting Your Own Subscription Box presented by Cratejoy
Cratejoy hosted a killer discussion on the benefits of starting your own subscription box. From logistics to marketing to additional revenue, the team mapped out what it takes to expand a business with a subscription box method. Learn more about that by clicking here.
BECOMING YOUR BEST VENDOR with Poco A Poco, West Elm (Austin, TX) and #bossbabesATX
Next, we chatted with our own founder, Jane Claire Hervey, Rebecca Ruiz Acosta of Poco A Poco (and many marketplaces around town) and Lisa Nelson of West Elm's Austin location to discuss what to do at pop-up events, how to present one's wares and ways to secure genuine relationships and contacts within the pop-up event/market community. Moderated by Lauren Murray, this talk was a hit!
NICHE: A Branding + Storytelling Talk with Bunkhouse, REVERLY/The Swoon Event and Queen For Dinner
Then, we were joined by Isadora McKeon of Bunkhouse Hotels, Amberly Washington of REVERLY/The Swoon Event and Queen for Dinner to discuss the way growth affects a brand's narrative. Pulling from their own experiences, these panelists shared some of the highs, lows, triumphs and takeaways of their own careers in business storytelling (aka marketing).
SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR: A Talk with Natalie Davis
At 3 PM, Natalie Davis of Canoe and Salt & Time took the stage to chat with our founder about the way she's grown her businesses from start to finish, what she learned about tabling at trade shows and how she manages to master so many skills (leatherworking, design, creative consulting—she's a force!). If you'd like to learn more about Natalie's businesses and the coaching she offers, please visit her website.
WHY I MAKE with Desert Flower Designers, Red Planet Pottery and Ellen Bruxvoort
And last but not least, three of our favorite makers—Erica Alcocer of Desert Flower Designers, Hailey Vick of Red Planet Pottery and Ellen Bruxvoort of FIBROUS—sat down to dish on why they make, what motivates them through "shit work" and how they stay inspired.
On top of badass panels, craftHER Market had a fly installation by @imakegirls (pictured above), resource tables featuring different organizations and groups in the community and drinks and libations from Jo's Coffee.
Oh—we can't forget our vendors! 75 unique, talented maker babes.
Lotions by K
Sunfern Studio
Hola Dear Deer
We couldn't have done it without our sponsor Cratejoy and our dear friends/supporters at Fair Market. Real talk—without the help of Fair Market's staff and partnership, we would have never taken the plunge to launch this marketplace at all. Thanks, y'all, for an incredible inaugural craftHER! See ya in 2017.
In the meantime, stay updated on Instagram and on the web.
