Today we’d like to introduce you to Meressa Tockey

Hi Meressa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I spent 10 years living in Maui until I left for a dream come true road trip in a school bus named Maude. 7 years later I still haven’t gone home! Maui is a true love of my life, but I fell in love with the freedom of being on the open road. When I went back to Maui for a summer visit, I was hula hooping in my friend’s backyard when I looked down and saw this incredible sacred geometry pattern peaking through the grass blades. It felt like I’d discovered gold. I had no idea what it was, but I could feel it’s magic and I was buzzing with excitement and inspiration. It was love at first sight and I knew immediately that I would create art with this mysterious, beautiful piece of nature. My friend explained to me that it was the seed pod of a Protea Flower, and she showed me the trees in her yard. That was it. The rest of the summer I spent climbing trees collecting dead flowers. I had so many visions and ideas of what I wanted to do with the pods that I couldn’t sleep at night. I returned to the mainland with 60 pounds in my suitcase. And that’s how Maude Pods began :)

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It honestly has been a pretty smooth adventure thus far. But I’ve also never worked so hard in my life. In the beginning it was challenging balancing my other job with trying to launch my own business. I’m fortunate to have a flexible schedule at my other job which is why it was possible, but I’ve learned that there is a never ending to do list when running a business and it’s tough to find time for everything. Between researching events, organizing finances, ordering product, creating inventory, creating social media content, working on my online shop, keeping track of deadlines and paperwork and travelling to events… there is always something that needs to be done! It is a busy lifestyle and I am still learning how to work hard without overdoing it. Making time for self care so that I don’t burn myself out is essential. It is a balancing act!
The other challenge has been doing it on my own with little support. Every time I set my booth up I am amazed once it’s done. It’s a lot of work! I haul each 50 pound sand bag along with tables, inventory, decor.. I set up my own 10×10 and everything that goes into my booth set up.. I work 2 or 3 12 hour days in a row talking with thousands of people about my art… And then pack everything up, haul everything to my car, and get back on the road again!
I was really nervous to work festivals alone and I wasn’t even sure it was a realistic thing to try to do. What would I do when I simply needed to run to the bathroom? Thankfully I’ve realized that there is always a vendor nearby willing to help out. We are all in it together. It’s great being a part of the artist/vendor community because we understand each other. We understand the hustle, and we appreciate the art even more knowing how much each artist puts into it. So even though it is a challenge doing it alone, the vendor connection and all of the creative souls I’ve met has made the journey really beautiful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

My work is made from the seed pod of the ancient Protea Flower and I cultivate the pods myself in Hawaii. It is quite the process! From climbing the trees and cutting down the dead flowers, drying them, plucking out the inner florets, sanding the pods into the size and shape that I want…. All of that happens first, and then the creative part of the process begins! Designing pendants around the pod. This part is so much fun! Infinite possibilities, the joy of being creative, adding a pop of color, playing with different ideas and bringing visions to life. It’s pretty amazing when you think about everything that goes into making one necklace!
Combining the magic and beauty of nature with my own unique creativity is what I love most about this journey. The Protea is one of the oldest flowering plants in the world dating back to Prehistoric Times which makes it really special and the pod alone is truly beautiful, so I feel honored and grateful to create art with it.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?

Most people do not know that I live in a school bus! Ever since I can remember I dreamt of living and travelling in a school bus. After a painful breakup a few years ago, I left my Maui home to chase my school bus dream. It was supposed to be “2 month” road trip around the southwest, but I fell in love with my new bus life and I never went home.
It’s funny because when I’m working at events and people stop by my booth, I will often hear “So you must be Maude!” And I respond “No, actually I’m not. But I have a school bus named Maude!” And people are never expecting that response :)

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Maude.pods