#TSGaustin

[tsgaustintexas]

An Interview with Artist Molly Haertle

Meet Molly Haertle, Registered Nurse by day, artist by night. Inspired by the beauty of everyday life, Molly captures the simple moments in distinctive impressionistic oil paintings. She’s currently focusing on a series of charcoal sketches of women caught in solitude, but you’re sure to recognize (and love!) her color-filled landscapes and portraits.

We sat down with our Midwesterner-turned-Austinite to discuss her start in painting, her inspiration and what’s on her horizon.

TSG: First things first, tell us about how you got started painting… MH: I started painting at a very young age. But not many people knew because it was a very personal practice. I actually didn’t show my paintings to anyone until relatively recently! I got back into painting on days off from the hospital. It was a way to deal with the stress of nursing (if you know, you know!).  

TSG: We love your focus on figures, especially female figures. Why is this your favorite subject? MH: I love painting the human figure because they’re so much more complex than any other subject. As for painting female figures, honestly, it’s strange that I focus on it because I consider myself such a tomboy! But I’m so inspired by how resilient women are and want to capture that. I’m especially inspired by my mother, who raised 8 kids while battling Lymes disease. I don’t know how she did it.

From left to right: “Olive,” “Felicity”

TSG: While your main medium is impressionistic oil paintings, are you experimenting with any new mediums or styles right now? MH: Yes, I have been doing drawings with charcoal which has been so much fun!

TSG: They’re gorgeous! What inspired you to bring it back to the basics with your series of charcoal sketches? MH: When I started a new nursing job, I felt blocked and had no idea what I should paint. At that time, I wasn’t really motivated, either. So, I went back to my sketchbook and I realized charcoal sketches would be an awesome series - so raw and unfinished. It’s more intimate, which is what I want to reveal through my art.

TSG: Tell us a little bit about Molly Haertle Commissions. How do you collaborate with collectors? MH: I keep it simple! It’s a collaborative process where we discuss sizing, inspiration, color palette, etc. Usually, a client will come to me with photos they want me to paint and we narrow down the color palette.  

TSG: What else is coming down the pipeline for Molly Haertle Fine Art? MH: During March, I’ll be doing a residency at Nina Beranto’s jewelry shop. Come shop originals and prints! I’m also excited to start live painting weddings in addition to wedding commissions.

From left to right: “Sandy,” “Adriatic Sea”

TSG: We know this is probably an impossible question, but do you have a favorite piece of work? MH: “Summer” from my ATXGal Series.

TSG: What inspires you as an artist? MH: I’m inspired by the personal challenges of life that we, as humans, go through. I want to capture the simple moments or places that bring joy to people.

TSG: Where can we view your work in person - there’s nothing like seeing your fabulous paintings IRL! MH: I’m part of ATXGals, so you can find my works of art at their shows, which are like parties!

TSG: And, finally, we have to ask... as a newer Austinite, what does a perfect day in our city look like? MH: A slow morning of checking out a new coffee shop, running around Lady Bird Lake, followed by an evening meeting up with friends or painting!

View more of Molly’s beautiful work, purchase a painting or print or commission something original.

[thescoutguide]

We're stepping into fall with some fashionable cool-weather flats before we commit to boots for the winter. See our roundup of 10 chic shoe choices for this season—including these Adra slip-ons from @fortressofinca of @tsgaustin—here: https://thescoutguide.com/10-stylish-fall-flats/

 #TheScoutGuide #fallfashion #shoes Article features: @thinkscarpa of @tsgcharlottesville @theshoehive of @tsgalexandria @blacksheeptulsa of @tsgtulsa @uniquities of @tsgtriangle @shopgloriajewel of @tsghamptons @pumpzco of @tsgminneapolis @stitch.boutique of @tsgnorthernnewjersey @gladiolagirls of @tsglynchburg @modandsoul of @tsgrichmond

[tsgjacksonmississippi]

SHOP SMALL || Get out and support local today!! Thanks @tsgaustin for these wise words. #shoplocal #smallbusinesssaturday https://www.instagram.com/p/B5f1bRtB03S/?igshid=qobfmd959roo

[asterasmi]

My favorite thing about making the kintsugi glasses is how no two never turn out exactly the same. . . . #kintsugi #wabisabi #handmadeglass #madeinusa #texasmade #japanesestyle #homedecor #ahas #sodomino #etchedglass #monsterdancedesigns #etsyfinds #etsywholesale #whiskey #handmadelove #kintsukuroi #Japan #japanesedesign #hufftaste #everydayibt #homeaccents #tsgaustin #anniversary #anniversarygift

[tsgcharlottenorthcarolina]

EDITOR’S PICKS || Scout Guide Editors across the country joined us in sharing their favorite Spring looks from their local boutiques and jewelers. Swipe through to see more! + 1: A bold duo from our favorite jewelry designer @primaura.us Find the Ginger Earring and Bug Cuff from Samantha McCall @primaura.us online! • 2: @tsgsaintlouis loves this comfy and fun outfit from @ivyhillboutique ft pieces from @farmrio • 3: @tsgnashville favorite gold hoops from @heatherkmcmahan line @everalicestudio • 4: @tsgmainlinephiladelphia has this beautiful blue navy number on the mind from @thenoblegoods • 5: @tsgaustin is looking forward to brighter days ahead in this beautiful romper from @estilo_austin • 6: @tsgaspen loving this colorful crinkle voile shirt from @shophollyann #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #springlooks #thescoutguide https://www.instagram.com/p/B_LmJ6-BmRT/?igshid=10i0yaf06woh1

[tsgnashvilletennessee]

—— EDITORS’ PICKS | Scout Guide Editors from across the country joined us in sharing their favorite Spring looks from their local boutiques. Swipe through for details! • 1. The Jamie Hoop (a fave of our fave @heatherkmcmahan), exclusively designed for the in house jewelry line at @everalicestudio . This quaint boutique in the heart of Nashville is your one stop shop for all things spring. • 2. @estilo_austin has our friends @tsgaustin looking forward to brighter days ahead in this romper from @brochuwalker — the perfect, breezy look to carry you through a full day of meetings to happy hour with friends. • 3. @tsgsaintlouis loves @ivyhillboutique’s paper bag waist pant and top combo from @farmrio — fashion forward with a vintage inspired spirit. • 4. @tsgaspen is loving this bright and happy 100% cotton crinkle voile shirt with contrast from @shophollyann • 5. @tsgcharlotte is going bold with accessories from @primaura.us — curated collections of globally inspired statement pieces by Samantha McCall. • 6. Out East with @tsgmainlinephiladelphia , @thenoblegoods inspires us all with high end fashion pieces that will make anyone feel beautiful. This whimsical dress by @cpshades is the perfect look to have you flow through the days at home, and ease into cocktail and garden parties by summertime #spring #looks #springtime #ootd #inspiration #shopsmall #shoplocal #live #love #local #tsg https://www.instagram.com/p/B_LJMPJhv7A/?igshid=mg38uvt6fjv3

[tsgaspencolorado]

MONDAY BLUES. #makesuperbowlmondayaholiday #wordswelove @tsgaustin (at Aspen, Colorado)

[tsgoklahomacity]

Summer Read || One of our favorite summer activities is enjoying a great book by the pool! 📖⛱☀️We have enjoyed some really great books this summer but want your suggestions! What is one of your favorite books? 📷: @tsgaustin (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

[hautehousebeauty-blog]

Makeup by our very own, Jocelyn, for @tsgaustin photo shoot! 💄📷 #hautehousebeauty #makeupaustin (at Haute House Lash & Beauty Bar)

[carriepenley]

ROMEO | collab mixed media on panel, 30x35 this handsome lion was photographed in the wild somewhere in Africa.. Can you tell us where @mikefellsafaris ? Romeo headed to Austin for wildlife art show benefit this Thurs at the Austonian! Award winning @bencmasters photography on display and a presentation of one of his latest documentary films as well. Visit @slategraygallery for more details #austintexas #wildlifeart #conservation #texasparksandwildlife #tsgaustin #africanwildlife #safariphotography #carriepenleyart #collab http://ift.tt/2pgNXE1

[tsgaustintexas]

Thanksgiving Little Looks

Scouting for the littles is one of our favorite activities - and looking for Thanksgiving ensembles was no exception. Teddy joggers? Leather hightops? Baby moccasins - can you blame us?!

One thing is for sure, we definitely didn’t look this cool back in the day (thanks for the bowl cut + hand-painted shirt, mom). But with this round-up as your guide, we guarantee that the kid’s table will be the best dressed at this year’s feast! 

Shop local at Picket Fences, Olivia Shoppe and Alexa James Baby for picture-perfect Thanksgiving looks and be sure to tell them that The Scout Guide Sent you! 

For the Girls: 

1 | Louise Misha Bloomers from Alexa James Baby 

2 | Rylee & Cru Chalet Sweater from Alexa James Baby  

3 | Bontone Rose Plaid Coat from Olivia Shoppe 

4 | Petite Lucette Corduroy Dress from Alexa James Baby 

5 | Leopard Dress from Picket Fences 

6 | Floral Dress from Picket Fences 

7 | Quincy Mae Baby Moccasins from Olivia Shoppe 

8 | Emile Et Ida Skirt from Olivia Shoppe 

9 | Turkey Print Dress from Picket Fences 

For the Boys: 

1 | Stella McCartney Bomber from Alexa James Baby 

2 | 1+ In the Family Striped Onesie from Olivia Shoppe 

3 | Veja High Top sneakers from Alexa James Baby - $105 

4 | Louis Louise Romeo Bloomers from Olivia Shoppe 

5 | Emile Et Ida Joggers from Olivia Shoppe 

6 | Plaid Button Up from Picket Fences 

7 | Oeuf Grandpa Cardigan from Alexa James Baby 

8 | Navy Trousers from Picket Fences 

[tsglexingtonkentucky]

SCOUT IS OUT | As we prepare for the @tsglexington launch of Volume 6, let’s take a minute to introduce you to our sister cities launching across the U.S.! Congrats 🥂 to @tsgparkcity @tsgneworleans @tsgcincinnati @tsgcolumbus @tsgtidewater @tsgtriad @tsgsaintlouis @tsgmobilebay @tsgaustin @tsgdallas #SWIPELEFT . . #scouted #scoutisout #thescoutguide #tsglexington #lexingtonky #cityguide #cityguides #localguide #livelovelocal #supportlocal #shoplocal #tsg #tsgparkcity #nationalmarketing #publication #21chotels #staylocal #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurs #fineprint #photography #photos #instalove (at Lexington, Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/p/B471yDeAyDj/?igshid=1vmuovcrnynyy

[thescoutguide]

At this point in the summer, the extreme heat and amount of water required to keep your grass from turning brown might have you rethinking whether you need a traditional “green” lawn. In our latest #TSGTip, we spoke with Organic Green Lawn Care, Inc. of @tsgwilliamsburg and @lawnpopastroturf of @tsgaustin for advice on how to choose the proper lawn for your environment, from outside-the-box grasses to ground cover, and for those who truly want a low-maintenance lawn routine, the advances and benefits of artificial turf. Read their insights here: https://thescoutguide.com/how-to-achieve-an-eco-friendly-lawn/

[tsgaustintexas]

Designing for Littles with Austin Design House

From spills and crumbs to fingerpainting fails, designing a kid-friendly space is no easy feat. And while we may dream of wall-to-wall white living areas littered with precious (and breakable) knick-knacks, the ladies behind Austin Design House have (much) better ideas for creating a kid and adult-friendly home… As they put the finishing touches on their children’s bedrooms, we caught up with Aimee, Taylor, Jess and Kat to get their expert advice on designing with kids.

First off, we should say that our childhood bedrooms were definitely not this cute! How do you design their rooms to evolve with them as they grow up? Thank you! When we’re working with clients or designing for our children, we try to invest in things that will age with them, like drapes and headboards. From there, we add personality through accessories, art and bedding. For example, adding removable trim to drapes.

That’s so fun! What other suggestions do you have for window treatments? Are there any child-friendly options out there? Yes, there absolutely are! We offer shades, drapes and shutters at all price points, and love working with you (and your kid!) to add trims that accent the space.

How else do you add flair and personality? Art is a great way to add personality to both little girls’ and little boys’ rooms, whether it’s the abstract by Jessa Adler in Riley’s room or the gallery wall in the boys’. We also love creating custom pieces with matching upholstery, like the vanity that Santa brought Riley for Christmas!

We seriously wish we had that vanity! What are your favorite parts of children’s bedrooms? We love an upholstered headboard - it adds a playful pop of color without claiming too much of the space. Plus, it can (and should) evolve with the room as your child ages. Our team can commission headboards in any shape, size and fabric, plus match custom shams, pillows and bed skirts that embellish the headboard. Right now, we’ve been loving small prints with contrast piping.

Are there any “number one” design tips you give to clients with children’s rooms? We’ve tested all our tips and tricks in our homes and with our children, and we’ve found that using performance fabrics and materials is a game-changer. Whether it’s opting for all-white bedding (so it can be bleached) or using indoor/outdoor rugs (which are affordable and easier to clean). As you can tell, we also love seagrass rugs, because they’re durable and hide stains well.

What about storage? Kids have a lot of stuff! What are your favorite storage solutions to hide all their toys, games and books.? We know from personal experience that kids indeed have a lot of stuff, and finding the right storage system is only one part of hiding the mess. Getting your kids to use the storage system is a huge part. And, partly, that’s why we love the Ikea EKET shelves. They’re child height and look great with decorative baskets.

They’re also very cost effective… Exactly! We highly recommend working with cost-effective pieces because they’re going to experience a lot of wear. We’ve found great options at Ikea, as well as thrift stores. One of our favorite things is adding paint, new hardware and/or a local artist’s vision to these more affordable pieces to bring a special touch to your child’s room.

Any other favorite finds or tips you can share? Absolutely! Right now, our kids are loving monogrammed reading pillows. We matched the thread to the colors in their respective rooms and have found the pillows to be a fun, functional design piece!

[tsgaustintexas]

My Austin with Slow North

It’s no secret... we love our city - and we certainly love our favorite haunts - so we always enjoy talking to our members about their Austin experiences. From neighborhood favorites to date night go-to’s, get to know Slow North’s Austin... 

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Photography by Slow North

Tell us about Slow North’s history in Austin… We started Slow North out of our detached garage right here in Austin nearly four years ago. I feel fortunate to live in a town that is so supportive of independent businesses. I popped up at dozens of small vendor fairs, craft markets and events introducing the community to our essential oil candles. After two years, we started to outgrow our backyard studio space and decided to open a flagship retail store, which would also serve as our working studio where everything is made!  We are about to celebrate our retail shop’s 2nd anniversary, and we couldn’t be prouder to call Austin home.

Where did the name ‘Slow North’ come from? A question I get asked a lot! The “Slow” portion of our name is inspired by the slow living movement because we take care to make our products in small batches and focus on stocking our store with other goods made by local artists. It’s centered around appreciating the process & heart behind the product. The “North” portion of our name is inspired by the concept of wayfinding our way through life. We don’t always know where our path will lead, but in using a compass we can know we’re on a positive track!

What’s your favorite season in ATX? My favorite season is Fall. We live in Brentwood, and there is a street in our neighborhood lined with trees that lose their leaves creating the most picturesque orange & red backdrop for our morning walks. It’s magical and our oldest son loves stomping through them!

What’s your favorite Austin event? There are so many! I really love the Trail of Lights. I grew up going to those drive-through Christmas light attractions, so I think it’s a little nostalgic for me. Walking the trail makes it even more magical!

What’s your favorite Austin neighborhood? I love our neighborhood! I guess it’s called the Brentwood/Crestview/Violet Crown area? I love walking to Little Deli and getting ice cream and playing pinball afterward at the newly-opened Violet Crown Clubhouse. I love seeing my neighbors out riding bikes and walking their dogs. I love having the option of walking to Brentwood Social House for a more kid-friendly coffee experience or to Thunderbird Coffee when I want to sip on a latte and do a little work. My oldest son goes to Crestview Barbershop to get his haircuts, and it’s straight out of the 50’s with the friendliest faces working there. I love building relationships with the owners of these businesses and feeling like I’m a part of a more thoughtful movement. The best part about my neighborhood is how our community shows up to support locally-owned businesses like ours.

What’s your go-to place for a drink? My girlfriends and I frequent El Alma for our girls’ night out (which we try to make happen every month). All the happy hour drinks are great, but my favorite is the Skinny Margarita.

What’s your go-to coffee shop? My favorite coffee shop is Epoch Coffee in the Village (conveniently right next door to our retail shop)! I love it because of the relaxed, welcoming environment, and they employ some of the nicest humans! My drink of choice is an iced latte with oat milk. I call it my second office because of how frequently I walk next door to work on something that requires a little extra focus.

What’s your go-to for a special night out? Our special place is Komé Sushi off Airport. My husband proposed to me there (in their old location), so the restaurant holds a special place in my heart. The sushi is incredible (my favorite rolls are Veggie and Love For Sale), and their dessert of Camembert Tempura served with honey is like nothing I’ve ever had before in the best way possible!

You know you’re an Austinite when…? You travel somewhere else in the country and wonder why they don’t serve breakfast tacos?! I grew up in San Antonio, so I’ve been raised on tacos. However, my husband is a transplant from Seattle, and when we go home to visit his Washington family he definitely misses his potato and egg tacos!

Favorite part about living in Austin? One of my favorite things about living in Austin is how friendly the town feels. I love how Austinites value local, independent businesses and show their support in a big way!

What’s it like to be an entrepreneur in Austin? I feel like I lucked out that we were living in Austin when we decided to start this business. I am surrounded by such a supportive group of entrepreneurs here, and they help raise the bar for everyone. This city is creative, vibrant and community-centered. From pop-up markets and fairs to small business meet-ups, there are so many ways to start connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs.

[tsgaustintexas]

Red, White & Blue Round Up

In the spirit of our favorite summer holiday, we scouted the most patriotic items from our Scout Guide Members to create the ultimate red, white and blue round up. Whether you’ll be celebrating at Barton Springs or hosting a soiree at your house, tell them Scout sent you!

Red:

1. Coral Decor from Sparrow Interiors & Gifts  // Pricing varies, so make sure to stop by soon!

2. One-Piece from Esby Apparel // $195

3. Leather Laptop Case from Sparrow Interiors & Gifts // $400

4. Cheeky Pet Tag from Paper Place // $3

5. Texas Tea Towel from Paper Place // $17

6. Prodoh Fishing Shorts from Picket Fences // $50

7. Flag Pavlova from Fluff Meringues & More // $30, available for pre-order on 6.26

8. Macrame Clutch from Estilo Boutique // $168

White:

1. Children’s Terry Cloth Cover-Up from Picket Fences // $35

2. Confetti Earrings from Elizabeth Volk // $53

3. Leather Sandals from Huma Blanco // $225

4. Sun Bucket Hat from House of St. Clair // $115

5. “Claudia” Pearl Necklace from Liz James Designs // $175

6. “Babyiator” Sunglasses from Picket Fences // $35

7. Meri Meri Napkins from Paper Place // $6.50

8. Ceramic Lantern from Vintage Fresh Design Co. // $28

Blue:

1. Picnic Blanket from Slow North // $84

2. Amazonite Earrings from Rach B Jewelry // $80

3. Ginger Jars from Austin Design House // pricing varies

4. Baby Sunsuit from Olivia Shoppe // $56

5. Drawstring Shorts from House of St. Clair // $180

6. Freda Salvador Strappy Sandals from Fortress of Inca // $350

7. Luggage Tag from Paper Place // $51

8. “Argentina” Dog Collar from Zilker Belts // $59