Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Walthall.
Hi Julia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I’m Julia Walthall, sole owner and artist of Driftwood and Decor, a modern coastal home decor business specializing in locally sourced materials like coquina shells and driftwood. My home is in Palm Coast, Florida, where I grew up – I’ve lived, worked, or gone to school in all three cities here in Flagler County. I’m also the primary caregiver to my dad, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Just getting started was a huge challenge. My dad’s ever-changing care needs, followed by the pandemic, made launching a business even more difficult than I’d anticipated. After I organized my business as an LLC in the spring of 2019, things moved slowly.
Last year, though, something just clicked. It felt like “now or never” and I redoubled my efforts. I want to make a living and provide for my family, so while it’s important to nurture my creative expression and love what I do, it’s also something I approach knowing that product offerings and market demand have to be considered. Plenty of business fundamentals provide a framework of best practices; operating within those structures, I’ve found the freedom to be artistic and still give myself the best chance at longevity and sustainability. Boho meets business.
We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success can change daily and my idea of success has certainly evolved over the years. I’m a big fan of celebrating small wins and finding ways to move forward each day – you know, “progress over perfection” and “perfection is the enemy of the good” – those sayings resonate with me.
Sometimes success is finding a solution to a problem that’s stumped me for days; sometimes, it’s something bigger, like finishing a project that I needed to learn new skills and techniques to complete. I’ve also learned that to do my best work, I need a sustainable work-life balance and the compassion to try again if things don’t go as planned. Success is acceptance with perseverance. Always keep going, always keep trying. Rest, and begin again.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Floridian, born and raised. Pretty sure that I could swim before I could walk, and when I got older, I would catch wildlife to bring it home to be my pets (Disclaimer: wildlife? Not great pets, it’s a terrible idea, don’t do it). I’d rather be outside in nature more than anywhere else; it’s restorative to me. Florida is an idyllic place: it’s where many people dream of being their whole lives, and I was born here and get to live here – it’s my home. I learned that love of nature and the natural world from both my parents. It wasn’t long after they moved down to Palm Coast in the ’70s to work with ITT that my mom made her first mirror with shells she’d collected locally. She continued to make mirrors out of shells and driftwood for the rest of her life. Some of these gorgeous mirrors are focal points in my home. I inherited them along with her shell collection after she passed away. When I moved home to take care of my dad, I looked around and saw all of these seashells, driftwood, and other beach finds, and it was cathartic to start making things with them. I love the quote, “do what you can with what you have where you are,” and taking care of my dad while building a business – it’s a great day when I get to do that, and I get to do that almost every day.
The way that we decorate our homes, it’s more than just “stuff.” We fill our homes with things we love, reflections of ourselves and our memories, captured moments, and beautiful reminders of lives well lived. So much of what we consume now is flimsy and disposable, mass-produced and anonymous. My pieces are handmade with exceptional care with the goal to be heirloom quality. I want other people to have what I have, something beautiful and personal that reflects the surrounding environment, able to endure through the years. When you find something you love, you want to celebrate it and share it. That’s what I put into my artwork; it’s what I’m proud of and what sets me apart. I’ll never get tired of the fact that people choose my work to be a part of their home. It’s an incredible honor.
How can people stay in touch with you?
Being involved with my local community is important to me, so I stay engaged with face-to-face events as much as possible. Last year, I participated with a Ukraine Benefit hosted by the Gallery of Local Artists in Flagler Beach, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s Fall Art Festival, and an annual fundraiser with Community Cats of Palm Coast.
This year I’ve signed on with Peps Art Walk and plan to be at The Garden Club at Palm Coast’s Spring Festival, as well as the Palm Coast Farmers Market at European Village later this year. The best way to keep up with me is on social media – Instagram and Facebook primarily while my website is being developed. I also post inspiration and artwork on Pinterest, and post small-business-related content on Linkedin. If social media isn’t your thing, I send out an email with new releases and a reminder of my next event – you can sign up by reaching out to me: [email protected].
We love to hear about your fond memories of growing up.
I can’t pick one favorite childhood memory – I have so many! Almost all of them involve being with my family, being outside, and having my creativity and curiosity encouraged by loving parents, for which I will always be grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.
driftwoodanddecor.com - Instagram: www.instagram.com/
driftwoodanddecor - Facebook: www.facebook.com/
driftwoodanddecor - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/company/ driftwoodanddecor/
