What a dream to be working hand in hand with another amazing small business! My name is

Miale and I am the hands behind Poppy Collective Co. where I craft precious metal and stone

jewelry I hope is one day passed from generation to generation. First and foremost in life I am a

mama and a wife. This business came to be out of a need to be home with my littles, Poppy

(business namesake!), my three year old daughter and Finn, my two year old son. Professionally I

am a licensed CTRS/Recreation Therapist who spent my career working in mental health

facilities across Central Texas prior to the pandemic. I was due to return from maternity leave

with my daughter just as the world shut down. It wasn’t a viable option to go back to the

hospital setting as my husband, Caleb, was an essential worker and gone over 65 hours a week.

We had to change our entire world and there were plenty of growing pains but ultimately it led

us to where we are now and I would never change a thing. Caleb and I have been together since

we were teenagers and taking on life’s challenges with him in every phase has been the best

adventure, he is my biggest cheerleader and now cuts all the rocks in my pieces!

I started Poppy Collective Co. in the midst of 2020 and the chaos that ensued for so many. As a

new mother, and unexpectedly unemployed, I found myself needing an outlet to express myself

through so much change. Looking back now I know I had severe postpartum anxiety. Wondering

how to keep my family safe, worrying about engaging positively with my daughter and finding

time to take care of myself simultaneously were all things that constantly seemed to be over my

head. As a CTRS I did art, music and physical activity all day to help heal and teach coping skills

to my clients. Metalsmithing was always something I greatly admired but seemed just out of

reach for me. The library was one of the only places I could take my daughter with everything

closed down. While there sitting in the quiet I decided I’d check out a book on the subject and

give it a shot. If I failed at least I tried, if I ended up loving it then maybe there was a light at the

end of the tunnel and a way to channel all my feelings into something positive. That’s how

today came to be!

I aim to make pieces that not only remind me of the good times passed but also of all the

adventures on the horizon. Drawing from my experiences out in nature and even personally as a

mom and woman in incredibly chaotic times, I look to these pieces as symbols of peace and

positivity. So many of my designs take on warm tones and sun ray forms because ultimately

that's what this business is for me, a little ray of light in a world I’m so lucky to have created with

my partner and my kids. I am encouraged each day by wonderful clients and my smiling babies

that I get to raise right here at home while running my business at night. There are long days

and plenty of time spent rubbing my temples in stress, but ultimately the path feels right, and

pieces are made with intention, love and joy because of the gratitude I have for the winding

road that has brought me to this beautiful destination.



With Love, Miale @poppycollectiveco

Shop Miale's clogs here and visit her beautiful website here ♡