Postcard Cabins

Leah Kelley is a Youth Garden Educator with a passion for embroidery. In July she stayed at Getaway Chattahoochee outside of Atlanta as part of our Artist Fellowship Program. She foraged for plants to inspire new embroidery projects, and found peace in returning to nature. Here’s what she had to say about her creative process, her relationship to nature, and her Getaway:

On Nature

“I’m seeking to gratefully grow seeds of compassion. As a kiddo, my Grandma taught me gardening. My mom is an award-winning preschool teacher, so I fused the two together. I’ve been a youth garden educator for the past nine years, and I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do than witness the joy of a kid tasting their first juicy tomato fresh from the garden, or the pride of a child seeing the seed they planted begin to sprout. I’m currently studying for a Masters in Social Work and Public Health at UGA .

“My vision is to create a youth therapy farm someday, utilizing horticultural therapy and the myriad ways that nature heals us, in mind, spirit, and body.”

On Creativity
“I began embroidering vegetables about six years ago when I was working at a farm in Texas. I found embroidery brought me peace, and it was something fun to do while sitting after a full day of farm work. Plants, flowers, and produce bring endless inspiration for my art since I love to grow, harvest, and use them as nourishing food and herbal medicine! 

“Being in nature helps to calm my anxiety and to bring me into the present moment. The more I learn about the resilience of plants and how trees and ecosystems work together, the more I am in awe of it. Embroidery is a time-intensive craft, giving me plenty of time to contemplate the wonder that nature brings, intricately woven together.

“My art brand name, Cotyledon /ˌkädəˈlēdn/  is the biology term for the leaves that come from a seed. I fell in love with the word the first time i heard it, hence why I chose it as my brand name, even though it’s impossible to pronounce or spell. If you’ve done some gardening you may have heard plants grouped into mi-cot or di-cot, meaning one or two first leaves. I see so much magic in seeds to sprout forward into plants with just a little love and light!”

On Escaping

“My Getaway was so lovely. I felt very at peace there. The views and being surrounded by trees and nature made me think more about integrating objects from nature in my embroidery, which I plan to explore in the future. Being surrounded by ferns and clover and other wild native plants inspired me to do a more detailed embroidery of my first fern and red clover. I’m a busy bee and it was so good to Getaway and be without WI-FI and put my phone in the box and focus on my craft.”

To follow Leah’s journey, you can find her on Instagram and Etsy. Ready to plan your own creative escape? Book your Getaway today.

Zak Suhar is a New York City based photographer who stayed at our New York Outpost, Getaway Catskills West, with his brother, John. He captured some amazing moments at the Outpost and left inspired by his time surrounded by nature. But that’s nothing new. In fact, it’s been a theme for Zak all his life. Time spent at the cabin his grandfather built in the woods lit the spark, and today that love of nature continues to inform Zak’s approach to his photography practice.

On Nature

“I’m a New York City-based explorer and freelance photographer by way of the Midwest. My passions are creative strategy, digital media, visual storytelling, environmental justice, and sustainable living. Growing up along the shores of the Great Lakes, and frequenting the Cabin my grandpa built in the woods, instilled in me a deep appreciation for the natural world from a young age. Day-to-day I work in advertising, but at any given moment I’m looking for an excuse to escape the City and head outdoors.

“Hiking and outdoor activities are my favorite non-digital activities that allow me to disconnect and let my mind wander. I’m a big fan of microadventures like day hikes, weekending upstate, or even finding a unique park in the City. I also crave larger trips, like my favorite trip, hiking the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, Hawaii or El Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. Next on the list is Havasu Falls. When I’m not outside getting a fresh breath of air, you can usually find me on some hardwood playing pickup basketball.

“An ideal day off for me would be jetting out into nature, finding spots that are accessible and only a few hour’s drive from Manhattan. Surprisingly, there are many public fire towers in the state of New York, so a perfect day would be climbing to the top of a fire tower, capped off by photographing a nearby waterfall. I really enjoy a good physical challenge, and capturing the movement of water through still photography allows me to further sharpen my photography practice.

On Photography

“Being a family man, I find a lot of inspiration from my relatives, friends, and other creatives in the photography world. I’m the youngest of two brothers, and as our broader family grows, I am consistently motivated to leave a positive impact on other people’s lives. I also have a deep interest in environmentalism, biomimicry, and the circular economy. Sometimes when I need an extra source of inspiration I simply go for a walk outside and observe the beautiful natural world.

On Disconnecting

“I’d be lying if this wasn’t a continued work in progress for me, but I’m trying my best. Being a photographer, you sometimes need to be connected to promote your work, find new sources of inspiration, and scout locations for trips. This year, I’m trying to be much more intentional with digital use and trying to not get sucked into endless scrolling. “Being off” for me means being reasonable, but setting stricter boundaries on what my intentions are every time I open an app on my phone. An easy forcing mechanism for this is planning trips to remote places where you can’t even connect or find a signal. That’s usually when I feel most free.

“Escaping to the peace of nature has allowed, and sometimes been a necessity, for me to find balance from the New York City bustle. Getaway is the perfect place for balancing this yin and yang. The simplicity and unique architecture of these tiny homes fully immerses you in the wilderness, allowing you to reflect and rejuvenate your energy only a few hours away from the City.

“Work-life balance is something that I value tremendously, but it can sometimes be tough when you’re a professional trying to make your mark on an industry. Growing up in the age of technology has been engrossing, as it has permeated into all aspects of life and work. Setting strict boundaries and expectations has been crucial for me to disconnect on evenings and weekends in order to remain fresh and focused. I strive to do this in two basic ways; adjusting phone notification settings and intentionally spending time outside, away from screens. At times, this can ultimately reach tipping points where you need a reset, and that’s when I find myself taking microadventure weekends outside of the City. That’s when I escape fully into nature.”

Ready to go on your own creative escape? Book your Getaway today.