Rising Stars: Meet Amanda Keltner of LaVergne

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
Nothing is ever a smooth road. I am still working on things, and my art is ever-evolving. I only made besoms in the beginning, and I learned I didn’t want to be a one-trick pony. So expanding into the wreaths and oddities allowed me to expand my customer base, enter into different markets, and be successful. I can focus on one style depending on where I’ll be set up and the type of market it is. I think I am still working through the biggest struggle of building an online presence. Social media is a full-time gig itself. Did I mention that I own and operate another business? With that, I have a lot of social media to keep up with. I’m lucky to have made some pretty great friends in the art and vending world here in Nashville who have more experience that I can learn from and grow with, not to mention they are a fierce group of women I am proud to call my friends.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Ok, I love all things witchy, spooky, Halloween and cottage style. All of that bleeds into the items that I create. I only use real, preserved, and ethically sourced materials and specimens. All my flowers and crystals are real, and all my bones and skulls are real. I have vetted sources for the bones and skulls that I use. I have a friend who is a taxidermist, another who owns a tannery, some are found in nature (dead when found), and I love to source from Native American Reservations. After the entire animal has been used, I take the cast-offs. Unfortunately, I don’t have the stomach to scrape roadkill.