We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Christina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I actually started my business out of a need to fill the bare walls of my first home. I wanted vintage worn surf art and decided to make it myself. After posting a few images of my little home projects on social media the art in the background gained a little buzz. Here we are 4 years later stocked in shops around the world and hanging on the walls of some of the raddest people.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I wanted to create wall art that mimicked the vintage surf shirts that I love so much. Through a little trial and error we’ve been able to recreate that vintage worn beach vibe I was craving. It’s amazing to create something from raw materials with your bare hands. You just can’t get that kind of satisfaction out of a desk job. Seeing raw planks of wood transform into smooth frames and watching layers of paint transform into art that brings an entire room together… that’s a good days work.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re going to catch a sunrise I’d take you for a little paddle out to my favorite spot to surf or paddle board. We have to take some bikes down scenic Highway 30A. The views are out of this world and each beach village has it’s own little hidden gems. No trip down 30A is complete without a grilled cheese from the Meltdown and Frozen Bananas from Nigels30A in Seaside! We could end the day with a bonfire picnic on the beach and hopefully we can catch a few dolphins playing in the gulf.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe a huge shoutout to my husband. Brandon is other set of hands helping build this business from behind the scenes. He is a phenomenal graphic designer and he’s taken all of my wild ideas in stride. And of course my ride or die crew on Instagram. It’s been an amazing platform to connect, share and support other small businesses! Every person who’s shared a post, told their friends or clicked “add to cart” has had a part in making my little dream a reality.
Website: www.southernmesatrading.com
Instagram: @southernmesatrading
Facebook: @southernmesatrading