Dear readers,
I can say with absolutely certainty that the moment I first discovered Alma Boheme products, the feeling that passed through me was something very similar to love at first site. At the time of my second order, it was the largest order made to date for The Linen Closet. I began selling oven gloves and oven mitts from Alma Boheme only a few months after opening the shop, and though I have since cycled through many products and brands as I attempt to build a curated collection, Alma Boheme has endured as a shop staple.
Alma has taken a simple object with a simple form and transformed it into the highest version of itself. The admittedly humble, but absolutely necessary, oven glove is not the most glamorous object that comes to mind when thinking about home design and curating a personal aesthetic in your home. However, Alma's designs elicit a beautiful feeling for any kitchen. Her bright and bold fabrics, with their fun prints, create the coziest handmade atmosphere for anyone who cooks or bakes. I leave mine out on my counters and use them as trivets because they are just so pretty. These oven gloves are functional art in its most perfect form.
Furthermore, her attention to detail is such that though the products are handmade, they have the finished look of any product found in high-end homeware stores. This, with the additional handmade durability that distinguishes luxury home items, creates a premium product. At the shop, I often find shoppers who sew inspecting her products. They hold them up to the light and say, "this was a lot of work."
Alma Boheme products are sustainably made and vegan. Alma uses cork backing, which works just as well as leather. Also, I can throw them in the washer after Elsie smears brownie batter all over them. I can't tell you which design is my favorite because I love then all. At home, I use the Whale Tales pattern and my daughter uses Tea Cups. At the shop, I can't keep the Foxes print in stock.
I display Alma's items in highly visible areas of the shop because the overlapping prints and patterns create a quilt of loveliness and fun. It's the whimsical feeling I so often seek to create as I arrange items in the shop. The oven gloves and mitts are the perfect items for someone who loves to cook, for those who love hand-made items, and for those who only shop sustainably and try to prioritize the planet in their purchasing habits.
On a more random note, I think they are the perfect item for someone who lives in an old house with creaky wood floors and grandma's items in the attic. They just evoke this certain feeling which I'm struggling to put into words. I think it's the feeling that items take on when they are truly cared for, but I'm not sure even those words effectively describe what I'm trying to communicate. I think you'll just have to buy one to see what I mean.
But for now, read about the artist in her own words below.
Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from, and what do you do outside of your brand?
Born in Puerto Rico, I relocated to NYC as a young child and spent most of my adult life there. In 2011, my husband, our two children, and I embarked on an exciting adventure by moving to Savannah, Georgia. Since then, we've called it home. Transitioning from the busy city life provided us with the opportunity explore our creative passions, and inspiration to establish my shop.
Operating from my home studio, handcrafting everything is a true labor of love that demands a significant amount of my time. However, it also grants me the flexibility to be with my family and pursue other interests like reading, music, and savoring the beauty of our backyard flora and fauna.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
It was never in my plans to venture into entrepreneurship or establish a business; I never saw myself as a business-oriented individual. The journey unfolded naturally, driven by the pleasure of crafting by hand, exploring new materials, and mastering techniques. When we relocated to Savannah without close connections, social media became our bridge to other artists. Through platforms like Instagram, I encountered numerous creatives who inspired me, encouraged me to experiment, offered valuable feedback, and validated the appeal and worth of my creations to a broader audience. Along this path, I forged enduring friendships through my online presence. Like many embarking on their entrepreneurial journey, it started as a part-time endeavor while my husband and I maintained full-time jobs elsewhere. The idea of leaving stable paychecks to focus on Alma Boheme full-time was daunting, but then the pandemic unexpectedly altered our circumstances - a blessing in disguise. Luckily, we already had a small online business that flourished during the pandemic, enabling me to comfortably transition to working from home.
Describe your workspace.
Our studio and workspaces occupy a large part of our cozy home. My primary sewing studio has transformed and expanded over time to accommodate more tools and storage. In this dedicated workspace, a small room adjacent to our main living area, I have set up my sewing machines, cutting and ironing tables, along with various shelves holding fabrics, yarn, notions, scraps, and cork. The room is vibrant with colors and patterns from the assortment of fabrics, yet I strive to maintain a quiet cozy ambiance with soft lighting from small lamps, inspirational art, trinkets from loved ones, and plenty of Frida Kahlo pieces on the walls. The highlight of my day is the morning when sunlight filters through the east window, illuminating the crystals hanging there and creating dancing rainbows that interplay with the colorful fabrics. Sitting in my comfortable purple chair, savoring a cup of coffee in the soft light, I can have a moment of Zen to marvel at the light display, and feel grateful for the joys and challenges that each day brings.
How do you find your materials? What usually gives you the "this is the one" feeling when looking at fabrics?
Sourcing fabrics is a challenging yet rewarding aspect of the creative journey. Researching independent designers, small businesses, and artists to support with my purchases is a time-consuming process. Finding a personal connection to both the item and the creator is crucial to me. While I am drawn to nature-inspired designs, what truly captivates me is the authentic human touch in the design. I choose fabrics based on the artistry they possess rather than their trendiness or popularity.
What's your process like for designing a new piece?
Many of my creations have been born out of necessity and practicality, a trait I attribute to my upbringing. When I was child, my mother, skilled in sewing and knitting, would craft much of our clothing and household items from scratch. Growing up in a frugal environment instilled in me a deep sense of resourcefulness and creativity. Being self-taught, I experience each new piece as a learning curve that requires time for experimentation and refinement. The process of creating new items involves acquiring and mastering new skills, which can be both challenging and rewarding. Once I have mastered the design of a piece, the enjoyable part is selecting fabrics and colors that complement it. My goal is always to produce something useful, well-crafted, and aesthetically pleasing—items that I would use myself. I truly enjoy using all my creations, and this also lets me test them and refine them over time.
What is your favorite thing about Alma Boheme? What part of the process, from designing a piece to shipping it out, do you enjoy most?
Running my business is a labor of love, with certain aspects that bring immense fulfillment. Being self-taught, acquiring new skills and applying them to craft new pieces is highly rewarding. Even after more than a decade, receiving customer feedback and seeing our creations enjoyed in other homes remains the most fulfilling part. It's truly humbling and gratifying to know that my heartfelt work has brought joy to others. After over a decade in business, that feeling of connection remains as strong as ever.
What is your vision for the future of Alma Boheme?
My plan for the future is to grow my product selection in order to create collections of differing household items. I hope to continue to grow community through selling and supporting small brick-and-mortar shops. I also aim to use more planet-friendly materials and methods in my products, and find new uses for sustainable cork in my pieces.