Meet Ada Schwehr | Homeschool mom & Botanical Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ada Schwehr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ada, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
One of the most important things I’ve done as a parent was engaging my own story. I got curious about the narratives I had come to believe about myself, developed language to name and grieve the places that held harm and heartache, and moreover began to name and truly delight in the goodness of who God made me to be. Joining arms with trusted friends and gifted counselors to help me navigate my story profoundly transformed my life, my parenting, my marriage, and relationships.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always had a level of ‘creativity’ since my childhood and throughout my 20s, enjoying seasons of baking, painting, playing piano/guitar, and crafting for example. I have also had a natural gifting and desire to bring people together for connection and encouragement. However, I never considered myself an artist or a creative.
Fast forward to my mid 30s, I was a few years into storywork and experiencing beautiful transformation in my mind, heart, and soul. While I was out on a hike one day, I came across a dead leaf. Yes, a fallen leaf laying in the dirt by itself. (And probably to the average person, a common, overlooked, and insignificant thing.) Yet this Oregon Grape leaf captured my eye with its brilliant crimson tones that made it seem like it was glowing on the ground.
I swooped down to pick it up and immediately got this rush of inspiration for two things. One: I wanted to renew it somehow and two: I wanted to inspire women to be curious about their story, especially how the broken and wounded places could be renewed into beauty, purpose, and calling.
I went home and that evening and designed my first prototype earrings with that leaf (which I’ll try to attach a photo of them- they are sweetly hanging today in my studio space.)
I began experimenting and designing earrings with all sorts of fallen botanicals, weeds, flowers, and bark that I forage. I also create all kinds of foraged illustrations.
I hope to one day counsel women, do some type of art therapy or in-home ladies storywork night, creating beautiful foraged art and teaching how to explore our story with curiosity and wonder.
What started out as a creative way of expressing my own heart and passion for restoration and renewal turned into a God-given vision for my friends, family, community, and the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One day we’d go to Wonder Press in Boulder, get an amazing fresh juice or coffee next door at Trident Booksellers, hike up Mount Sanitas, and enjoy the beautiful views (and good workout to boot).

One day, we’d go eat Mexican food in Niwot and hit up all the local thrift stores in Longmont.

One day, we’d go on a bike ride up Lefthand Canyon or bee bop around Pella Crossing. If they’re in shape, we’d hike a little bit of Longs Peak or go to Chasm Lake.

We’d drive deeper into the mountains to explore Breckenridge or stay closer to home and visit the Nederland area.

You really can’t lose being this close to the scenic front range!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My amazing friends who had began engaging their story years before I did, and therefore were equipped to hold and honor my own stories.

I had gifted counselors trained in storywork, as well as EMDR and other helpful therapies like Inner Family Systems.

The Allender Center resources and podcasts like Adam Young’s, The Place We Find Ourselves, were incredibly insightful and helpful.

And of course my favorite book, the Bible 🙂

Website: Www.radbyada.com

Instagram: @radbyada