Meet Alex Cummings | Macrame & Candle Artist

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

Hi Alex, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started working with Macrame after graduating college. I’m a busy bee and after finishing school I felt like I had so much time on my hands, I knew I needed a hobby. I’ve always been drawn to crafting and art, inspired by my Grandmother who was always crafting something magical when I was younger. Once I started, I fell in love with the process of creating things. I was making things for my friends and family, and at the end of the day I still had too many things in my house. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners, so I felt like this was a good opportunity to sell the things I was making and to own a business of my own.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started with Macrame which has come into style again with a modern twist. There are many talented artists out there, but my goal was to make pattern pieces that were therapeutic to create and brought a sense of calm to look at. I then moved into hand pouring candles with pressed flower designs. I live in a mountain town, so bringing elements of nature indoors seemed to be a theme for me. I’ve created mountain designed macrame pieces and my candles all have some sort of leaves and flower designs. I’m still working on keeping up with demand and it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been incredibly motivating to see how others connect with my work. Setting times aside to create have been helpful. It was a challenge to know when I was feeling the most inspired, and try to coordinate my schedule to create at that time. I’ve learned that you can’t force a creative spark, and when I feel the need to make things I must run with it. I started Mountain Valley Creations as a way to share my work with others and it’s so much fun, I hope to never make it feel work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Gunnison, near Crested Butte, Colorado, which is a beautiful ski resort community. My friends can’t come visit me without stopping into Piezan’s Pizzeria for a hand tossed pie and brew. I love to have a drink at the Blackstock Bistro, with a variety of wine options. I love being in the outdoors, so if it’s the summer time I take my friends on my raft down the Gunnison River, and if it’s the winter we enjoy skiing and snowboarding at the resort in Crested Butte.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandmother is my biggest creative inspiration. From crafting to painting, she always inspired me to make things for the fun of making things, not just for the outcome. She sold holiday crafts with her friends at their local market and I always admired her for creating things and selling them for fun, it was never about the money. It was about connecting with her community through her crafts. That has always resonated with me to use my business as a way to connect with others. I also have to thank my amazing fiancé, who has supported me every step of the way. From carrying boxes of supplies and helping me set up countless Farmers Market booths, I couldn’t have done it without him.

Website: www.mountainvalleycreations.com

Instagram: @mountainvalleycreations

Facebook: @mountainvalleycreations