Meet Shelby Little | Creative Writer, Blogger and Founder of Yarrow Creative Agency

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

Hi Shelby, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It was summer and and I was a new mom, on maternity leave from a corporate marketing career. I loved rocking the baby on the porch in the mornings, and I would contemplate what is next in my life? How can I blend motherhood into a career?  It was on those warm mornings, with the baby asleep in my arms that I watched the bees visit the Yarrow in the yard. And when I got the nerve to leave my corporate job, to start my own marketing business, I named it Yarrow Creative, in honor of those mornings in contemplation with my baby.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It can feel like a tangled web that I weave between my professional services and my creative skills, but the thing that is consistent is my passion for writing. The writing skills I have led me into advertising copy, and corporate communications roles, and I gathered more storytelling skills such as graphic design and video production along the way. Today I incorporate all those skills in my work for clients at Yarrow Creative.

I also began investing more time in my creative writing pursuits after the birth of my daughter. I’ve been working on a collection of essays about the transition to motherhood and that has been cathartic and fulfilling. I started my blog, TheShelbyLittle.com last summer as a way to feature people, places and things that interest me, and also as an accountability tool. If I’m posting regularly, it shows, the blog improves. I need that kind of structure.

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?
I have digital nomad tendencies and I spend time every year in the Roaring Fork Valley, so I’ll talk about that.

Upon arrival, I’d take you to Luis Swiss Bakery near the Aspen Snowmass airport for a coffee and empanada or a sweet treat. Then we’d head into Aspen for a walk on the Rio Grande Trail to catch up and share stories. I’d take you to a park where we could wade into the water and cool off. We’d head back to Snowmass to get settled into the house. You could take a nap after the long travel day and wake up to a bass drum—just in time to hike down the mountain for the Snowmass free music concert on the hill. We’d dance on the hillside the rest of the evening until hunger drove us to Grub Thai for a dinner bowl.

Day two, we’d head to Hotel Jerome’s Felix Coffee bar for possibly the most expensive morning beverage you’ve ever had, but don’t let that sticker shock shake you. Their house-made nut and seed milk is delightful and pairs well with a Matcha or Chai Tea. We’ll spend time here, chatting, journaling and taking it easy before deciding we’re ready to hit the streets. In Aspen I like check out the second-hand shops: Aspen Thrift, Susie’s Consignment, and The Little Bird. We’d take our time walking through the brick mall, admiring kids splashing in the fountain and head back to Snowmass for dinner, picking up a bag of Mawa’s to-go, and dining on the porch with the sunset.

For your final day, we’d make a big tour of the down valley towns. Start with Craft Coffee in Basalt, where you can strum the house guitar, and delight in a rich avocado toast. Then we’d head to the Powers Art Center near Carbondale and take in two floors of Jasper Johns and a visiting Andy Warhol exhibit. Heading further down valley, we’d lunch at the farmer’s market in Glenwood Springs and then head over to the Hot Springs for the rest of the day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am grateful for the generous schooling and guidance given by Stephanie Senner and Britt Wehrman, who both significantly raised my marketing abilities. While working full time, I am also an aspiring writer and I would like to give a big shoutout to Mike and Irene Cooper for believing in my work. When I didn’t know the top from the bottom of a page, they sorted me out. And finally, I’d like to thank Denali Emmons. She entered my life as a babysitter for our family, then transitioned into my colleague at Yarrow Creative, and along the way she became my friend. I am grateful.

Website: theshelbylittle.com

Instagram: @theshelbylittle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/67160476

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshelbylittle

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theshelbylittleshow/

Other: My business website for Yarrow is https://yarrowcreative.com/

Image Credits
Bill Little