Month: August 2016

Meet Ashley Smith: Accountant & Amish Retailer

On By T.J. AllenIn Everyday PeopleLeave a comment

Introduction

Meet Ashley Smith, mother, wife, accountant, Hubby and Daughterhorse lover, and seller of Amish goods. I was first introduced to Ashley when we both worked together. I had recently been promoted and was given a budget for the first time in my new position. Honestly, I didn’t understand the process and codes. It was all Greek to me. I was told to “go talk to accounting.” So, the testing of patience for Ashley and her fellow accountants began and continues even to date. And patient she was, as well as understanding and helpful. Truth be told, I do my best to make the folks in accounting my best friends and they truly are.

Ashley no longer works with us, but her friendships continue. As so often is true in life, her passion turned her in another direction. I and the accountants have been fortunate to keep in touch with Ashley and her adventures which often take her and her family to Tennessee to the Amish country. I caught up with Ashley and I asked her if I could share my conversation with her with you. She generously agreed.

 Our Conversation

Me: “So, Ashley, I would like to introduce you to my friends. You good with that?”

Ashley: “Absolutely.”

Me: “Great. So, tell us a little about yourself and your family.”

Ashley: “I’m 42 years old, married to Stacy for 15 years, have one child (13 year old girl-Carsyn). We enjoy living in the country & riding horses. I have a BS & a Master’s in Accounting. I work at Harris Tire Company during the week as their comptroller.”

Me: “How many horses do you have?

Ashley: “We only have two right now.”

Me: “You say you work as a comptroller during the week. I know you ride horses in your spare time, but you also like to travel to Tennessee a lot, especially the Amish Country  there. Do you own a house in Troy where you live and in Tennessee?”

Ashley: “We live in Troy but my parents have a second house in Tennessee.”

Me: “I see. I know from other conversations and via Facebook that you sell Amish items. Mostly handmade. How did you get into that?”

Ashley: “For the past 20 years I have been Acorn Birdhousevisiting the Amish in Tennessee several times each year. I have accumulated several of the things that they make. After having people repeatedly tell me how they like my purchases and how much they would like to have the same thing; I decided to start trying to sell some of the smaller Amish handmade items myself. So, in the summer of 2015 I started selling Amish handmade wooden items such as birdhouses, cutting boards, bird feeders, rolling pins, etc.”

Me: “That’s pretty cool. Tell us more about your experience with the Amish people.”

Ashley: “We love going to visit the Amish and relaxing at the house in Tennessee. Over the years we’ve made friends with some of the Amish. I like selling stuff the Amish make so that hopefully people can learn to appreciate the craftsmanship the Amish have and all without electricity!!”

Me: “Would you be willing to give up being an accountant in making this a full time pursuit?”

Ashley: “I would love for this to turn into a full time job one day!!”

Rolling PinMe: “Somehow I see you loving this too much to call it a job. So, you have a store online. What is it called?”

Ashley: “Going Back In Time.”

Me: “How can people get a hold of you or get an idea of what it is you are so passionate about?”

Ashley: “People can reach me by phone/text at 334-618-3201, Facebook, or email ashsmith.1974@yahoo.com.”

Me: “Great. Ashley thanks for your time. It was good conversing with you again.”

 A Little More Information

If you would like to see more of Ashley’s line of handmade Amish items, click on the link below to go to her Facebook Page “Going Back In Time.” When I approached Ashley about doing an interview she told me that she was excited about it and thanked me for thinking of her. I think you will agree that even though this article is listed under “Everyday People” on our blog site “The Salty Eclectic”, Ashley is an interesting Everyday Person and I thank her for letting me introduce her to you. Be sure to like her Facebook page.

Going Back In Time Facebook Page

Meet Michelle Elkins: Cake Artisan

On By T.J. AllenIn Everyday PeopleLeave a comment

Meet Michelle Elkins: college student, newlywed, and (though she will not call herself this) cake artisan. Michelle is pursuing a degree in business at Troy University while working and learning what it is like to be a wife. She makes her home with her husband, Jonathan and three cats in Headland, Alabama. I had the chance to sit down with Michelle and ask her about her cake creations. I found out, as I already suspected, that she is very creative in crafts as well. Here is our discussion in a Q & A format.

Me: “How long have you been decorating cakes?”

Michelle: “Since the 6th grade in school. So, a little over ten years.”

Me: “How long have you been doing this professionally? I.e. working in a business.”

IMG_20160722_123135
Cat Cake

Michelle: “For well over a year. I started with Delectable Edibles in Dothan, Alabama and they have just recently went out of business. I currently work at Sweet and Sassy, also in Dothan off of Westgate.”

Me: “So, Sweet and Sassy picked you up, as it were, from Delectable Edibles shortly after their closing?”

Michelle: “Yes.”

Me: “How did you come to creating these cakes? I know you say you are a cake decorator, but these cakes seem to be more like creations than just mere cakes. I would consider you a cake artist.”

Michelle: “Well, I don’t know if I am a cake artist. I had an interest in cakes from watching shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes on the Food Network and it really interested me. My mom started taking cake classes at Michaels and she began to teach me what she learned. Then she would let me create my own. I filled in the rest by internet searching.”

Me: “Was there a lot of trial and error? Did you fail a lot?”

Michelle: “Oh, yeah. I still do, but I have learned so much along the way.”

Elkin's Wedding0660Me: “You have been recently married and I understand that your mom wanted to let someone else make the wedding cake and the groom’s cake, but you convinced her to let you do it. You also created the cake for your husband-to-be’s man shower.”

Michelle: “Yes. I did all three.”

Me: “What would you say is the hardest cake you have ever done? And what made it the hardest.”

Michelle: “A four tier wedding cake. It was all pound cake, so it was heavy, and by the time I was finished with the swirls and scrolling, my wrists were hurting.”

Elkin's Wedding0668

Me: “What would you say is the cake you enjoy making the most and why is that? And could you give us an example?”

Michelle: “It would be the cake where I get to be the most creative. Recently, a lady asked me to do a cake for a coworker who is an accountant. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted, so we brainstormed and I came up with a cake that she loved. I was able to create a cake that was unique to her situation and for her coworker.”

Me: “You also do crafts. Tell us about that.”

IMG_7341Michelle: “I love to paint on canvas and create other things like door hangers. I also like to draw and illustrate.”

Me: “Where can people get in touch with you and/or get a better idea of the cakes and crafts you create?”

Michelle: “The best way for people to reach me is through my Facebook page and they can see more pictures of my cakes and crafts on Pinterest. Both are called “Cakes and Crafty Things.” They can also find me at Sweet and Sassy on Westgate Parkway in Dothan.”

One can see by the pictures of cakes scattered throughout this article that Michelle is indeed more than just a cake decorator. She told me she “decorates” cakes ranging from cupcakes all the way to full sheet cakes for all occasions. For reference, the common birthday cake you or I would get at a bakery is called a one-quarter sheet cake. Imagine four of those put together into one cake.

For more on Michelle’s Cakes and Crafty Things or to contact her, you can click on the link below:

Michelle’s Cake Facebook Page

Movie Time Cake
Movie Time Cake

 

Super Hero Cake
Super Hero Cake