I’m SO excited to start this new series! I want to highlight a different local creative each month, starting with a sweet friend of mine, Melinda of Memento & Muse. She was gracious enough to answer some questions for the blog and I’m so excited to share this little interview with you all! Melinda is a curator of custom gift packages for brides, entrepreneurs, and gift-givers of all kinds. I love how unique her business structure is and the fact that she works with local artisans to create one-of-a-kind gifts. Keep reading for more about Memento & Muse!

• What CD is currently in the CD player of your car OR what is currently playing on your Spotify/Pandora player? I think the last artist I listened to on Spotify was Iggy Azalea…she’s great when I’m dragging and need to get moving. :-) But to be honest, I’m more likely to have on a classical Pandora station or an audiobook…I’m currently going through Diana Gabaldon’s Dragonfly In Amber.
• What’s your favorite show on Netflix right now? I’m eagerly awaiting the returns of Sense8, House of Cards, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! And I adore Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries…Essie Davis is amazing and I want ALL her clothes.
• Coffee or Tea? Tea for sure. I love the smell of coffee, but I’ve never liked the taste…

• What is the “why” behind your business? Why do you do what you do? For me personally, I longed to build a life that both allowed me to be creatively fulfilled, and that gave me more choice in how I spend my time…those are the two (stripped-down) reasons for why I became an entrepreneur. As for why I started a boutique gifting studio: giving gifts is very much my love language, and I wanted to channel that passion into helping people who find gift-giving to be intimidating (whether it’s because they don’t know where to look, because they don’t have time, or both). I get a lot of pleasure out of curating thoughtful gifts with beautiful packaging, knowing that I’m taking a burden off my clients’ shoulders by creating a source of genuine delight (hopefully!) for their recipients. Plus, by donating a portion of Memento & Muse’s proceeds to various hunger relief and food security efforts, my business allows me to give back to our world in a really meaningful, big-picture way.
• How long have you been in business and how did you get started?  Very circuitously. The summer of 2014, I quit my job in marketing to pursue some consulting work in the music industry (my husband is a full-time drummer), and simultaneously started a gift wrapping side-gig for fun. Long story short, I found more doors opening (and my heart pulling) in the gifting direction, and in early 2015 I focused my attention full-time on designing luxury gift boxes and custom gift collections.
• What’s your favorite part of owning your own business? As I referenced earlier, it’s probably being (more or less) the master of my own time. The truth is I probably — no, definitely — work more hours than I ever have before, but being able to do things like enjoying a mid-morning walk with my husband or taking off a weekday without notice has been SO freeing.
• What is the most exciting project you have coming up? I’m thrilled to be launching my second signature gift collection, the Day Brightener Gift Box! This one’s especially for the ladies, and I designed it to be an uplifting, encouraging, energizing box o’ delight that warms the heart and soul of every woman who receives it. I even included an easy way for the recipient to pass on the good vibes to someone else. :-)

• What advice would you give to those just starting out in business? Know that whatever you’re feeling, you are not alone ~ if you’re feeling overwhelmed or crazy or frustrated, just about every other business owner has been there (and will be there again). And find a business tribe, especially local folks you can can vent to/celebrate with/learn from in person. I can’t recommend that enough. (Shout out to the Rising Tide Society!)
• How can people find you? I’m all about some Instagram – @MementoAndMuse. (I can also be reached via www.mementoandmuse.com, Facebook, and melinda@mementoandmuse.com.) Plus, those wanting to receive occasional gift ideas and tips can sign up here!

Melinda McKee is the founder of Memento & Muse, a boutique gifting studio specializing in luxury artisanal gift boxes and custom gift collections.

She’s proudly a bottle redhead, sometimes-cellist and major dessert aficionado.

Based in North Carolina, she and her drummer husband Mike are fur-parents to an adorable shelter pup named Sophie Rae.

(headshot by Andrea Pesce Photography)