Bohemian Sanctuary: At Home With Laura Mazurek

Nestled among the peaks and valleys of Texas Hill Country, surrounded by oak trees and wildflowers and farmland, Laura Mazurek has created her own little sanctuary.

  Here, in a house just outside the tiny town of Bandera, is where the Bohemian Collective was formed. What started as a website has now ventured into print format – a place to celebrate bohemian style and soulful living through editorial shoots, décor, art, and more. But even more so, it’s a community of creative and inspiring women who want to share their passions, and invite others to do so as well. Laura is such a kind and gentle spirit, and her eye for beauty comes through in what she surrounds herself with. Family mementos, pieces of nature, handmade wall hangings, and vintage finds fill every nook and cranny in a way that isn’t cluttered, but cozy. Every object is carefully placed, artifacts from a life spent loving and dreaming and creating. Take a look and get to know more about Laura below – plus find out how you can win a copy of the newest issue of Bohemian Collective magazine, out today!

Where do you live, and what do you love most about it?

I love living in the hill country. You couldn’t pay me to live in the city.  I love the bugs harmonzing at night, I love to be able to walk outside and see the stars, I love being surrounded by nature and wildlife, I love that we are right by a river with a beautiful secluded area, I love the feeling of freedom that comes with not being surrounded by a lot of people in a busy neighborhood.

Describe The Bohemian Collective to someone who may not be familiar.

The Bohemian Collective is a site for the dreamers, makers, creatives and soul seekers.  It started as a place for me to share artisans I admire through creative lookbooks, but has turned into so much more. There are now a handful of contributors who post every month on several topics including bohemian fashion, sacred nesting, soulful living, health and healing, metaphysical realms, etc.  Topics are always evolving and growing.  It’s turned into a community of like-minded, free spirited folk, with a goal of inspiring creativity, love, and hope.

You recently launched a print magazine as well – what made you decide to venture into print?

Since the conception of the website, a part of me always wanted to have our lookbooks in print, or even create a whole lifestyle magazine.  It took me about 4 years to finally realize I should just try!  Three months later, our first issue was available in print.  We live in such a digital world, which has a lot of advantages, but also creates a lot of disconnect.  I still love physically reading books instead of downloading them onto a kindle. I also still buy vinyl and CDs instead of just downloading from iTunes.  Not that I never do, but I completely prefer the tangible. There is something that gets lost in translation in digital.

You’ve had your Etsy shop, Roots & Feathers, for some time now. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out and thinking about opening a shop?

Be yourself.  Don’t look out to others to see what you should create or what is selling.  Create from your heart, and do it because you LOVE to do it, not because you think you should because it’s what everyone else is doing.

When are you happiest? Describe it in terms of the senses: what are you hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, touching?

Laying in the bathtub. Walking in Nature. Playing with my animals. Taking drives in the country with my husband. Sitting by a campfire with a whiskey-ginger in hand. Dancing around my living room. In the depths of creating something. Taking photographs. Thrifting. Feeding the deer. Sitting in a river. Digging my hands in the dirt. Having a heart to heart conversation with someone. Listening to Steve Earle.

If you could invite anyone to dinner, dead or alive, who would you invite and what would be for dinner?

Before anyone else, it would be my parents, who are both gone, and I wouldn’t have a care in the world what we ate as long as I could hang out with them.

If you could travel back in time or into the future, what year would you visit and why?

If I had a chance, I’d love visit every past and future century and culture to really feel the deep change that occurs within 100 years, and to experience life on this planet during each century and each way of living.

You’re an extremely creative person; what helps you feel inspired, and what do you do when you’re feeling blocked creatively?

Thank you!!  A lot of times inspiration just sinks into my body out of nowhere.  It’s more of a feeling that washes over me to create something.  When those moods strike, there is no stopping me.  Other times, I need some time out to regain my creativity, which usually means unplugging for a while and getting out in nature.  Get out of the house, take a drive, go to the river, lay in the backyard, walk through the woods, talk to the animals… That always seems to reset me.  That, or a long bath.

What are your top 3 most listened to albums?

This changes all the time, and is so hard to just list 3…

Currently:

Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band – The Mountain (that one never changes)

Ray LaMontagne – God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise

Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks

Favorite book?

Currently, Wild Creative, and Wild Feminine by Tami Lynn Kent

But one I’ll go back to time and time again is Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Describe your style in three words:

Bohemian, casual, artisan.

What do you find most challenging and most rewarding about your line of work?

My biggest challenge lately is knowing where to put my focus each day.  I am currently juggling creating the second issue of the Bohemian Collective magazine, co-owning Skyline Fever, a handmade screen-printed clothing company, with my husband James, and my jewelry business, Roots & Feathers, which has taken a back stage presence for the last 6 months or so.

The biggest reward is the connections made through the work I do, especially with the Bohemian Collective and the magazine.  I get to work with some of the most talented folks, and often they end up becoming really great friends through the process too.  It’s extremely rewarding.

What are you currently working on? Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

Currently working on issue two of the magazine, the spring/summer issue.  Actually, by the time this is on the site, it should be completed and available!  So excited now that I am on the home stretch.  I’m also working on a lot of new designs for Skyline Fever, and will be re-introducing some more hand drawn ones again.  James and I are very excited to have teamed up with our favorite coffee geeks over at La Colombe, so if you are a fan of coffee, or watch the show Dangerous Grounds on the Travel Channel, be on the lookout for an exclusive Skyline Fever tee! Since we are unsure of the air date, it may have already happened by the time this interview goes live, but you’ll be able to find them on the La Colombe site.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to the younger you, when you were just getting started with Roots & Feathers?

To know that you can’t always be everything to everyone.  And that that is okay.  To always look within for guidance, and to know that there is always time to grow, change things, or even let go of things, and that is not failure.  To not let your work life override your personal life. (Still working on that one).  Enjoy the process and the journey, and don’t just focus on the end goal or the sale.

One thing most people don’t know about you:

My favorite holiday is Halloween, and I love horror movies. Texas Chainsaw Masacre and House of 1,000 Corpses are two of my favorites!

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

laura mazurek home tour 17

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with Moldiv

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with f3 preset Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with 5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

Be sure to check out Bohemian Collective, and follow along on Instagram.

+ Laura is kindly giving away three copies of the Bohemian Collective magazine! To enter for your chance to win, simply leave a comment below and be sure to enter your email address in the comment form. We’ll choose three winners at random next week!

Follow Laura on Instagram.

Follow Julia on Instagram.

0 0 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
131 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
debra
8 years ago

I LOVE THIS – the photos take me back to a time when i lived in the country in the 1980s. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. I love the Bohemian Sanctuary!

Abigail
8 years ago

Such an inspiring&beautiful post! xo

8 years ago

Beautiful!

Shannon
8 years ago

Wonderful photos! I love decor that takes nature indoors with it.

8 years ago

Such a beautiful, strong soul! I adore her decor and the yarn wall hangings!

Warm Regards,
Alexandra
www. Little Wild Heart .com

8 years ago

Laura is (and has been) and incredible source of inspiration for many moons now! So happy to see FP shine a light on her creative brilliance.

Beautiful piece, beautiful artist, beautifully boho!

xo
Tara
Tara.Mazzeo@gmail.com
TaraMazzeoJackson.com
Instagram.com/Tara_Mazzeo

Kristal
8 years ago

Reading this made me realize I need to express myself more. She knows herself, shows it and reaches for the sky. I’m inspired to do so.

Eh, my thoughts are rambling now…gorgeous bedspread by the way!

annie
8 years ago

so beautiful and inspiring (both the person and the place)!!!!

annie
8 years ago

so beautiful and inspiring (both the person and the place)!!!!

rockfallsmusic@gmail.com

Janae
8 years ago

I loved reading this interview and seeing Laura’s sacred hOMe space.
gorgeous + soulful inspiration
xo

Natasha Mandel
8 years ago

Such beautiful article and beautiful person :) She puts her heart and soul into all that she does. Anyone would be lucky to win a copy of this amazing magazine.

Kayley
8 years ago

This magazine looks like an awesome source of inspiration. I totally agree with Laura. Tangible items (books, magazines, vinyls) are totally the way to go.

kpotter1118@gmail.com

ally
8 years ago

Endlessly beautiful….!
I love the details and feel the love & hard work which is behind it.
Thank you for introducing such a wonderful soul

8 years ago

Her beautiful space really makes me want to get out more and collect more things for my apartment. I at least need to kick into gear and get some air plants and a dream catcher!

http://aroseisinbloom.blogspot.com

8 years ago

I’ve been following Laura’s blog for quite some time now and she truly is one of a kind. Such a sweet soul with a really warm heart. I love seeing all her posts of her pets too! So cute :) Makes me really happy to see her on here. She deserves it! Xo
http://www.etsy.com/shop/crownofcreationshop

ally
8 years ago

Endlessly beautiful….!
I love the details and feel the love & hard work which is behind it.
Thank you for introducing such a wonderful soul

8 years ago

What a gorgeous home she has!

Ruthan
8 years ago

I’m livig on a ranch not too far from you and am SO delighted to have discovered you through a feed! You really describe what’s it “like” to reside somewhat off the grid and your style is evocative and inspirational! Will be excited to connect and visit your site and I wish you much continued success!

Lena
8 years ago

it’s a magnificent dream home! been following Laura on instagram for a while now. A great inspiration!!
lillixlena@hotmail.com

Christina Monroe
8 years ago

Such a beautiful sanctuary for a home.

8 years ago

I’ve been following Laura for a while now, so it’s great to see her featured on here! She makes such beautiful things, and has such a creative spirit. I’m glad more people are now able to see that and share that with her!

8 years ago

Ahh! I have been following her for so long and I am always blown away with the things she does. She is such a beautiful person and I’m so happy you guys featured her! She earned it. :)

Mathilde Demagny
8 years ago

I’m so happy to see Laura’s home featured! I am following Bohemian Collective for a while now and i just love all the sweetness, the good care and the love coming from it. She is so inspirational and creative. And i love her spirit, i follow her on instagram and she always have beautiful pictures of sunlight and nature.
Thank you FP for sharing her story! Kisses all the way from Paris, France.

Erica
8 years ago

Such a beautiful and inspiring space! I can’t wait to check out the Bohemian Collective Mag!
Thanks FP

shaina
8 years ago

This would be amazing