ventures

A Girl Named Leney is a brand that embodies these core values:

do everything with passion, be in a constant state of exploration, love, enjoy the art of the every day, create, dream fearlessly, inspire and be you.
(read an extended list of these values here)

in essence that is what not only my brand, but my life, has become about. 

as it’s grown from a little etsy and photography business in 2011 and reaches it’s 8th birthday this year, it’s become so much more than a girl with a camera around her neck and a pair of knitting needles in her hands.

i’ve developed so many ways of sharing the beauty i see in the world and i want the outpouring and rawness of that, to inspire others in turn to do the same with their various passions and gifts.
whether it’s through the clothes they wear, where they work, the words they speak, the way they live or the intention they infuse into each and every aspect of their day.

i want to be a part of a new kind of generation and way of thinking. 
one that pushes the boundaries of what's normal, that status quo and what we're supposed to do.

so what are the ventures that embody these values?
check them out below.

FOLKLING

curating vintage in my home and my wardrobe has been a life long love of mine.

my mother took me thrifting at a very young age and i've had an eye and a heart for it ever since.
as i acquired a place of my own, redecorating and remaking the little vignettes and corners in my home became one of my favorite pastimes. 
but an avid thrifting habit can become a problem for those of us in tiny living quarters...
i wanted an outlet for the ability to still discover those treasures and appreciate their beauty for a time, but have a way for others to enjoy and treasure them as well. 
so i created FOLKLING.
it's been a year in the dreamin' and makin' but i'm so happy to have it finally up and going. 

along with vintage and secondhand treasures, you'll be able to find some one-of-a-kind handmade pieces in the way of knitwear, jewelry and hand sewn clothing more often than not made from similarly found, thrifted and recycled materials.

presently all wares are showcased and purchasable through the folkling instagram.

the name?
it pays homage to my family, but more specifically my mother, who taught me this love of giving things new life.

SUSTAINABLE KNITWEAR

i believe that your clothing, what you wear, says a lot about you.

it adds to your story, your make-up, who you are as an individual.
and so, shouldn’t those pieces in and of themselves hold a story all their own?
i think so.
that’s why my knitwear is one-of-a-kind. 

each design is a piece of art.
each piece tells a story. 
of a person.
a place.
an experience.
an idea.

when you own one of these pieces you are the only one to own it.
aside from me, the creator, you hold it’s story and are now the caretaker of it. and it, in turn, becomes a part of yours.

The Stories The Things We Own Tell

i think they're terribly important, though often overlooked. 
i find that the things we invest in are the things we cherish and value most. which in turn speaks to what kind of individual we are. 
what we put stock in. 
who we want to be.
you can learn about my process of creating sustainable knitwear below.

THE TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHER

i received my first digital camera at 14 years old.

though i'd grown up with film and taking photos on various cameras, there was something in the novelty and wonder of the images i took being immediately available for viewing on that postage-stamp-sized screen that got me hooked.
i haven't been without a camera since.
i love documenting. 
i'm big on journaling, to the point of scrapbooking, as well as an avid list maker, and so naturally, this seeps into my photography as well. 
i have a photojournalistic aesthetic. i love capturing moments candidly, unposed, unplanned, just-as-they-happen. 
lifestyle sessions are my favorite, because i think the art in the every day is the most beautiful subject to capture. those every day, routine details that often get overlooked, but when we really stop to notice them, are some of the most beautiful things in our lives. i strive to contribute to that simple beauty with my work.

i love being a part of people's stories. we all have one. i want to listen to yours. 
i love the intrinsic and unique beauty that we all possess in our individuality and it’s that individual beauty that i endeavor to capture. 

traveling is a way for me to even further experience, capture and document the allure i see in life. 
i have a gypsy soul that's always looking for the next adventure. exploring and experiencing new things/people/places and getting out of my comfort zone is one of my biggest motivators for growing as an artist. given the opportunity, i will go anywhere and everywhere because, as they say, the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. 

so if you want me to travel for your photo session, well, you just might be my new best friend.

further, i seem to be more intrigued these days with the opposite end of what initially drew me to photography. i've been traveling back towards a more raw and slow way of documenting in the way of film. i've been experimenting with what implementing more film into my sessions would look like, so if you're interested in that too definitely mention it in your inquiry. 

my portfolio is this whole site to some extent (as is my instagram feed for that matter. though those are exclusively iphone snaps), but you can check out a few film and digital favorites, as well as travel dates, below.

TUMBLEHOME

Tumblehome is made up of a sailor and his daughter and their adventures together in pursuit of what it means to live an intentional life. 

we believe in mindful and intentional living and, for us, sailing embodies so much of the art of slow living that's important to us.

sailing is one of those aspects of our lives that remind us of that. it strips down life and there's a stillness and peacefulness in much of it that allows for the contemplation and recognition of what really matters.
 
you have to be patient. 
you have to have systems and routines that are thoughtfully executed to have things run smoothly.
you have to take your time and learn to not be in a hurry. 
you have to focus on the journey, not just the destination.
you have to have quality and well made tools to help you get the job done.

we think these practices carry into other aspects of our lives as well.
which is why we are pursuing the venture of making well made, quality goods that we design and hand craft together.
we gain so much inspiration in our day to day adventures together and apart and look forward to sharing the outcome of them with you.

all goods are handcrafted in Richmond, VA with materials recycled and sourced here in the US whenever possible.

what's behind the name?
Tumblehome is the inward and upward slope of the middle body of a vessel. 
a place that feels like home to us.

learn more about where to find our handmade goods and follow our escapades on the water below.