Today we’d like to introduce you to Ash Eichner-Pendell.
Hi Ash, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hello! My name is Ash Eichner Pendell and I am the founder of Moon Mama LLC. I am a certified Art Therapy Practitioner and certified in Horticultural Therapy. I am also a Mama, artist, writer, and avid gardener. Moon Mama LLC offers workshops called Creative Meditations. In these workshops we begin with a guided meditation to get our mind, body and Spirit in a place to be calm, connected, and peaceful. We then nourish our creativity with an art project. I also offer nature hikes, environmental educational events, and therapeutic horticultural workshops to honor and strengthen our connection to the natural world. Art and being in nature, whether it be gardening or just out on a hike, has always been medicine for my soul. As I have moved through my own journey of growing as a human, anxiety, and depression I found the benefits of nourishing my creativity and connecting with nature to be so healing. I want to share that with others.
Moon Mama LLC is all about modern, inclusive spiritual wellness. That means that I believe that everyone should have safe and affordable access to the healing benefits of art and nature. I hope to provide that space for us all. 🌿🌙🍄🏳️🌈💗 Come relax and take a deep breath with me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It took me far too long to just believe in myself. I stayed at a job that did not appreciate me for far too long. I put myself in places where my light was dimmed and I felt like I did not belong. So I decided to make a space where not only my own energy would be respected but others as well. I used to be afraid of letting my authentic self shine but now I know that is the only way to truly be happy. I hope to share that with others.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist of many interests. I love making my miniature art. I make tiny cakes, tea sets, and other fairy garden items. It makes me so happy to see the smile come across peoples’ faces when they see my work. Our inner children are totally connecting. Nature is one of my biggest inspirations. I make Moss Spirits which are little mounds of moss with cute personalities. Out in nature when I come across a beautiful match of moss I will take a photo and it inspires my Moss Spirit creations. I also make Enchanted Mushrooms that are inspired by mushrooms found in a magical forest. They all glow in the dark to mimic bioluminescence found in some mushroom out in nature. I like to include a cluster of crystals or a tiny book or fairy sized tea cup resting in the moss around the Enchanted Mushrooms base. Garden Ghosts are miniature ghosts that are decorated with flower crowns and seasonal items. They also glow in the dark and remind us of the beauty and peace a garden brings into our lives. I love the calm that watercoloring painting brings. That is the medium I use most often in my Creative Mediation workshops. There is something so magical and relaxing about the way water droplets and paint pigment dance and blend together. With the chill of winter moving in I have gotten into the cozy fiber arts. I am currently making pom-poms and have made a bunch of fun, fuzzy creations. I have mushroom shaped pom-poms, pom-pom wreaths, pom-poms ornaments, and so many pom-poms. I am obsessed.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have been very fortunate to find a mentor who has taught me so much about our local nature preserves. Having his guidance and the knowledge he has shared with me has shaped how I educate. Mr. John Farmer is a retired biology teacher here in Milan, Michigan. He may be retired from teaching in a classroom but he continues to share his wealth of knowledge. He validated my passion for inspiring people to get involved in protecting our natural world and being good stewards of Earth. As an artist there is something really cool about finding your people. People who support your work and help to celebrate you for you. It can be uncomfortable to put yourself out there like that but the return is well worth it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonmamallc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoonMamaLLC/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@moonmamallc
