Makers: Full Circle

ABOVE: Above: Mia Allen at work in the studio RIGHT AND BELOW: The shop’s selection includes clothing, jewelry, wellness products and crystals.

Full Circle A trio of owner-makers realize their dreams

Written by

SYLVIE BAGGETT

MADE LOCAL WHEN MIA ALLEN MET Julia Jarrett and Dymphna Frazier, something magical happened. “It all came together very quickly,” Frazier says. “Three women with similar dreams, different products, and the vision of someday owning their own shop.” The Circle, located at 125 East Broad St., is that vision come to life, bursting with natural light, shimmering crystals, trailing house plants and bright colors. The Circle also feels a bit like a dreamscape for its visitors: It’s not uncommon to see Jarrett gliding across the checkerboard-tile floor in roller skates or to

overhear a conversation about the best time to perform a spell for good fortune. The shop carries everything from zines on mindfulness and meditation to non-binary jumpsuits folded on bright white shelves. While most of the shop’s products are from womenowned businesses based in the U.S., some items are found much closer to home. Behind the checkout desk, the three owners have their studios set up — an explosion of prints, paints and fabric — for all to see. “I believe that our studio spaces being visible makes everything much more personal for customers,” Jarrett says. “I love to see where my products come from. For us, a lot of our products are made just a few feet from where they’re sold.” Jarrett works as The Circle’s in-shop screen-printer. Allen owns Ravel and UnRavel, a clothing company that specializes in hand-dyed fabrics. Bespell & Co., Frazier’s business, off ers everything from tarot decks to candles and embossed cutting boards. “At one point, we considered blocking our studio spaces off to hide our messy process, but so many people were interested in what we were doing that we kept them visible,” Allen says. “It defi nitely makes me more aware of the disaster I create when I’m super absorbed in a project!” Open studios not only help customers understand the relationship between a product and its maker but also cultivate inspiration for the artists. “Before opening the shop, my creative business felt more like a hustle,” Allen says. “But with The Circle, I’m feeling more focused and making more new work than I have in years.” Jarrett, a recent SCAD graduate, says that The Circle helped fi ne-tune who she is as an artist. “Being in this space and working with so many brands that I hadn’t known before opened my eyes to the possibilities that small, women-owned businesses can have.” The Circle celebrates female entrepreneurship, but also Savannah itself. The blend of the city’s warm welcome and its mystic-steeped past make it the perfect home (perhaps magically so) for this charming studio and store.

BELOW: Julia Jarrett screen prints a garment; the fi nished product is pictured at right.

BEFORE

Moment of Zen

Written by SYLVIE BAGGETT

FUNCTION AND STYLE blend seamlessly in this Lowcountry kitchen, exactly as its principal designer, Laura Lee Samford of LLS Furniture and Interior Design, intended. Pulling inspiration from the tones of the Ogeechee River (the home overlooks it), Samford paired nods to riverfront living with modern, Zen-like tranquility. Such stunning results ultimately caught the attention of Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove Appliances — the kitchen was a fi nalist for the companies’ national Kitchen Design Contest.

Wire-brushed white oak cabinetry, installed by Josh Brooks of Josh Brooks Construction Group, evokes the spirit of driftwood. Glass-front display cases add openness to the room, while hand-blown light fi xtures over the large kitchen island emphasize its importance as both a focal point and a place to gather. It’s all a far cry from the original, run-of-the-mill design. Now, the thoughtfully designed space includes top-of-the-line appliances, wine storage and a large butler’s pantry with washer-dryer units and two additional ovens.

Rather than hiding them away, items of utility — like a broom and step ladder — become cleverly integrated decor elements. Their visibility further promotes the room’s inherent functionality: a kitchen is a place where messes are made, but always cleaned up.

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