We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Chavanelle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my first business when I was in high school and have had multiple since. I loved having a side hustle for my creative outlet while I was working in the corporate world. But when the Pandemic hit, I was 7 months pregnant with my second child and was working for an international exchange company. About 80% of the company was let go so I turned my side hustle into my full time job and probably saved my sanity through it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I didn’t start painting until I was about 31 but I have always been creative. I first used a semi filled artpad of my late grandmothers and her watercolors. She experimented with art her whole life and my paternal grandmother went to college to study art. I think genetics kicked in, plus my on obsession to paint which has lead me this far.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Portland, Maine – I would get her up then go to Tandem Coffee Roaster for coffee in the morning, then we would walk over to LB Kitchen for breakfast. We would go home and change to go the beach for most of the day – then I would take her back into town to hop along Washington Ave for oysters, wine, cocktails, beer and fries. We would catch the Casco Bay mail ferry for the sunset cruise before heading back to town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband and my mom definitely deserve so much credit. My husband is so supportive and never has once questioned if I will succeed. I couldn’t have gotten this far without my mom. She helps in all sorts of small and big ways with our kids but also shelping products to markets and packing wholesale orders.

Website: www.emmyandolly.com

Instagram: @emmy.and.olly

Image Credits
Christina Wnek

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.