Madame Zelda and the prediction that came true

When I was 14 years old, my best friend’s mom took a gaggle of us to “Bearno’s By The Bridge” in downtown Louisville for a birthday party. If you’ve ever been there, you know it’s a vibe. Super old building, entrance basically under the sidewalk, and exposed brick and hidden stories everywhere.

At 14 I was… awkward. I mean, who isn’t, really. But I felt super out of place in general. Glasses, braces, and a really questionable perm were the highlights of that era of my life. And I didn’t really start to mature as a woman until much later than my friends, so in my mind they were gorgeous and I was all knobby knees and ill fitting clothes. My best friend Shara was beautiful, inside and out, and had the wardrobe to match. She let me borrow her clothes often, although they didn’t quite fit me the way they did her. We are still best friends, and she is still beautiful inside and out. And finally, I feel the same way about myself. However at 14, I was known for my intelligence, not my fashion sense.

At the old Italian restaurant, there was a fortune teller named Madame Zelda. She sat in this Al Capone-esque nook with an arched brick entrance, velvet cushions, and an assortment of witchy paraphernalia. Her mood lighting was on point. You just knew she was magic. Most of us in the gaggle were fascinated, and Shara’s mom decided at the last minute to let us all get a reading from Madame Zelda.

Perhaps this was the gateway drug to a lifetime of curiosity about the spiritual world for me. I couldn’t wait to hear what she had to say, and at that age I had no idea what to expect. When it was my turn, I walked my knobby knees and too-big-for-my-face glasses into her cave and sunk into her velvet cushions . And I only remember one thing that she said…

“You’re going to work in fashion design.” And she was adamant.

Huh?

I had never even considered that as an option for myself. I was going to be a doctor. End of story. Smart, awkward kids like me didn’t go into fashion. We became lawyers and doctors and did whatever our parents thought we should do. I wasn’t disappointed at her prediction, but I just couldn’t see how that would ever be a thing for me. And you know what? Thirty eight years later…

That woman was RIGHT.

When we first moved to Nashville, I went to visit ABLE Clothing, an international brand that is based downtown. I was so moved by their mission (by women, for women), their integrity, and their kindness, that I went back and gave them a copy of SHINE. That was last November. Fast forward to this Spring, and that same copy of SHINE was the inspiration for them to reach out to me when they needed an artist to paint leather at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The partnership that has grown (and is still evolving) out of that chance encounter has been nothing short of magical. The women of ABLE are changing the world for the better, creating an ethical footprint in the fashion industry and empowering women in the process. I am honored and grateful to be a growing part of the ABLE community.

Last weekend I did a pop-up event in their flagship store painting leather bags, and in November I will be sitting in the VIP tent at the Country Music Awards with the ABLE crew painting leather for the swag bags. PINCH ME! And, as an ABLE partner, I get to offer you all some of the ABLE magic, Peyton style.

These three items, ABLE leather goods made by women for women, are up on my website. They are gorgeous, high quality leather that has been meticulously hand painted by me. If you love these but want a custom piece, reach out. I can make it happen, and will most likely be taking custom orders for the holidays. Here is what I have available now:

I absolutely love these pieces. But more importantly, I love how they came to be. I love their story. I felt called to gift ABLE a copy of SHINE. Answering that call opened the door to the next one, which will open the door to the next. For those of you who have known me for a while, you have heard me talk about following my intuition. It’s easier said than done. Many times, I have no idea where it will take me, if anywhere. But it ALWAYS takes me somewhere magical. And now I have the gift of experiencing what Madame Zelda saw 38 years ago… working in the fashion industry. What are the chances???

These three items are available for purchase here. If you want to create your own, just email me and we can make something beautiful together! Until then, have an awesome day.

With love,

Peyton