how it all began...
Mary Kathryn Tyson is a proud native of Chapel Hill where she grew up smack dab
in the middle of her two sisters who have never really known what to do with her.
Anyone who knows her would say that she’s quirky as can be, too-cute-to-boot,
and that both her laughter and zeal for life is contagious. Friends would say
she’s like a “comfy couch” and that anyone would feel comfortable
in her presence. She has been an avid lover of all things creative since she was
a little girl. Not one to be able to tame her creative interests,
she received a degree in (all of) the Fine Arts from Peace College in 1999.
After a short spell in New York and a life-altering RV trip with a bluegrass band,
she unexpectedly landed back home in 2004 where she pretty much immediately
collected all her creative friends and hosted her first Market on the Hill on
what was officially The Most Beautiful Day of May.
While planning the Market, Mary Kathryn and her friend Princess Tiffany
developed their ideas into what would become Creative Juices Markets
& Trunk Shows. “Tiffany and I would call each other as soon as we
would wake up in the morning and giggle over ideas we had in our sleep
of how to make the Market even cuter. We were so excited! Everything
would be pink and green.” (Three years later, the very cute combination
continues to be Creative Juices’ signature colors.) The story goes that
one night around 1:27 am when the girls were hand-addressing 1,236
invitations, Mary Kathryn asked Tif what the name of their business
should be. “She said, ‘I don’t know, my creative juices aren’t flowing
right now.’ ‘That’s it!’ I squealed. ‘That’s the name of our business!’
“ The two remain the best of friends, but before the end of the year,
they lovingly parted ways. “Tiffany was equally passionate in the
beginning and a huge encourager of my dreams. There’s no way I would
have had the courage to do this on my own and I know God used her to
help start what would become my baby. I can’t pretend like I started
Creative Juices by myself when I know the role she plays in the story.”
As a matter-of-fact, Tiffany became a “Juicer” herself in fall of 2006
and is now the exclusive stationer for Creative Juices. (See Meili
Designs.)
Mary Kathryn is passionate about encouraging people to pursue the gifts God gave
them, and calling forth the ones people don’t know they have. “For
me, to be able to create is how I worship God, it’s when I’m most
at peace, and the most in touch with my spirit,” she says. “Sadly,
there are too many people who have lost touch with this part of themselves due
to they busy-ness of life.” She considered this as the concept of Creative
Juices Trunk Shows developed, which really seemed to happen overnight. “I
thought, ‘What kind of venue can I offer people that would give them a reason
to create, and therefore come alive inside again?’” She will be the
first to say that she is not at all responsible for bringing people back to life,
but feels proud of the results of her business just the same. “When we started
Creative Juices, word spread like wildfire and now over half of my artists are
people whom I did not know before this began. Now they’re like my family.”
Creative Juices considers new artists on an annual basis, though one of MK’s
pastimes is to travel around to other craft shows, showing her support and enthusiasm
for what other people in the community are making.
Mary Kathryn is a member of Chix in Business and the Junior League of Durham and
Orange Counties. She paints and sings and has committed to learning how to play
either the guitar and/or the piano. (She also has a gym membership.) She loves
antiquing, having coffee with friends, and being with her sisters. Mary Kathryn
is a gifted speaker, teacher, and writer and is available for retreat-speaking.
She lives in what used to be her family's farmhouse in the glorious southern part
of Chapel Hill with The Cutest Dog in the World, Zella, and works full-time for
what used to be her family’s business.
