BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Step inside the inviting doors of Denver’s newest woman-owned boutique. Owner, Jodie Kuhlman has curated a beautiful space for her one-of-a-kind terrariums, stylish fashion and statement jewelry. The aesthetically beautiful tarot decks, plants, men’s section, full bar and apothecary, give this space a unique draw. It’s as if Stevie Nicks and Anna Wintour had a baby, which speaks to us on a whole new level. We had the pleasure to meet Jodie and learn more about her craft and skillfully curated shop, located between Dos Luces and Divino wine shop at 1238 S. Broadway.
Tell us a bit about you. What was life like before you opened your shop on South Broadway?
My life before the shop was a little more relaxed and I had more free time to work on my custom art pieces. I have worked with lighting and design companies for over 10 years, and I was tired of working for the other guy, so I began to really put quality time into wanting my own business again. Almost 15 years ago I owned my own hair salon back east. I was a hairdresser for over 16 years and decided that it was time to move back to Colorado where I grew up and raise my son in a more urban city that offers so much more culture than Connecticut had to offer. I have always had a unique and artsy side to me. I just never had the chance to express it until now.
Your boutique is unique in that it feels very comfortable, but at the same time moody and mysterious. Talk to us about your oddity collection.
My oddities started coming to me as my spiritual side started coming out more in the past 10 years. I have always found such beauty in the strange art of taxidermy. I love to take something beautiful and pair it with mother nature. It makes me happy when people fall in love with my artistic work. Facial expressions are great at revealing whether a person likes my work, or if they find it to be just plain weird. I find joy in the respones either way.
How long have you been a maker?
All my life I have made unique gifts for family and friends. I never liked school, I was always an odd kid that was often left out of things, so I turned to art and found my place in every art class that I could get my hands on. As I got older my art abilities turned into gardening. At one point, I lived on 4 acres of land in Connecticut and had two amazing people, with the most beautiful gardens, take the time to teach me how to garden on my own. I was able to bring that to my home here in Colorado and I have a koi fishpond and my own flourishing garden beds.
I later went to the Art Institute when I was 40 to enter into the fashion industry. I loved the idea of learning a new trade even though I would never be a creative designer like many of the young talent out there. I wanted to apply fashion to my list of creative outlets, so I could use it on the side if need be. Now I can apply all that I have taught myself in my life to make beautiful things and enjoy doing it without making it a job but rather a lifestyle.
Newcomers to your space are greeted not only with beautiful inventory of plants, clothes, candles and jewelry, but you also have a bar and an apothecary station. This allows for amazing pop-up events. Do you have anything on the calendar in the near future?
We do offer monthly workshops that people can sign up for through my social media and soon it will be on my website that will launch in May 2022. There is a fee for each workshop depending on what we are creating and the item will vary every month. In March we made bolo ties! We offer an open bar and sometimes tarot readers are available. The tarot readings offer a little extra witchy vibe to my space and people really love the experience overall. For the month of April, our workshop will be to design mini glass cloches where everyone can be creative with mother nature and bones. A mini terrarium if you will.
What can you tell us about the apothecary space in your boutique and how it functions?
Melissa Lytle is a community herbalist operating under the business name, Sweet Balm Botanicals. Her office space is in the back of our boutique. Melissa combines her love of botany with the beauty and power of plant medicine. She has worked locally in Denver with flowers and plants as a Florist for over twenty years and formally helped people heal in their bodies as a massage therapist for over ten years. Her life has come full circle as she now combines her passion for plant medicine to foster balance and facilitate healing in her clients’ mind, body and spirit. In addition to working one-on-one with clients to meet their individual needs, she will sell her proprietary blends of natural herbal products including teas, tincture formulas, salves, fire cider, elderberry syrup and body care. You can reach out to her directly at 720.474.3121
The small business community of Denver is very supportive. Have you made any connections with your neighbors, or do you have any plans for collaborations?
I have made quite a few connections in the few months I have been open. My neighbors all work together really well when it comes to supporting each other. After opening my boutique, I introduced myself to a lot of the local business on our block to let them know what my store was about and what I offer each month with the workshops. I was welcomed with a wonderful response and the monthly events are a great way for us to connect. I also offer pop ups in my shop if anyone would like to promote their products at any time. A big event will be coming to South Broadway May 14th, where all the breweries, shops and restaurants will be collaborating with coupons for their stores, punch cards for the bars and live music. It will be a great new event to get the community together and bring awareness to the amazing small businesses along South Broadway. I will be offering a discount in my shop, along with a Dj and cocktails. I’m really excited to see how this part of town comes together to continue to thrive.
Thank you so much for letting us into your beautiful space and sharing your story with us, Jodie. If you’d like to keep up to date with upcoming workshops and pop-ups at Two Birds One Stone, follow them on Instagram @twobirdsonestone_1238sobo. Her online shop will be up very soon. In the meantime, gather your friends and take them to this gorgeous new space, located at 1238 S. Broadway.