My Journey: How I Became The Maximalist Muse

Aug 30

Swirls of pink and purple sparkles dance in the air as sunlight glints off a piece of metal on the ground. The flora is perfectly arranged, and I lean in to breathe the intoxicating scent of flowers as I stroll through the streets of Vancouver. Welcome to a slice of my world! I’m Rhiannon, and creativity pulses through my veins.

To truly know me, let’s rewind to when I was 8 years old. A wild child, insisting on wearing dresses every day but never hesitating to dive into rough-and-tumble play, often ruining those dresses in the process. I lived in a fantasy world of my own making, surrounded by my best friends, Cassandra and Birdie. Together, we crafted, created, and dreamed up endless scenarios. We sold mud pies at the end of the driveway and made perfumes from flowers in the yard. I was the girl choreographing dance routines to Michael Jackson’s "Black or White" and the Spice Girls' "2 Become 1" (without a clue what the song was about). My crowning achievement? A dance routine to Ace of Base’s "I Saw the Sign," performed around my living room coffee table with my closest friends.

At eleven, my world began to shift. I lost my best friend in a car accident, discovered things about a parent that no child should know, and faced abuse from a sibling at home. My family moved frequently, but one constant remained: my desire to create. In high school, I started making my own clothes, far outside the bounds of what my peers deemed fashionable. I wore loafers instead of skate shoes and chose patchwork denim over low-rise Quicksilver jeans. To say I stood out is an understatement.

My first love, the boy I gave my heart to, ended our relationship, and my parents began a tumultuous pre-divorce battle. That’s when I began to unravel. I didn’t get into the fashion school I dreamed of, and my vision of moving to Toronto to become a city girl shattered. I started losing myself—the fearless girl who never took no for an answer, who did what she wanted without caring about others' opinions. My sparkle dimmed as I let others' judgments creep too far into my being. I veered off course, turning to drugs and alcohol to make sense of my world. This dark period stretched on for years.

The Maximalist Muse is the seventh iteration of a business I’ve created. It’s been a long time coming! I dabbled in fashion blogging, sold vintage clothes, made terrazzo coasters, started womens’ groups and hosted paint nights—the list is endless. But one crucial element was missing from these endeavors: groundedness. With my struggles with alcohol behind me and a firm grasp of my purpose, I’ve reconnected with my 8-year-old self. Now, I bring with me not only a wealth of knowledge about myself but also a deep understanding of the psychology of color and how it can enhance our moods. I have formal education in interior design that allows me to confidently use different materials to upcycle clothes, furniture or household goods. I’ve learned to enjoy life in sobriety by being the best version of myself and taught myself how to make some mean mocktails.

Years went by and brilliant business ideas that passed couldn’t find purchase because I was still trying to fit myself into the wrong world. I come to you now as someone who has battled her demons and is ready to share my journey. I’m passionate about cooking and savoring delicious food, finding energy in the process of bringing ingredients together until they sing. I could spend hours perusing a thrift shop, or walking an estate sale or even shopping and playing dress up in my own closet.