Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Blystone.
Hi Christine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Velvetback was born on a warm day along a dirt trail among the trees. A simple statement, “I’d like to learn how to make incense out of natural things,” sparked a deep conversation about the rituals of working with our hands, the healing power of plants and nature, and a life that would allow me and my loved ones to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
I spent seven years illustrating plants and exploring the lush trails of Washington and Oregon, weaving their stories into poetry. The result? My debut book, Magic Flowers, and a stunning 60-card deck filled with plant wisdom, magic, and inspiration—ready to guide folks with love and deep connection to nature.
Velvetback has always been a space for healing, constantly surprising me—transforming my inner landscape, deepening my curiosity, and strengthening my connections with myself and others.
Sharing this journey with those who feel drawn to my work is a profound joy. Whether through art, words, or incense, I hope to create a space where you feel seen, welcomed, and at home—a place of gentle witnessing and radiant magic.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve found that creativity needs space to flow.
The thing that has helped me the most in overcoming creativity blocks over the years is a daily meditation practice. Most days, I fit in a 10-minute session, and if I’m lucky, I can fit two into my day—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Taking that time to slow down, close my eyes, breathe deep, and reconnect with myself creates space within me to connect more with life—and the creative muses!
Rest is also really important for overcoming obstacles and challenges. Seriously, rest when you need to. If I’m feeling tired or frustrated, I know I need to step away from a project and let it breathe for a while. When I take a break for a day or two, I can come back with fresh eyes and see things I didn’t see before. This is a game-changer!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the creator and founder of Velvetback, a heart-centered creative studio where all of my work comes together—writing, art, design, and making—to help people connect with plants and discover meaning in their magic.
My path here started with a background in graphic design, which I studied at Portland State University. But it was really my lived relationship with nature that shaped everything that followed: long walks through Pacific Northwest forests, quiet afternoons sketching flowers, and the deep kind of listening that plant life asks of us. Over time, that practice of noticing and reverence grew into a body of work that’s just as much about inner transformation as it is about creative expression.
Velvetback offers a small collection of thoughtfully made pieces designed to spark intuition, reflection, and a sense of magic, including:
Magic Flowers, my debut book—a blend of magical memoir, plant illustrations, cyanotypes, and poetry that guides readers through personal growth and plant wisdom
A 60-card plant poetry oracle deck, created for daily reflection and intuitive connection with nature
Flower essences and natural incense cones, made in small batches to support emotional clarity and grounding rituals
My work lives at the intersection of art, healing, and plant wisdom. It’s for people who are seeking a deeper connection—to nature, to their intuition, and to their own inner voice. Everything I make is meant as an invitation: to pause, to notice, to feel, and to come home to yourself.
What sets Velvetback apart is how personal and intentional it is. Each piece is infused with my hand-drawn illustrations, my voice, and the imprint of my lived experience. That intimate, handcrafted approach has resonated deeply—my work has earned over 600 five-star reviews on Etsy and has been featured in thoughtfully curated offerings like Astral Box, Witchcraft Way, and the Writual Planner subscription box. It’s even found its way into the hands of people I deeply admire, including luxury fashion designer Gabriela Hearst and Adventure Nannies founder Brandy Schultz.
Beyond the recognition, what I’m most proud of is the community that’s grown around Velvetback. Hearing that my oracle cards live on someone’s altar, that a poem helped hold their grief, or that an incense blend brought comfort on a hard day—those moments mean everything to me.
If you’re new here, I want you to know that Velvetback is more than a brand. It’s a quiet sanctuary. A place where art and nature meet, where healing isn’t rushed, and where you’re invited to explore your own relationship with the world around—and within—you. Whether through a card pull, the grounding scent of incense, or a story that resonates, my hope is that you feel seen and inspired, just as I’ve been, again and again, by the plants themselves.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has definitely played a role in my life and business, but I’ve come to see it less as random chance and more as something that meets preparation, persistence, and listening.
I’ve been fortunate in very real ways—having access to creative education, living in a place rich with natural beauty and plant life, and finding my work during a time when people are seeking slowness, meaning, and reconnection. Those conditions created fertile ground for Velvetback to grow.
What I’ve learned is that luck tends to show up when I’m paying attention—when I’m willing to follow curiosity, and keep showing up even when outcomes are unclear. Many of the most meaningful opportunities in my business came through relationships, word of mouth, and small, consistent acts of care rather than big, strategic moves.
So yes, luck has played a role—but it’s been intertwined with patience, trust, community, and long-term devotion to the work.
Pricing:
- Magic Flowers Book – $30
- Magic Flowers Oracle Deck – $30
- Incense Cones – $25
- Flower Essences – $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.velvetback.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_velvetback_
- Other: https://velvetback.substack.com
