About Me

 Welcome to Creative Mountain Mama — I’m Cicily, the founder, designer, and storyteller behind the brand.

My story starts long before I was born—back in 1887, my family left Ness County, Kansas and traveled by covered wagon to the territory of Colorado. Each family had just one wagon, carrying everything they owned. They homesteaded on the Western Slope, raised cattle in Meeker, and built a life in the mountains. My maternal grandfather, a Lakota Sioux from the Pine Ridge Reservation, was a talented artist whose work reflected his heritage, and though I never knew him personally, his legacy continues to inspire my work today.

Growing up, I spent my summers at our family cabin on the Buckhorn outside Masonville. It was a place full of adventure—picking wildflowers for the dinner table, practicing archery with our bird dogs, and watching moose wander through the meadow. I remember hummingbirds landing on my fingers at the feeder and building forts in the woods, completely immersed in mountain life. That cabin, with all its memories, was lost in a wildfire, but my family and I now live just 18 miles away in the same mountain range, still surrounded by the same rugged beauty that shaped my childhood.

What I do

At Creative Mountain Mama, I make handcrafted leather goods with the same care and attention to detail that my family has always put into their work. Each bag is hand-cut, hand-stitched, and built to last—no mass production, no shortcuts. I also make natural skincare and lye-based soaps, simple products made the way they used to be.

I didn’t start out as a leatherworker. My early career was in investment banking—fast-paced, high-stress, and far from the simple life I craved. In 2021, I stepped away to focus on family, settling into the mountains to build something more meaningful. That’s how Creative Mountain Mama was born.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just a business to me. It’s about being able to spend time with my family, work hard with my hands, honor my roots, and create quality pieces. I hope to inspire others live a simpler, more intentional life. Whether it’s through leatherwork, the podcast, or my family, my goal is to keep these traditions alive and pass them on to future generations.

Thanks for being here and supporting what I do. I hope you find something here that speaks to you!