Thank you for visiting our take heart ‘About’ page!

I like to share the story of my journey opening a retail shop because many people ask me about it. I hope that by sharing my experience it may encourage others to take a chance and pursue their dreams.

Prior to opening take heart I was a Social Worker for many years and when I was 35 years old, I started to think about what else I might like to do for a career — I want to emphasize here: I had no idea.

Owning a unique retail shop had been a dream I had since childhood, although I did not realize the possibility until I did a deep dive into my creative side through doing The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. In the past I did not consider myself a creative person, but rather an ‘art appreciator'. I had a narrow view of what it meant to be creative, and I thought if I did not make a hard product such as a painting, pottery, or textile weaving, that I was not an artist or a creative. Through doing this workbook, my mind opened to a broader understanding of what it means to be creative — that ALL of us are creative beings. By beginning this purposeful journey of self-discovery, it came to me that I've always loved unique and independently-owned retail businesses where one could feel the owner's heart and aesthetic throughout the shop. I was reminded of my love of hunting for unique finds, whether it was at a thrift store, estate sale, or art fair. I thought opening a retail business was a venture ‘other people’ pursued, yet as I opened my mind to the possibilities for myself, I decided to take a chance and began the steps to open 'take heart'. This involved taking a business class, writing a business plan, winning a grant, and growing my faith and belief in myself.

The journey of opening a business is full of ups and downs and many learning experiences. Opening take heart is one of the accomplishments in my life that I feel incredibly proud of. I have grown over the years, along with the business, and can see I am capable of much more than I thought: sourcing our products, merchandising and curating how products are presented, among many other tasks that come with owning a small retail business. 

I like to share this piece because I believe when any of us take a chance the possibility of wonderful things happening reach far beyond what we can imagine ourselves. This is exactly what happened to me with the creation and growth of ‘take heart.’

I have embraced that I am a creative and ‘take heart’ is a deep expression of that.

‘take heart’ is a retail boutique located in East Austin. The shop reflects my love of special, handmade and thoughtfully designed objects for the home and person. Our shop showcases local and US artists, as well as a selection of international designers, with an emphasis on Japanese design. We believe in the importance of supporting small businesses and artists. We value the energy, spirit, and craftsmanship put into the items we carry in our shop and our relationship with the makers and designers.

Our hope is that ‘take heart' will inspire creativity, self-discovery and invite one to appreciate life’s beautiful details and gifts. We always love seeing our regulars and look forward to those of you on your next visit to Austin!

With love and gratitude,
- Nina Gordon, Owner