While I’m taking some time off, I asked my dear friend Kelsie Kunkle to write a guest piece. As an avid lover of all things artisanal and global and as a curator of beautiful finds, I thought you’d really enjoy hearing from her as an entrepreneur, traveler, mom, and maker of incredibly beautiful spaces!
xo,
Abby
In a world of fast trends and constantly changing recommendations, very few products earn a permanent place in someone’s life. My ABBY ALLEY sling bag has been one of those rare pieces. For over half a decade, it has seamlessly moved between travel, motherhood, work, and everyday life. Whether I’m heading out on a family trip, a getaway with my husband, an adventure abroad, or simply a run to the grocery store, my sling bag is coming along too.
In today’s influencer world, I often scroll and wonder if we’re being influenced simply because something showed up in the mail last week. But with AA, there’s a difference. There’s alignment in everything the brand says and does, and my camera roll over the years is proof. These bags have traveled with me across Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Panama, Portugal, Italy, Jordan, Ethiopia and countless everyday moments in between.
This bag packs a punch in the art of minimalism. It’s functional without feeling overcomplicated and minimal without sacrificing beauty. I may spice it up with a new color or size from time to time, but the original black sling has remained a go-to for years.
I am deeply moved by pursuing intentionality in all facets of my life. I want the way I travel, mother, love my family, design spaces, and spend money to reflect my values. That has absolutely shaped the way I approach fashion and home design.
Abby and I have known each other personally for nearly 12 years, but our friendship has deepened through the shared experience of building ethically-minded brands. It’s been two years since closing my brick-and-mortar shop, Driftless Style, where I partnered with artisan businesses in 14 countries and imported handcrafted home goods to my shop in Cedar Falls, Iowa. There’s a natural connection between people who care deeply about craftsmanship, sustainability, and creating businesses rooted in purpose.
My admiration for what Abby has built goes far beyond supporting a friend because what ultimately sold me again and again was the quality of the products themselves. I have never been someone who carefully protects my jewelry or bags, so for my AA pieces to still look and function as beautifully as they do after years of heavy use honestly feels remarkable.
My sling bag, in particular, has become a constant companion. It came with me on sourcing trips for Driftless Style, sat beside me through long airport layovers, and carried the much-needed essentials during a COVID shutdown in Colombia while we were adopting our two youngest children. Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like an accessory and became part of how I move through the world.
That same love for thoughtful design and intentional living eventually found a new expression through our sister brand, Driftless Dwellings. My husband and I own 55 acres in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin where three cabins are nestled into a valley. Over the past nine years, we’ve renovated existing cabins and even relocated one entirely, turning the property into an extension of the values that shaped Driftless Style.
We’ve tried to create spaces that invite a deep exhale the moment guests arrive. Places for restorative rest, connection to nature, and inspiration through thoughtful design. Much of the décor is handcrafted, thrifted, antique, or sustainably sourced, and guests often reach out asking where pieces came from or when they can come stay again.
In many ways, I’ve started to realize the cabins are becoming the next evolution of Driftless Style. A living showroom rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability, hospitality, and intentional living.
I think that’s ultimately why brands like AA will always resonate so deeply with me. There is something grounding about products, spaces, and businesses that are built slowly and thoughtfully with care behind every decision. In a culture that moves fast and constantly pushes what’s next, I find myself continually drawn back to work that feels human and deeply intentional.
Whether it’s a handcrafted bag that has traveled the world with me for years, an artisan-made piece collected abroad, or a thoughtfully restored cabin tucked into the hills of the Driftless Region, I believe people can feel the difference when something is created with heart and purpose. Those are the kinds of stories, spaces, and brands I want to continue building and surrounding myself with.
If you’d like to follow along with our cabins, design projects, and life in the Driftless Region, you can find Driftless Dwellings on Instagram at @driftless.dwellings. And if you’re interested in seeing the listings for each of our three cabins, you can find that information here!
The cabins are truly magical!
Beautiful cabins!