Meet Courtney Patterson | Owner of The Salted Olive & Hat Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Courtney Patterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Courtney, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite quote is from the book The Soul-Sourced Entrepreneur by Christine Kane: “Your business is the playing field for your soul’s expansion”.

I think about this quote almost daily as a entrepreneur navigating a new business alongside mothering my toddler full time. Every challenge, every setback, and even every moment of success are all part of my soul’s journey and personal growth. I never expected that starting a business would teach me so many lessons about myself; constantly bringing shadows to light and strengthening my spiritual side behind the scenes. Growing a business causes you to question everything – yourself, your capabilities, your values, your relationship with success and money, and all the narratives you tell yourself. This quote reminds me that business is just a physical manifestation of the deeper work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up, I never considered myself artistic. It took me years to realize that just because my art didn’t come in the way I was expecting it to (being the best painter at a wine & paint night, or having the best still life sketch in high school art class) didn’t make me an artistically-challenged person. Through outlets like fashion, styling, interior decorating, and scrapbooking, I learned I am actually a very creative person with a passion for making magic from the mundane.

My love for creating hats came from my love of wearing them. I’d find a hat I really liked, and then spruce it up to make it more personal and original. Like taking a vintage cowboy hat from the thrift store then adding a crystal, an affirmation card, and some custom stitching to give it that little bit boho, little bit magic I love to embrace. I never expected to make my hobby a business until I became a stay-at-home mother and was craving a creative outlet. I realized that not tapping into my creative side was not only holding me back, but was also preventing me from sharing my artistic talent with the world. Something I really feel we need more of.

My true north in building this business, and the thing that I really think sets me apart, is my “why.” My desire to give others a non-judgmental space to create. An experience where they can tap into their intuition and break any old narratives they carry about their creative ability. A place where they can connect with those they love most while creating something that will give them confidence and become a true extension of their energy. Every element they choose for their hat becomes a reflection of who they really are, leaving them with a stronger sense of self than when they came in. We start every hat build with a sage cleansing to wash away whatever burdens they may be carrying and get quiet enough to hear their inner voice within, guiding them towards the embellishments and accessories that will really make the hat their own.

Just like I tell my client during that sage cleansing, I’ve found also holds true in business- that the truer I am to myself and what makes me “me,” the more abundance I attract. Building a business isn’t easy and I’ve questioned who I really am many times, wondering if anyone will even want what I’m putting out there. But I’ve found that the more I lean into authenticity and sharing who I am and why I love doing what I do, the more I speak to people truly in alignment with what I’m offering. The biggest compliments I’ve ever received are when someone has been wanting to make a custom hat, but just hasn’t found an artist to work with that feels right until they come across my social media or website and see the passion I pour into my work. Making art and putting it out there for the world to see is a really vulnerable act so when it is truly seen and appreciated, it’s the most fulfilling feeling.

A hard realization that comes with business is understanding that my hat bar won’t be for everyone and not everyone is my customer. I’ve learned to embrace that and to be really proud of what I’ve created and who it attracts. If you’re looking for a high-quality hat and an experience to really tap into your creativity and quiet all the outside noise, then welcome to The Salted Olive, I can’t wait to make magic with you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in the suburbs outside of Los Angeles, there’s not much of a nightlife or “scene,” but to be honest, that’s not really my thing anymore anyways. I’d first welcome them into my hat bar to make a hat for themselves (the most custom kind of souvenir), then grab a coffee at my favorite local spot called Ragamuffin in Newbury Park before heading to Ventura to go thrifting. We could stop at the beach up there and ground ourselves for a couple hours. To unwind after a busy day, I’d take them to a sound bath with Alana Tracy of Breath and Sound. She’s my absolute favorite person to guide me in a meditation and breathwork experience, and has done wonders for me on this self exploration journey since starting my business.

Depending on what we were feeling, I’d either have a mellow night in with mocktials and take out, or go to a favorite restaurant nearby for a cocktail and nice meal. I like a place with a good energy and vibe to it so I’d probably go with Selvins in Newbury Park or The Cliffdiver in Thousand Oaks. We’d for sure have to hit up the spa during the trip, and it’d be a tough call between The Four Sesasons in Westlake Village or Spa Relais. We’d make a day of it laying by the pool and ordering food service from our lounge chairs, hitting up the cold plunge and sauna, and ending with a massage. Every weekday morning I go to The Foundry in Newbury Park for my favorite workout classes – hot yoga with Tara, hot barre with Angela, and hot Pilates with Monica, so if they’re up for some movement, I’d definitely be bringing them with me. I love a good comedy show, so I’d definitely check out the line up at Levity Live in Oxnard and snag tickets for a weekend show.

Being a stay at home mom full time, they’d definitely get some time hanging with my 3 year old daughter and playing in our backyard with our chickens and miniature goldendoodle. Maybe pick some fresh tomatoes from our garden and make a night-in of it cooking together followed by a chick flick and face masks. I’m an extrovert and love a good excuse to dress up, but I also love mellow time at home so the trip would be a nice balance of both.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are 3 people that come to mind immediately when reflecting on who deserves credit in my story.

First is my maternal grandmother, Beth. I started creating hats as a hobby while living at her house and working as a full time first-grade teacher, which is a really beautiful thing to reflect on as she’s always been my biggest cheerleader. She’s been my brightest light in some of my darkest times, reminding me of my strength and sharing her wisdom along the way. I wouldn’t be who I am today without all she’s done for me.

Second is my husband, Scott. To say I couldn’t have started this business without him is an understatement. He funded the starting costs, completely renovated Rosie (the 1970 vintage trailer I run the mobile hat bar out of – including putting pink toile wallpaper on the ceiling and 6 pounds of loose glitter on the floors), tows her to every event, cares for our daughter while I work appointments and events, and has unconditionally loved me and believed in me every step of the way.

Third is my hat stylist and dear friend, Amanda. She makes our business go round – from fitting customers for their hat, walking them through the hat bar with so much compassion and intention, bouncing new ideas around with me, marketing the business, and attending every single event near or far. She keeps me grounded when things feel crazy and I really couldn’t have had the amount of success I did this year without her by my side through it all. How lucky am I to get to do this business with a friend who genuinely believes in it as much as I do.

Website: https://www.thesaltedolive.com

Instagram: @thesaltedolive

Facebook: @thesaltedolive

Yelp: The Salted Olive