Meander: A New Creative Haven in the Heart of Elkins
When West Virginia nature illustrator Rosalie Haizlett opens the door to her new shop and studio, Meander, she’s inviting visitors into more than just a storefront.
She’s offering a glimpse into her process — the way she studies the world slowly, attentively, and with a deep affection for the details most people rush past. In this cozy space in downtown Elkins, art, nature, and community seem to flow together as naturally as a winding stream.
The idea for Meander first took shape years ago, when Haizlett was still in college and traveling to creative destinations like Asheville, North Carolina; Oaxaca, Mexico; and Thomas, West Virginia. Each place had one thing in common: public studios where artists could be found at work, their process on display for anyone who wandered in.
(Photo by Curren Sheldon)
“One of my favorite things when I travel to a new place is getting to meet artists when they’re at work in their studio,” she says. “I started daydreaming about having my own studio/storefront in West Virginia where I could work on my art, sell my illustrated goods, and give visitors and locals alike the opportunity to pop in on a working artist’s studio.”
That dream has finally found a home in Elkins. The name, Meander, captures both Haizlett’s artistic process and the experience she hopes to create for visitors. As a nature illustrator, her work begins with slowing down — taking her time on forest trails or along riverbanks, looking closely at the plants, rocks, and wildlife that might otherwise be overlooked.
“Walking slowly and looking closely — that’s how I capture aspects of the natural world I’d normally walk past,” she says. The shop itself echoes this idea, with a meandering layout that invites guests to wander, pause, and explore.
Although she grew up in Bethany, West Virginia, Haizlett’s connection to Elkins began much earlier than her move here two years ago. As a teenager, she attended the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts in Elkins, a three-week program that happened to coincide with the Augusta Heritage Festival. The town’s streets were alive with traditional music, square dances, and cultural events.
“I remember thinking that Elkins was a fun, artsy town way back then,” she says, “but never thought I’d eventually live here.” Years later, when she and her husband were searching for a place close to clean rivers and expansive forests — but still in West Virginia — Elkins emerged as the clear choice. Nestled against nearly a million acres of the Monongahela National Forest, the town offers her endless inspiration just beyond her doorstep.
Turning a downtown space into a fully functioning studio and shop came with its challenges. Rural small businesses have to be careful about overhead, and Haizlett approached the project with a scrappy, resourceful mindset. She applied for a grant to help with renovations and lighting, but she’s still holding out hope that funding will come through.
“I hand-painted my signage instead of having it made professionally, my awesome dad built the shelves and displays, and I’ve gotten creative with repurposing things from my home, so I don’t have to buy many new things,” she says. “It takes extra creativity and elbow grease to make something work on a small budget, but the DIY approach sometimes yields more unique results.” The result is a space that feels handcrafted in every sense.
Inside, the environment is as intentional as the artwork. A gentle lavender scent greets guests. A playlist flows from jazzy to folksy, the kind of music that slows your pace without you realizing it. The displays are minimal, keeping the small shop uncluttered, while hand-lettered price signs and greenery add a homey touch. A bold mural spans both the building’s facade and an interior wall, tying the street to the studio.
“I’ve tried to make it a place where I want to create, because ultimately I’m the person spending hours and hours painting in here,” Haizlett says. The shop doesn’t just sell her art; it reflects her taste, her pace, and her way of seeing.
While Haizlett is content with Meander as it stands, she can’t help but imagine its role in a broader arts movement for Elkins. She hopes her shop inspires other artists to open their own public studios, creating the possibility of an art crawl where visitors could spend a day meeting makers in their creative spaces. She also hopes her mural will spark a wave of color downtown.
“I’d love to one day have enough arts spaces here that we can have a downtown art crawl,” she says. “And I hope that we see an explosion of color downtown.”
For now, Meander is more than enough — a working studio that welcomes visitors into the rhythm of a creative life. Prints, illustrated cards, and nature-inspired goods line the shelves, but the real treasure may be the chance to slow down, breathe, and see the world through Haizlett’s eyes. In Elkins, with the mountains as her backdrop and the forests unfurling in every direction, Haizlett is meandering right where she belongs, and she’s ready for the community to join her.
