Community Highlights: Meet Mariella Reyes of OneHornLA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariella Reyes.

Hi Mariella, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey as a creative and mixed media artist has never followed a straight path; it’s been more of a wild trail filled with success, failure, grit, and reinvention. I started out in marketing and sales, navigating fast-paced industries and unstable startups, where I learned firsthand how to build something from scratch and how easily it can fall apart without a solid foundation. I’ve always been a creator, but for a long time, my creativity served other people’s visions. Eventually, I realized it was time to build something that truly reflected my own.

That’s how OneHornLA was born: a healing crafting space and community that embraces tactile connection, storytelling, and grounding through paper art and junk journaling. I wanted to create a brand that gave people something they didn’t even know they were craving: a return to the handmade, and the intimacy of building a sacred space where they could heal through it.

It started with my niece’s arrival. I was looking for a handmade gift that was personal, sustainable, and carried lots of lore. That’s when I found junk journaling and decided to try my hand at building a baby arrival art piece. That moment sparked my love for the handmade and a deep connection to storytelling through whimsical, meaningful pieces, one paperclip, one bookmark, and one YouTube video at a time.

OneHornLA (OHLA) isn’t just about crafts; it’s about expanding and healing through creation. I’m launching OHLA’s social crafting workshops this fall and growing the digital side through narrative-driven content and guerrilla-style marketing.

My goal is to grow OneHornLA into a multi-layered platform that bridges physical creation with mental wellness, personal spiritual truth, and creative expression. I want it to be a sanctuary for those who feel too much, think too deeply, and want to make something beautiful out of the mess.

Where I am today is the result of surviving breakdowns, shedding illusions, and finally trusting that my weird, whimsical, wired-up brain wasn’t a liability. It was a gift. And I’m just getting started.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. I don’t think anyone who builds something meaningful ever has it easy. My path has been full of pivots, setbacks, unstable work environments, and periods where I had to completely start over—mentally, emotionally, financially, spiritually.

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating my own mental health while still trying to show up and produce. For a long time, I internalized the lie that my internal struggles meant I wasn’t good enough, that I was “too much” to succeed. Add to that the pressure of being in Los Angeles, a city saturated with raw talent and competition, and it often felt like I wouldn’t be given a real chance to break through.

Another obstacle was breaking out of roles where I was undervalued. I’ve been in situations where I gave my all creatively, strategically, and energetically, and it still wasn’t enough because the foundation wasn’t right. That taught me to stop pouring myself into systems that weren’t built to hold me, and instead start building my own.

I think the hardest part of any creative path is continuing to believe in the vision when no one else sees it yet. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that every breakdown has been a breadcrumb back to myself. The road’s been rocky, but I’d rather take the long way than end up somewhere that isn’t mine.

We’ve been impressed with OneHornLA, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
OneHornLA is a crafting brand rooted in healing, storytelling, and the magic of handmade work. I focus on junk journaling, mixed media art, and creating paper ephemera that carries emotional weight, with pieces that feel personal, grounding, and rich with lore.
What makes OHLA different is that it’s not just about being cute or crafty; it’s about helping people reconnect with their creativity and their inner world. I started it because I saw a need for spaces that slow you down, make you feel something, and invite you to make something meaningful with your hands. Whether it’s a paperclip, a bookmark, or a workshop session, everything is made with intention and care.
This fall, I’m launching social crafting workshops where people can come together, get inspired, and create side-by-side. I’m also building the digital side of the brand through YouTube videos, storytelling content, and even guerrilla-style campaigns.

What I’m most proud of is that this brand follows truth. It honors what’s real and messy and beautiful about being human. OneHornLA is for the over thinkers, the feelers, the quiet rebels who want to make something that matters.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is this: you can’t wait for permission to become who you already are. No one’s going to crown you, validate you, or open the perfect door. You have to start as you are, with what you have, and build from there, even when it’s messy, even when no one gets it yet.

I’ve learned that being “too much” is often just code for being powerful in a way people don’t know how to handle. I had to stop shrinking, stop asking, “Is this okay?” and start trusting that what I bring to the table is rare, and that I don’t need to keep proving it to anyone who can’t see it.

I’ve also learned that healing and creating aren’t separate paths. Once I started honoring my own mind and rhythm, everything began to align. The ideas got clearer. The work felt more honest. And the right people began to show up.

At the end of the day, the real lesson is this: you’re allowed to build your own table, then paint it, decorate it, and invite whoever the hell you want to sit at it.
But this table isn’t about excluding anyone. It’s about healing, expanding, and making room for connection through creation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/onehornla
• Instagram: Onehornla
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ONEHORNLA
• Other: https://onehornla.patternbyetsy.com

Image Credits
Mariella Reyes