We recently had the chance to connect with Kayla Mireles and have shared our conversation below.
Kayla, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been finding so much joy in simply exploring my city. I’ve been making time to wander through different Austin neighborhoods, discovering new cafés and coffee shops — each one with its own personality and spark of inspiration. There’s something about sitting in a café that recharges my creativity and keeps me connected to the community. I’m also in the early stages of planning a fun new lifestyle group or “club”, which will bring people together for intentional gatherings — think coffee meetups, dinner parties, and creative nights. It’s been so exciting to dream up something that celebrates connection, creativity, and carving out time for what really matters.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kayla Mireles, owner and lead designer of Aura ATX Florals, a boutique floral design studio in Austin. My work is about so much more than just pretty flowers; it’s about telling stories, honoring individual energy, and creating moments that feel truly unique to each person. I’ve designed for everything from intimate elopements to large-scale installations, but my favorite projects are always the ones where creativity, connection, and community intersect.
While we’re rooted in creating beautiful, intentional arrangements, what truly makes Aura special is our commitment to community and creating a safe space for creativity to thrive. Through our floral workshops, we invite people to step away from perfectionism and the pressure to ‘get it right,’ and instead simply enjoy the process of working with flowers. So many guests arrive feeling unsure of their skills, yet leave feeling inspired, confident, and connected — often with new friendships that began right there at the table.
Aura ATX is all about fostering joy, creativity, and belonging, one gathering at a time.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a total dreamer — the kind of kid whose imagination ran wild and free without fear. My ideas were never ‘realistic’ or ‘practical,’ and that only made me love them more. I saw the world as one big canvas for invention and play.
At 7 years old, after a trip to the Mr. Gatti’s near our house, I became obsessed with the toy claw machine there. I went home and, armed with nothing but printer paper and tape, built my very own version — complete with a somewhat working claw (again, it was only made of paper and tape). That’s just how my brain worked: take a spark of inspiration, dream it bigger, and find a way to make it real.
Even now, I still carry that same childlike wonder. I still love claw machines. And I still believe that with enough creativity, you can turn the simplest materials — and the simplest ideas — into something magical.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in life is the fear of lacking — the fear of lacking the necessary resources to live a comfortable life. It’s something that has lingered in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember. Growing up during the 2007 recession, I was surrounded by adults and families whose lives were turned upside down. Watching people I loved lose their stability made me internalize the belief that security is fragile and money is the thread holding it together.
In creative fields, money is never guaranteed. There’s no promise you’ll profit from your art — and often, you won’t. While that uncertainty once fueled my fear, it’s also been my greatest teacher. It’s shown me the value of surrender, of trusting that opportunities will appear when they’re meant to. This work has also helped me see that abundance isn’t just financial — I’ve learned I need far less than I once thought to feel secure, joyful, and fulfilled.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is the ongoing work of bringing my ideas to life in the most authentic way possible. I want to create and share pieces of my imagination that feel true to who I am. For me, that means not overthinking or rushing to produce something just to have it out in the world; it’s about honoring the process and letting each idea take the shape it’s meant to, in its own time. Whether it’s through florals, gatherings, or other creative projects, I want everything I share to feel like a genuine extension of myself.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, it would be like my worst fear coming true. No identity, no safety net, no business cards, no latte money. Just me, myself, and my brain. Terrifying. But also, maybe kind of liberating.
What I know would remain, and possibly even thrive, is my imagination and the weird, resourceful ingenuity it always brings out. I’d probably go back to the same headspace I had as a kid, where I could turn printer paper and tape into a fully functioning toy claw machine and call it a masterpiece. Without a single “thing” to my name, my brain would have no choice but to start making things up again. And honestly, that might be where I’m happiest.
With no titles, no possessions, and nothing external to measure myself against, the only thing left to be afraid of would be my own imagination. Which is both comforting and terrifying in equal measure. But I’d like to think that in that space, I’d be unstoppable — because I’d finally be operating without the weight of expectations, and purely in the world I create for myself.
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