hi there! i'm kristyna, the owner + gal behind all things set apart. my husband, mark (well known to our online community as "mr. set apart") + i live in new england with our four babies. we live a simple life, which is exactly the way we like it. 

the signs were there early on that i would wind up working in a field involving science + human service. growing up, you could find me experimenting with kitchen ingredients,/recipes, science experiments + a solid (definitely legally downloaded..) mix cd in the hands of friends created for any emotion/experience. i ended up earning my bachelors, masters, and multiple certifications / licensures in the field of psychology, mental health, trauma + crisis intervention. i spent the last decade working in the field of emergency mental health in law enforcement + while recently leaving a full-time role, i continue this work as a consultant, teaching on all mental health and trauma to law enforcement across the state of massachusetts. the field of mental health, suicide prevention, + the importance of community are aspects that are deeply important/personal to me + as a result, i have intentionally woven my professional passion into this small business.

set apart started back in 2016 when i was desperate for a healing outlet in my early twenties. creativity had never failed me, so when i wasn't healing in the kitchen behind the mixer, i was healing at the dining room table with a paintbrush on an old piece of farmhouse lumber. i began painting wooden signs + when i started sharing my work, friends, family, + local businesses began to request orders. wooden sign orders continued for four years, carrying me through years of being a single mom, healing from trauma, building my career + a home with my knight in shining armor (well, graphic tees/new balances, but you get the point).  after birthing my second baby (days before the pandemic hit) i began sharing my love for natural/handcrafted wellness products + my community began asking for some of these products too. soon, set apart's natural wellness + skincare line took off far greater than expected. i retired the garage tools, found myself back behind the kitchen mixer, + got to work learning as much as i could about skincare formulation before slowly generating the self-care + skincare line you see today. i built an online social media presence that continued to grow due to both intentional marketing + being genuine, intentional, real + relatable. i made connections that turned into a community that i continue to be so honored to be part of. i built a website with multiple shipping days per week, attended (+ previously organized via Market for Makers- what a great experience!) in-person events, + you can now find SAS in 70 stores across north america. this is forever humbling to write/think about; + i will never forget where we started, which is why i continue to include handwritten notes of gratitude in each order.

i created this business as an outlet for healing, inspiration, + community. over the last nine years, SAS has grown with me + my family. the journey tells a story of a gal who grew up quickly, healed, + continues to create the life she always wanted for herself, over + over again. the outcome is a platform that holds space for every person, + acknowledges that self-care is essential, validating that it looks different for every human in every season.  it is an honor to take raw, ethical ingredients + turn them into intentional, trustworthy products for you + all of your favorite humans. it is with great pride + honor that i only put forward what i would personally use (+ do use daily) for myself/my family.

follow our instagram @setapartstudio to do day-to-day life with us, for inspiration/recommendations for a more 'crunchy' lifestyle, for hacks for busy moms, + most of all, relatable moments + laughs at life's ups + downs + in-betweens. while i sure hope you end up enjoying the products we offer, most of all, i hope to remind you that you are not alone, that prioritizing your mental health is essential, + that you have been Set Apart + chosen. thank you for choosing us.