To walk into Soul + Muse is to step into a carefully curated, beautiful world. Surrounded by thriving ferns and blooming plants, it’s easy to feel transported to a place where not only custom hats but also meaningful stories take shape.
Skye Mielke is the founder, owner and creative force behind the shop. The daughter of an artist and a musician, Mielke grew up immersed in creativity, nurtured especially by her grandmother Fran, an art instructor. That early encouragement shaped her path. Her journey is a powerful example of a life led by intuition, courage and grit.
The Roots of Creativity
Born and raised in Omaha, Mielke grew up surrounded by creative energy. Her father was a musician, and both her mother and grandmother were artists. Her grandmother introduced her to the world of paint, charcoal and imagination early on.
“She was the person I was closest to growing up,” Mielke says, crediting her grandmother for her lifelong love of creative expression.
After high school, Mielke enrolled at University of Nebraska at Omaha to pursue a degree in marketing, but two years in, she knew it wasn’t her path. “That just wasn’t a part of my life journey,” she says.
Over the next few years, Mielke explored different interests, met her husband and became a mother. After her first child was born, she knew something had shifted. “I just didn’t want to work for anyone anymore. I wanted to make my own hours,” she says.
That shift led her to hair extension and color artistry. Mielke earned her certification, and in 2019, just before the pandemic, she opened Soul + Muse.
A Creative Hub in Elkhorn
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Soul + Muse not only endured but began to thrive. The space is warm and inviting, with a mix of greenery, black-and-white decor and natural wood accents. It feels like an escape.
“I think it’s like the universal joke that a stylist’s chair is like a therapist’s chair,” Mielke says. “You get to hear people’s stories and connect with people.” That connection became the foundation for what would grow into both a salon and a boutique.
Her love for fashion and decor emerged slowly, starting with a few hand-poured candles and curated clothing pieces. That creative itch evolved into a thoughtfully stocked retail space featuring one-of-a-kind finds, including her now-signature custom hats.
“I had been watching the hat trend grow in other places, but nothing was really here yet,” Mielke says. “The history of a felt or straw hat, not only from the ranching side but throughout history, really drew me in.”
Soul + Muse now sells hats for all personalities, from western bowlers to felt fedoras. Each one is sourced from shops across the country and shaped in-house to fit the wearer. Feathers, brands, stitching and other custom elements allow customers to make their hat entirely their own.
Helping people discover a new form of self-expression has brought Mielke joy, but restoring heirlooms has also struck a chord. “Once we started doing hats, so many people said, ‘I have my grandfather’s hat and I just need it cleaned and reshaped so I can wear it.’ That’s when I realized this is everything I’m about,” she says. “Helping people connect with their own stories.”
Philosophy and Vision
Mielke is quick to credit her personal philosophy for Soul + Muse’s success: follow what feels right, even when it’s hard.
“My biggest growth moments have always been when I’m sitting in the uncomfortable,” she says. “I fully embrace the feeling. If I feel like I want to get sick, then I know I’m supposed to do that thing. It’s the best navigating tool.”
Two years after opening, the original shop was bursting at the seams. Mielke signed a lease in the heart of Elkhorn, where Soul + Muse now hosts regular weekend events and operates Monday through Thursday. She continues to collaborate with local florists, artists and other small vendors.
But more than anything, Mielke remains focused on building relationships. “Whenever people come in, it’s never just about grabbing something. There’s always a story behind it,” she says. “I love building those connections and seeing customers turned friends, turned family, return.”
With life as her inspiration and her heart as her guide, Skye Mielke has created more than just a storefront. She has built a space where stories are written every day through hats, conversations and personal connections. Soul + Muse is a place where creativity and intention meet, and where a grandmother’s influence lives on in every chapter.
To learn more about Soul + Muse and all the shop has to offer, visit soulandmuse.com
“My biggest growth moments have always been when I’m sitting in the uncomfortable, I fully embrace the feeling. If I feel like I want to get sick, then I know I’m supposed to do that thing. It’s the best navigating tool.”