We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aspen Debyah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aspen, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Definitely my ongoing series, Controlled Chaos: Life Through the Terrarium Lens. So far, it is a 7-piece series of diamond-shaped handwoven wall hangings that focuses on the idea that society tells us to “be ourselves” but only if that version of us fits into a very specific and rigid, predetermined mould. Ultimately, for many of us, society dictates how we live our lives more than we do. I realized that this is also how we treat the natural world. Humanity has developed quite an affinity for figuring out how to control Mother Nature; only allowing her untamed, wild beauty to fully flourish in areas that we have either deemed uninhabitable or where we can capitalize on ecotourism to glean more profits. Even with the realities of climate change becoming more and more apparent, we still seem to spend more time and energy trying to develop ways to fight against the rising tide of Mother Nature’s response to being pushed out of equilibrium than we do finding ways to change the behaviors and processes that caused it. So I was drawn to create a series inspired by these ideas as seen through the concept of the household terrarium: a controlled environment where plants and succulents can grow with reckless abandon without spilling out of their specific and rigid, predetermined mould. Wild and beautiful, yet ultimately trapped and controlled. Yet, as I was working my way through the initial design phase of the series, I became aware of a crucial missing element to this larger narrative: hope. I am very hopeful for the future and our ability to course correct before it is too late. I am hopeful that humanity will ultimately come together to realize that our home needs protection. Whether it be through the beauty of the natural fibers I used to create them or the fact that many of the abstract “plants” are actually breaking free of the “moulds” and peacefully coexisting with the outside world; I wanted to make sure that sense of hope came through in the final pieces. This was the first body of work in my portfolio that focused on such a fundamentally global issue and I look forward to expanding on it in the near future.

Aspen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Aspen Debyah and I am the Owner, Designer, and Artisan behind Poppy & Bee Luxury Home Decor and Textiles. I specialize in handmade luxury resin home decor and handwoven wall hangings made of premium fibers.

I started Poppy & Bee in 2022, after receiving a lot of encouragement from my partner to share my work with others. I have had an affinity for the art of weaving since I was a child but the opportunity to learn the skills and techniques of the trade didn’t come until I was working from home full-time and trying to find a way to channel a surplus of creative energy while making sense of the ups and down of life and the collective issues facing society. Resin and fiber arts became this inspiring way for me to process past trauma, abuse, grief, and loss while creating pieces that had the potential to inspire joy, hope, and fantasy. I’ve also always had a soft spot, and natural eye, for Interior Design so it became this “ah-ha” moment when I realized I could make fiber art and home decor for others. Growing up in an unstable home myself, I think I’ve always wanted to help others make their home feel safe, welcoming, and full of joy. To give people the thing I wanted most as a child. So I jumped in and just ran with the idea, adding to my product offerings, and making changes as I made mistakes and learned from them. I’m still very much in the early days of the business and my own artistic journey, but I’m so grateful for this opportunity and excited for the next crazy idea that I get to make a reality.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Easily the impact my work has on my customers, and the fact that I get to be part of their lives and a small piece of their story. Whether someone is purchasing a piece for their own home or as a gift for a loved one, there is no feeling that compares to the joy of someone being inspired or moved by my work. There is also something incredibly connecting about creating things with your own hands, using your own creative voice, and then finding other people who see your work and completely understand your point of view. Art has the ability to communicate things that language and gestures can miss, and being part of that is definitely a lifelong reward.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It’s easier said than done, but if we want to live in a society that supports artists/creatives we have to collectively shift our priorities from speed and trends to quality and craftsmanship. Of course I understand that most people (myself included) don’t have the budgets to afford high-priced “fine” art, but there are artists all over the world that make amazing handmade art and decor at every price range. The best part is that supporting an artist or creative small business often has a ripple effect of supporting other businesses in the local community and being better for the environment. For example, I source nearly all of the yarn and fibers that I use in my weavings from fellow fiber artists and yarn spinners. Purchasing a piece from my boutique means you are supporting me, the spinner I sourced the yarn from, and the environment because I specifically look for and work with high-quality, organic, and ethically sourced fibers and supplies. It also means you end up with a unique, one of a kind piece that hopefully captures your design style even better than a trendy, mass produced piece would.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PoppyBeeLuxuryDecor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poppybee_luxurydecor/

Image Credits
All images were taken and/or are owned by Aspen Debyah.