Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emma Bearden & Jeremy Boyd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Emma & Jeremy , thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
We find that we are happiest when we have the space, both mental and physical, to create. However, things start getting tricky when making a sustainable living comes into play. We both currently have or have had “regular” jobs. We have found it very difficult to maintain a work-life balance when the work we prefer to do (creative work) isn’t enough to sustain us.
We both regularly think about what it would be like to make our passion a hobby and get full time jobs. What keeps us going as creatives are the unexpected moments of connection and joy we find within ourselves, between each other, and with our community. We both value connecting with people through art, making, and meaningful conversation. In moments of doubt or frustration, we focus on our shared long-term goal of making a space accessible, physically and financially, for people to share in our joy of art and community.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
BoogiBear Candles & Ceramics is co-owned by Jeremy Boyd (Boogi) and Emma Bearden (Bear). Jeremy developed a passion for ceramic art at Hoover high school that was revitalized years later during his time at The University of Alabama. Since suffering a spinal cord injury in 2016, Jeremy has been a wheelchair-user. He is constantly trying to redefine what living with a disability looks like, as seen both in his art as well as his three time National Championship stint with the UA Wheelchair Tennis team. Coming back to ceramics after his injury has given him a new perspective and approach to the craft and inspired him to make ceramics more accessible.
Emma met Jeremy in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic and they have been inseparable ever since. During the pandemic, Emma got into candle making and pitched the idea to Jeremy to make some ceramic vessels for her candles. After making and perfecting their candles for family and friends, they decided to bring BoogiBear to the public. What started as a Covid project has now become a business, and Emma has enjoyed being the organized mind to complement her more creative, dreamer counterpart.
Emma and Jeremy are most proud of providing unique and sustainable handcrafted soy candles, that look and smell great. They enjoy connecting with their costumers, especially when it means refilling a vessel that’s already been loved before. They see their small business as just the first step to creating a space where people from all backgrounds and abilities can find community and learn a new craft.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
One of the major resources that has allowed Jeremy to take his ceramic career to the next level has been the Hunter’s Fund, a program of the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund that is “dedicated to empowering young people to pursue their passions and interests”. After sharing BoogiBear with the Hunter’s Fund grant committee, Jeremy was awarded a grant to kickstart the business, allowing him to equip an accessible at-home ceramic studio. Receiving this grant allowed Jeremy to spend far more time creating both ceramic art and candle vessels.
Another resource that has helped BoogiBear has been the Alabama Small Business Development (ASBD) network. Neither Jeremy or Emma have a business-related degree, so being able to receive free counseling from their local ASBD center was tremendously valuable in understanding the legal requirements that come with running a small business.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being creatives is making pieces that connect us to people both near and far. We love the idea of our candles and ceramics being a small part of our customers’ home and daily life. We enjoy how the art and handmade goods in our home make our space feel unique and cozy and find it rewarding to create products that do the same for others.
Contact Info: