We were lucky to catch up with Brooklynn Graham recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brooklynn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Pinpointing when and where I learned what I do is a more difficult task than I anticipated. Though I’ve tried analyzing and deconstructing my life for a satisfying answer, the truth is that art and making have always been a part of who I am. This is a passion that took root as a child. A child who learned to paint and sew from her grandma, to draw and craft with her mom, and who learned woodworking and an appreciation for material work from her dad. These crafts and skills were the foundation that allowed me to make what I do today.

But where do these building blocks become something functional and cohesive? It was an alignment of circumstance that drove me to make my first functional artwork: a geode-inspired propagation station.

Around the same time the plant hobby was becoming widely popular, we experienced a flood that destroyed part of our home. After rebuilding, we had a few things left over from the building process, including electrical wire. At this point I had fully dove into the plant hobby, and often exchanged cuttings amongst friends and in local plant groups. These were typically rooted in jars and glasses I had on hand, but I began wanting something a bit more decorative.

The propagation stands commercially available at that time didn’t fit what I was looking for, so I decided on designing my own with materials I had on hand. I taught myself how to make molds from silicone caulk and reused plastic backing sheets from another project. I used resin for the classic faux-geode look, and framed test tubes using scrap wire. The design was well received, and I began making more to trade for plants and other art supplies, and eventually I began working with local shops and selling them online. The supplies I traded for and the friendships and connections I made led me into making jewelry, handmade jars and candles, and various pots and planters.

It is a great privilege to have grown up in a family where generational knowledge and lost craft are valued, a community where handmade items are appreciated, and to have a safe place to express and follow my creativity. Through my family I have found art, and through art I have found community.

Brooklynn, 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?

Art has always been a major part of my life, though the mediums I use have varied over time. Currently, my focus is on functional artwork and I am mainly known for my geode-inspired propagation stations and the handmade jars I make for candles.

I got my business start in online plant groups in my local community. There, I was not only able to trade my work for new plants and supplies, I was able to work with plant shops and connect with other artists and small businesses.

Now, I manage an online shop and work with several consignment stores, as well as participate in local events and markets. This allows me to keep consistent branding and inventory in stores and online, while still being able to follow creative impulses for my more varied event selection.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think a lot of people underestimate just how difficult it really is, both practically and emotionally. There’s a common misconception that creative careers are easier, and the value of artistic work is often discounted because of that.

From the emotional vulnerability of putting your work and self out there, to the physical and mental demands of making art or running a business, there is so much that goes into this kind of work beyond what’s physically made. I think it’s important for artists and creatives to acknowledge that in ourselves, because there truly is so much labor that goes unseen and unrecognized.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I often joke that my favorite sentence is “thanks, I made it!” Whether I’m the one saying it, or someone says it to me, it just brings me so much joy. There’s something incredibly validating and rewarding about knowing something handmade is being appreciated, even by just one person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bitsandbaublesart.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bitsandbaublesart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bitsandbaublesart
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bitsandbaublesart

Image Credits

Sarah Horn
Nicole Harris