Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Ferrantino. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Danielle, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

Honestly, I’m happiest as a creative. That’s where I feel the most alive — when I’m building something from nothing… not repeating what already exists.

But yeah… sometimes I’ve wondered what it would feel like to just have a normal job again.

The last time I felt that was when I was still waiting tables. It was endless — refills, orders, smiling, timing, tending to everyone else’s urgency before my own. I’m good at hospitality, but I could literally feel myself disappearing into routine. Like if I wasn’t careful, I’d blink and that would be my whole life.

And part of me got why people stay there. It’s safe. Someone else already wrote the rules. You clock in, you clock out, you don’t have to risk anything.

But then I’d come home late, tired, and scribble ideas. And one night the word “Drift” just landed. That single word felt like oxygen. Like permission. Like a doorway into something bigger than survival.

That was the pivot that changed so much for us.

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?

Hi, I’m Danielle Ferrantino, founder of Driftheory — Art Inspired by Nature.

A little of my story begins in 2015, when I spent over a year traveling through Indonesia, Bali, and Central America. I wandered villages where tiny woven baskets of offerings sat on temple steps, discovered waterfalls hidden like secret portals, and meditated in sacred, undiscovered places. I watched communities live in rhythm with nature for the first time- Those experiences changed me and shaped what home felt like for me. Coming back to Sarasota, I saw my own coastline with new eyes — the sand, shells, and palms alive in ways I’d never noticed before. I didn’t want that feeling to fade and neither my travels.

I began exploring the Gulf Coast slowly, purposefully, and minimally. I remember taking my bicycle to the Sarasota Bayfront and laying beneath the banyan trees, reflecting on my life and what my time away had taught me. I started collecting small fragments from the places that moved me — shells, petals, palm textures, weathered by sun, wind, and tide. Resin became the perfect medium to preserve these moments and memories. That’s where Driftheory began.

Today, Driftheory has grown into so much more. Those early memories transformed into handcrafted Resin jewelry, décor, and artifacts from the places we love — each piece tied to its location and entirely one-of-a-kind. We also host beach classes, or what we call “experiences,” where people can reconnect with nature, create their own pieces, and enjoy mindful walks along the coast. We have designed a movement where nature becomes art, memory becomes matter, and the world around us becomes something you can carry forward — forever preserved in epoxy resin.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Honestly, I could happily say that all of our following is organic since the beginning. Putting in place real connections that understand who we are and what we do for our brand and mission has always been a focus for me as our followings slowly build over time. Becoming the first Resin Jewelry Designer in Sarasota, Florida in 2017 I’m so grateful to be able to share these memorabilia charms and have our dedicated clients come back year after year.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

We believe society supports creatives best by truly valuing them, not just consuming their work. That means investing in local makers, keeping spaces open, inclusive, non-judgemental, and allowing freedom to experiment.

When community leads with curiosity instead of comparison… collaboration becomes effortless. That’s how creative ecosystems grow. Support an artist and you can support the culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.driftheory.com
• Instagram: www.driftheory.com/driftheory
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driftheoryart