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

Molly, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Over the past 18 months I’ve taken the opportunity to embark on a very meaningful and difficult personal project. I decided to build my own A-frame art studio in my backyard. I didn’t have any real building experience or skills, but because I’m the kind of person who learns by doing, enjoys working with my hands and loves designing and making things, I believed I could hopefully accomplish my goal. I have always had an interest in design and architecture, and have taken a few classes here and there. These include a high school architecture class, an eco-design course in college in which I learned about timber framing, strawbale structures, and cobb plastering, a tiny home class at the local community college and most recently, an eco-dome intro class at Cal-Earth. At some point I realized that I would really love to build my own house someday.
After I opened my business in 2016, I found myself working in my garage, outside on the back patio, or most often in my dining room. I didn’t have a great spot that was all my own for project work and storage. I began to dream of creating another place at home for my business and personal sacred space. I thought about buying a shed, but couldn’t find anything that felt aesthetically pleasing or the right fit for me. Eventually, I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to finally build my own place with a design that I love that fits in the space that I had available. I also decided that I wanted to build it all on my own, so that I could gain building skills and understand the process completely.
I bought a beginner friendly design online, began preparing the foundation, ordered and cut the wood, and the rest is history. At times, the physical labor was very difficult and I had to figure out a few tricks for lifting heavy beams and plywood above my head and into place. Sometimes it also took a while to understand the limited directions. I had some fun improvising on the door frame, finishing the wood siding with a Japanese technique called Shou Sugi Ban, and am adding wool insulation and a loft to the interior. I’m so happy with my little 10 x 12 art studio and all the new skills I’ve gained in building it. I hope to inspire others to follow their dreams, even if they aren’t sure how it’s all going to work out.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I opened my business, Eclectic Ox, after a friend asked me if they could purchase one of my designs. I was apprenticing at a local shop, learning about laser cut wood furniture design and fabrication at the time. I was so inspired by everything I was learning and the endless possibilities of what I could create and also the growing stack of scrap wood in the shop. Sustainability, reuse, and recycling have always been very important to me, The wood we were using at the shop was already Forest Stewardship Council Certified wood, meaning that it is ethically produced with high standards in an environmentally responsible and socially beneficial manner, and I thought it would be even better if I could work my designs around using the extra scrap wood rather than throwing it out.
I began by making earrings, coasters, and steam bent bracelets, which became the impetus for selling my creations. I went on to create clocks, jewelry boxes, signs, necklaces, moon phase and rainbow mobiles, sacred geometry and other wall decor, and hanging room divider screens. I also drew a California Poppy illustration, which I had made into lapel pins and patches. I sold my designs online at Etsy, in a few local shops, and at various craft shows around Southern California. Connecting with people locally and around the world, who loved my designs was really rewarding. I had always dreamed of owning my own business, and the way that it just organically happened feels very magical.
After a few years, rather than expanding with the growth of my business, I chose to take a break to focus on my family and new projects. I can still be contacted for custom work through my Etsy site where many of my past designs can be viewed, but I don’t have any listings currently offered. I am however, continuously designing and making new things.

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

Developing designs from an idea in my mind to an actual physical object I can see or hold is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist. I also greatly enjoy the process of learning and growth that happens each time I create something, especially when it’s the first time. It’s often not easy, but I love overcoming the difficulties and the new possibilities that pop up when something doesn’t turn out as planned. A favorite quote from Kahlil Gibran that really sums it all up says, “Work is love made visible.”

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Using natural and/or recycled/found materials is something I’m really passionate about in my art. I would like to become more adept at sourcing and designing with discarded materials for my projects, because it just seems like there is so much waste and I know we could all do a better job of reusing available resources.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://eclecticox.etsy.com
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/molly-croteau-24ab765

Image Credits
Molly Croteau