We were lucky to catch up with Jarrod recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jarrod, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I host weekly drops of my work and, fortunately for us, it sells out (or comes close to it) every single drop. This gives me the unique opportunity to keep producing and, as a result, to keep tapping into my creativity.
One of the selling points of my jewelry is, I believe, its one-of-a-kind nature. I make new designs every week which means I am spending lots of creative energy developing, experimenting, problem-solving, etc. My customers seem to love it as they are able to build their collections with new work, but it can be exhausting to NEED to be creative.
I find the greatest tool to keep my creativity flowing is to always carve time outside in nature. My work is rooted very much in the natural world, so it makes sense I would draw inspiration from it. I rarely say no to a design idea that comes to mind. Even if it seems like it’ll be too difficult to bring to life or time-consuming. The process of figuring out how to bring what’s in my mind to a tangible object is an addictive sort of journey for me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Jarrod, and I’m the artist/woodworker behind Brambles Woodwork. I run the biz, along with my wife, Francesca, who handles the marketing/photography/customer service side of things.
I started woodworking in my teens after inheriting some tools from my grandfather. I didn’t have any formal training, just lots of time to tinker on whatever I felt like doing. My first projects were things like boxes, small tables, and cutting boards.
My focus on jewelry began in 2006 when a friend asked me to make her a pair of earrings. Then another friend asked for a pair. And another. Soon enough, much of my free time was spent in my workshop making jewelry for my pals. I worked at a brewery at the time so I would bring my wares into work and sell them from behind the bar. Around this time, I started showing at local artist markets and word of my work began to spread.
After years of working in the service industry and keeping woodworking as a hobby to earn some extra income, I decided to take it full-time in 2019. Pieces were selling out every week on our website and we were planning to start a family so it just made sense to take this step. Scary as it was.
Turns out, it was a great idea! We had our first son in 2020 and I was able to be a stay-at-home dad while also making jewelry in my little workshop. Things went so well that Francesca left her marketing job in early 2021 to help with the Brambles biz.
My work is inspired largely by Mid Century design (specifically the work of Frank Lloyd Wright) and the natural world, especially our corner of it here in West Michigan. I don’t add any stain or dye to my work (yet I showcase every color of the rainbow) and much of the wood I use is foraged or reclaimed.
Pieces typically go on sale every Saturday at 12pm EDT, unless we say otherwise. Make sure to sign up for the email newsletter too (link in bio) as we drop special perks for subscribers weekly.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the most important qualities that I’ve embodied since I was a boy is my drive to make art. I was always tinkering with crafts and outdoor projects as a child, which then turned into music and woodworking as a teenager into my adult years. I was homeschooled and had a lot of free time to explore my interests which helped nurture this drive in me.
Another quality is my endless curiosity. I wasn’t formally trained in woodworking so I credit my curiosity in getting me to where I am now, skill-wise. I looked at the tools I was given and, rather than saying “oh I should have some training first”, I just kinda dove in and figured it out. I approach most things that way and, I find, it suits me
Also, I have little fear of failure which, as a small business owner, can be a beneficial or detrimental quality to have (depending on who you ask). I usually will see an idea through to the end, even if it seems a bit risky or unpopular. If I do find doubt creeping in, I can move past it easily and not give weight to whatever it might be saying. Most of the time, anyway.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth in the past year has to be my constant development as a dad. My wife and I have two young sons and have the privilege of being home with them 100% of the time (since we both work from home). Being a dad has helped me improve on so many skills including patience, problem-solving, managing my emotions, and so much more. I see it as something I won’t ever master, but will continue to work on and improve at as time goes on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brambleswoodwork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brambleswoodwork/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brambleswoodwork
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brambles_woodwork
Image Credits
Francesca Jasinski
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
