Meet Jarrod

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

Jarrod, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

It’s hard to say that anyone can actually find their one “purpose” in life. I believe it is an ever-evolving goal that you’re constantly figuring out. One chapter in life can lead to decisions that direct one towards a positive goal. When you take the time to follow these seemingly small paths you can find your momentary or temporary purpose. When I look at life as small stages it can be easier to digest and I think it’s not so daunting.

Currently, I find my purpose as being the best dad that I can be. This means spending as much time as possible with my boys while still providing for our family. This can be a delicate balance and I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I have without a partner like Francesca at my side. We work as a team to turn what was once a side hustle into a thriving business. Every day I take small pieces of wood and create small batches of one-of-a-kind creations. Each piece is a small building block to create an income to facilitate our family experience. Just like life, when I break things down to daily decisions and creations it’s not so daunting as thinking about a whole year or an entire lifetime.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I started working with wood in my teens after inheriting a few tools from my grandfather. In the beginning, I made things like tables, boxes, etc. What you might usually associate with woodworking. Around 2006, a friend asked me to make her a pair of earrings and I eagerly agreed. Then, another friend wanted a pair. And another. Soon, I focused all of my woodworking time on making wood jewelry and would sell it from behind the bar of the brewery I worked for.

I grew a reputation as “that guy who makes cool wood jewelry” and began showing my work at local artist markets. I began selling on Etsy around 2012. I made a nice little side income and continued working in the service industry. It wasn’t until 2019 that I decided to take my woodworking full-time. My wife, Francesca, and I were planning on starting a family and we wanted to ensure one parent could be home with the baby. The business took off, with us selling pretty much everything online on our website (brambleswoodwork.com). My wife left her job in early 2021 to work for Brambles and we haven’t looked back since.

My work is inspired by Mid Century design, architecture (especially Frank Lloyd Wright), and the natural world. I don’t add any stain or dye to my work either; all natural colors! We host weekly shop updates on Saturday at 12pm EDT. Most pieces usually sell out within an hour – a very good problem to have!

At this point, our goal is to maintain our current flow. We have two small kids and ensuring we have plenty of time with them is our top priority. I feel incredibly lucky to make my art my living and take advantage of the flexibility in my schedule as much as possible.

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?

I think the most important quality that’s helped me get to where I am today is my creativity. I was homeschooled from a young age and had ample time to explore and experiment with the world around me. I remember I was always tinkering around with one project or another and my parents gave me plenty of encouragement to pursue whatever it was that I was interested in. The work I create now requires a lot of creativity, not to mention a high level of output, so I don’t have time to waste on second-guessing myself.

Another quality that’s helped me along the way is my curiosity. I’m always pursuing projects and lines of inquiry even if I don’t necessarily have the time. This kinda goes hand-in-hand with creativity in helping me find new paths to take.

My advice to folks looking to improve upon those qualities is to step outside of your comfort zone! I would never have found this path if I hadn’t started working with tools I had no idea how to use. I figured it out. I really trust my vision too, so I would advise that others do the same. It’s really easy to be critical of the creative side of us but I urge you to encourage and celebrate it. Even if the thing you’re doing isn’t perfect, it’s something YOU made. And that is its own level of success.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I credit my parents for a lot, especially in how they encouraged and celebrated the creative side of me. My mom homeschooled me and my siblings and was very hands-on in her teaching approach. She also gave us ample time to be on our own to pursue our own creative paths. This has helped me so much in finding my creative voice and approaching projects with a can-do attitude.

My dad was also really helpful in showing me how to fix and repair things myself. He always took the time to explain to me what he was doing and how and that’s helped me to have the confidence today of trying new things and figuring it out along the way.

Now that I’m a father, I look to the example my parents set as a guidepost to how I want my kids to see me.

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