I'm Darbi, owner of boxwood brake, and I come from a family of makers. When I was growing up, my mother owned an arts and crafts store where she sold art supplies and held classes for painting, drawing, ceramics, etc... I was always creating and making things as a child and this love followed me throughout life. I studied art at the University of Tennessee and received a degree for both painting and art history. While in school, I met (and fell for...) a talented drawing student -Woods. Our mutual desire for a life supported by our own two hands has led to the opening of our brick and mortar shop, boxwood brake. We wanted a place where we could not only spend our days making and selling our goods, but also a place to learn new skills and teach the ones we have to others.
Opening the store was an enormous undertaking, but it reignited a creative flame in my family that has been the most incredible part of the whole experience.
Daisy, my grandmother, bought me my sewing machine and taught me how to use it. We have spent endless nights making patterns and clothing and pillows together. Her teaching has led me to a deep love of textiles and an even deeper appreciation for the power of needle and thread. My mother has spent hours helping me refinishing furniture, making jewelry and has been the perfect eye for design in the shop. Woods spends his days drawing and painting some incredible works, both for commission and for the shop. Atlas lounges around and is always available between naps for some employee motivation.
Woods and I teach classes at our shop for painting, jewelry making, gardening, etc... We hope to spread our passion for the handmade to everyone we can... In an increasingly factory-made world... the good things are made "often imperfect, but always with love"