I’m very happy to be sharing an interview with Brittney of Wool + Wood Co. Brittney has beautiful graphic style and she experiments with her style a lot. Just scrolling through her Instagram feed, there are so many pieces that I love, like this weave and this one
… ok basically everything. So let’s read about Brittney’s weaving journey…
How did you first come across weaving?
I actually started weaving in 2012 when I was blogging. It was a hobby at the time, and I actually stopped for about 6 months, until I decided to start selling them and make Wool + Wood Co in 2013!
What time of day do you feel most creative?
I usually feel most creative at night – which causes a lot of insomnia! My brain doesn’t shut off and sometimes I just HAVE to execute an idea I have at the time.
Do you have a creative ritual?
Not necessarily. I do stretch before weaving, and then put some music on, and always a candle or essential oils to relax me. I never want weaving (as my job) to feel like its something I have to do, but rather something I enjoy doing. I am the most creative when I have time to relax and just let things flow. I do however, work great under pressure as well and some of my best pieces were made in under 24 hours lol.
Are you a messy creative or an organized creative?
Best of both worlds, really. To start, I need to be organized. So I will start the week off with a clean desk/office and everything in place. Set out a list, answer emails, get supplies together. By Wednesday its a mess in here. I can’t see my list, supplies, and computer. I have to search for tapestry needles, hope my daughter didn’t unwind all my yarn balls, wait – why are there cheerios on the floor? I would like to stay organized, I have always been that way, but I will definitely say being a mother has changed that a lot for me haha. Once the week is over, its back to cleaning on Sunday and do it all over again Monday! Not every week is the same and sometimes the mess goes on for a month, but thats about my breaking point lol.
What is your process for coming up with new ideas? Do you start with materials or an idea first?
I’m stuck on neutral colors this year, so usually I start with ideas first rather than materials/colors. These ideas come at night or right there at the loom. Sometimes I will draw up something, but only if its going to be on a big scale (about 24” and above). Sometimes if I am just creating for the fun of it, I will pick out materials first and go from there.
Do you have a preferred material that you like to use?
I am loving cottons lately, and I have always loved merino roving.
How is making things important in your life? What does being a maker mean to you?
Making things is important in my life because its my livelihood. It’s how I help our little family out. I traded my corporate job for my own business, and it was a scary decision. But not only that, it’s important to me because art has always been a big part of my life. Being a maker to me shows that you have self discipline, a creative mind, a loving soul, and at the same time a wild heart, emotional and sometimes crazy mind, and overall a passion for life. Making is living, its amazing to me that you can make something with your hands that reflects your emotions, wether they’re happy, sad, content, lazy, excited, etc. You have the gift to brighten or darken a room, add love, or balance emotions out. Your artwork can effect other human being’s emotions. That really is amazing to me.
What is your most favorite creation and why?
My most favorite creation was my first 48” piece ever. It was for a shop friend, turned real friend, Jada from Little Willow Tree. She gave me the color palette and this is a piece I drew out on paper. I would like to add that about 70% of what you write on paper, won’t actually make it to the weave lol! Sometimes the weave has a mind of its own. I knew I wanted tons of texture and tassels. I spent days just cutting the yarn for the tassels. Days weaving the body of it. And days hand embroidering the moon phases on there. I added that as a surprise for Jada, because she has them tattooed across her chest. I always want my weavings to have a personal touch. It was really hard and frustrating embroidering those moons, but I am so glad I did. It was my first HUGE piece and it taught me a lot about myself. I can get impatient and stubborn, but I can also find peace in such a huge task, and feel extremely grateful for friends and this labor of love.
What advice do you have for those wanting to find their own style?
In the beginning of my business, I actually didn’t follow hashtags like #weave #weaving #tapestry, etc because I didn’t want anyone’s style influencing mine. I truly wanted to find my own style. That may have separated me from the community for a little bit, but it truly did let me find my own style. I would say take a break from social media. You know how bloggers are always posting real shots from their life, with captions about how their life isn’t perfect and we only see the perfect squares on Instagram? The same can apply to weaving. Not every single one of my creations was thought of in a day, made in a day, and my skill definitely wasn’t where its at now in a day. Don’t compare yourself to another weaver. Once I found MY style and I was truly confident in it, I then started to join weaving communities (which are great btw! Just because you find your style, doesn’t mean you can’t learn and use new techniques). In the end, you’re always going to use the same colors as someone else eventually. The same techniques. How you use those things together, is what makes up your style.
|| Five mini questions to get to know you a little better ||
Are you a eat in or take out person?
I TRY so hard to be eat in. We eat in almost every meal now, and take out about 1-2X a week. I used to be so bad at take out, especially when you’re busy! But we are making a conscious effort to eat in most days.
If you could pick your last meal what would it be?
My last meal ever would be spaghetti & bread, a Dr. Pepper or peach sweet tea, and for dessert I would like a cheesecake with chocolate covered strawberries on top lol.
What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is black because it’s so versatile. I can be playful, sophisticated, laid back, or edgy.
Are you a book or movie person? And what is a good one you’d recommend?
I used to be a book person but I haven’t really read in a good while. Last thing I read was a book by Mindy Kaling.
Do you prefer relaxing beach vacations or on the move sight-seeing vacations?
I am definitely a on the move sight seeing type of girl. I really can’t stand the beach for long periods of time. My hair gets super frizzy, I hate being hot, and sand gets eeezverywhere. But also, I have always lived about an hour or two from a beach so maybe I am just tired of it. I would love to be in some mountains right now, in 60 degree weather vs 101 here in Texas!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My biggest advice for someone starting to weave, is just to just weave! The Weaving Loom has great tutorials and the weaving community is SO nice, I am sure none of us would mind questions! I certainly don’t (:
You can find Wool + Wood Co at:
- website: www.woolandwood.co
- email: info@woolandwood.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/woolandwoodco
Thanks Brittney!!
If I had to pick my favorite part of these interviews, I think the advice on finding your own style would be it. And Brittney has some great advice! She’s so right about great weaves not always happening in one day. We’ve all had a great idea that just didn’t work out and also ideas that weren’t working out that came around after a lot of work and re-work. So always keep at it! I also very much relate to Brittney’s organization strategy during the creative process. I start out strong and then things become a mess, which lasts a bit until I can’t take it anymore, haha *sigh*.
Were there any thoughts of Brittney’s that really resonated with you or inspired you? Which weave of Brittney’s do you like the best?
Happy Weaving!
Kate
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