a family of makers

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 my handmade shop, boxwood brake.
What was once a quaint little brick and mortar store has transitioned into my true passion of a more nomadic shop style. I now pop up my tent at the farmers markets in both Knoxville and Chattanooga on the weekends, I travel all over the southeast for events and festivals, and I even host house parties! I have so much fun traveling and meeting amazing new people but it means I'm not always the easiest person to bump into...so I've expanded my shop online and now offer both handmade and curated goods so you can find me here anytime... even when I'm a thousand miles from home!

Opening my shop 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 sewing 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 recently joined the sewing club and is our blouse extraordinaire. Woods spends his days drawing and painting some incredible works, both for commission and for his own shop www.woodshippensteal.com. He is an inspiration every day. Our dog Atlas lounges around and is always available between naps for some employee motivation.
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"