Looking for a personalized, handmade leather item to give as a meaningful gift for yourself or a loved one? Look no further than Ox & Pine, a small business that crafts personalized leather goods such as journals, wallets, dog leashes, and more. In this interview, Stephanie Brown shares the story of how she got started and grew her business over the past eight years. Discover why journals are her favorite item, the best piece of advice she's received as an artist, and specials to watch for at the Spring Bash. With a supportive family, great team members, and wonderful customers, the future looks bright for Ox & Pine.
Tell us about the products you make.
We make personalized, handmade leather goods! From journals to wallets, dog leashes, and more, we carefully handcraft each item and personalize it just how you want for a meaningful gift for you or a loved one.
Is there a story behind your shop/business name?
It's a simple meaning hidden in our name. Ox like a cow for leather and Pine like trees for paper. Since journals were our first product, it fits!
What is your favorite product that you create?
Journals! I love a good, personalized leather journal. I have a box full of journals I liked as a kid, and some of those journals served as design inspiration for some of our journals. While I don't fill journals as quickly as I did when I was a kid, I treasure the memories that are contained in my journals. And I want others to treasure their memories and have something they love to write in.
What does your art-making process look like?
I love having time to think and make several iterations of a design until I feel it meets beauty and functions. I tend to lean towards clean lines and functionality. I don't put a design out there that I'm not fully confident in aesthetics, construction, and function.
How would you describe your workspace?
We have a warehouse where we make and ship everything from. We have large tables and shelving and our tools that help us in the making process!
What led you to start your business? How did you get started, and how has the journey been so far?
As I got married and we started having kids, I was looking for something that could be my own. I had really gotten into bookbinding and leatherworking and often worked on projects during my kids' naps. I had come across Etsy and thought it would be fun to sell my own journals. So, I worked on a journal design, painstakingly took pictures, and put up my first listings on Etsy. It was just before Thanksgiving, and I ended up selling out by Christmas! I didn't have a ton of journals in stock, but it was fun to see that happen.
That's when I started getting intentional about running my business. Over the past 8 years, we've gained a great group of team members and have a warehouse location now. It has come with a lot of challenges and continues to stretch me and my team. I enjoy making leather goods and being a small part of the meaningful gifts our customers are giving!
How did you get to where you are today?
A supportive family, good team members, and wonderful customers have gotten us to where we are today! It's been figuring out how to find the right team members and the proper training and support that has made a big difference. It's also been figuring out how to serve a customer well and following through with how we would want to be treated as a customer. The product itself is just one part of a larger picture, and we always work to make the very best product. We've been in business for almost 8 years now, and I can't wait to see what the future holds!
What was the first item you ever made/sold?
Journals are the first items I made and sold! And one of my favorites!
What makes your pieces special?
That we carefully handcraft each piece and personalize it with individual metal pieces by applying heat and pressure for a beautiful impression in the leather. You get to choose the personalization--anything from initials to a name or meaningful phrase. It truly makes it unique and your own.
Which of your pieces do you think make for a meaningful gift?
Journals are especially meaningful because they're so personal. You can personalize it for yourself or someone else to make it special. Then, you fill that journal with yourself. It preserves your memories and thoughts forever. Also, our personalized leather lanyards and personalized leather bookmarks are so fun. Depending on what you need and what the situation is, most of our products are perfect for a meaningful gift since you can personalize any of our handmade leather goods.
How do you recommend using your pieces?
Everyday use! I hope everyone puts their leather journal, leather dog leash, leather wallet, or other leather goods to use each and every day.
What do you love most about running your business?
Creating relationships with team members and hearing customers’ stories! Our customers are very sentimental and often share very touching stories with us. It makes it feel special for us to be a small part of that.
What inspires you, and how do you stay inspired?
Working with others and problem solving, coming up with something beautiful and functional.
What do you spend time doing when you aren't running your business or creating?
I love to spend time with my family! We like to watch movies, make cookies, and just hang out together.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an artist?
It's hard to choose one! So many people along the way have given me bits and pieces of advice that have helped move me along. With that in mind, I would say that making connections and continuing to learn is the best advice I've learned over the years.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I try to do something else totally unrelated for a while and then come back to it!
What are the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Figuring out how to hire others and train and support them well. Figuring out where to get materials when your usual place is out. Repairing machines. How much space do we have for challenges? Haha! There are new things every day!
Why do you think people are drawn to your style?
I think they like something meaningful that gets better over time. Leather is unique with its markings and the patina it gains with use.
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
I don't know if I can pick one person, but I've always been inspired by the art others create!
What couldn’t you do without?
My family! They're an amazing support, and I really love spending time with them.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
To fly! I think it would be great to have that kind of perspective and travel ability.
Is your shop offering anything special at the Spring Bash?
We'll have our famous Fan Favorite Leather Luggage Tags for $2 and our lovingly dubbed Cheery Mishaps for 50% off! We're also personalizing on-the-spot so you can leave with your beautiful leather goods personalized.
Anything else you'd like to share with us before we wrap up?
We have an adorable micro mini labradoodle that's very much a part of our family. In fact, our youngest two kids act like she's more of a sibling--telling on her when she's chasing them or complaining that she's bugging them, haha!
Many thanks to Stephanie of Ox & Pine!
Be sure to shop Ox & Pine and follow along on social.