Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Steele.
Hi Brianna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In July 2020, my service as an AmeriCorps VISTA was coming to an end. I had a lot of ideas of what I was going to accomplish, and one of those ideas was starting a new macrame hobby. So, I went to YouTube University to learn how to create a simple plant hanger because I have a dream of living in an indoor jungle. The moment I posted my creation, I began receiving inquiries for purchase. It was those interested individuals who inspired me to start OleGirlHouse on August 1, 2020.
Overall, being able to learn weaving patterns, knots, and different fiber art techniques from other designers have really helped mold me into the Fiber Art Designer I am today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. My most prominent struggle was not having a source of income after my service ended. I had a job lined up to be a part of a production team but it fell through for reasons unknown. I truly had no idea how I was going to invest in my business to build it. It got to a point where I had to choose between my peace of mind and leaving my apartment behind to move in with a family member. I chose myself over the societal standards of struggling through it all. With two children, it was not the most comfortable decision but it was a necessary one for my own peace of mind.
I was also challenged in Entrepreneurship because I tried to conform to what everyone else was doing. All you hear when starting your business is to be consistent, you’re going to work 24/7 as an entrepreneur, sleeping is for suckers, so on and so on. If you let everyone else tell you how to do it, you’ll be burned out and uninterested before you know it. So, I had to re-evaluate for myself what my success is going to look like. I decided to always do MY best as Don Miguel Ruiz said in The Four Agreements. Now being able to do so without self-judgment has not always been the easiest but learning how to plan content has been my saving grace. So instead of conforming to what other people were doing, I listened to myself which is what worked best for me. Some people have instant growth and others have slow and steady. In both cases, they eventually learned to do what was best for themselves and their business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
By day, I am a Clothing Closet Manager at a non-profit organization. At night, I am a Fiber Artist and Digital Artist. As a Fiber Artist, I am known for filling sacred spaces with love and life by incorporating spiritual elements into my work. As a Digital Artist, I am known for turning personal photos into portraits. I love highlighting melanin beings from a positive, diverse perspective.
I am most proud of my growth as a self-taught artist. It is very interesting to see where I started versus where I am today, especially as a digital artist. I used to draw with a mouse in Photoshop and now I use ProCreate to bring new images to life. I also use to add a spin on other people’s designs in macrame and now I sketch and design my own fiber art.
What sets me apart is definitely being able to include spiritual elements into my fiber art and digital art; and also, turning wall art into functional art. I am always seeking a way to challenge myself and how to stand out from others and I think 2022 will certainly reflect that.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Funny enough, I was a very shy, goofy, and serious child. I could dish a joke but I couldn’t take one. I was so open-minded, I wanted to try everything. I wanted to explore fashion design, ballet dance, singing, playing the guitar, playing basketball, being a band dance girl, and the list goes on. Unfortunately, I didn’t speak up enough as a child and due to my shy nature, I was too scared to try out for a lot of things. So, the only thing I was able to experience was being a cheerleader. One of the interests that have always stuck with me was the need to start any business I could think of. I learned how to hand sew on my own in middle school. I babysat for a neighbor during the summer. I even watered my next-door neighbor’s yards when they were out of town. As I am laughing looking back on all of this, one thing for certain is all types of people have always gravitated towards me.
Contact Info:
- Email: brianna@olegirlhouse.com
- Website: www.olegirlhouse.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/olegirlhouse
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/lifeofbristeele
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/olegirlhouse
- Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/olegirlhouseco
Image Credits:
Custom Lettered
Yin & Yang by Tre’Oshula Monet
