Local Therapist Turns Love of Crafting Into Small Art Business

WILLIAMSBURG— Brittany Stroup has found a way to turn a craft she loves into a business to share with the community.

Stroup works as a therapist during the week, moved to the area 10 years ago, and lives here with her three children. She has noted that she always enjoyed doing arts and craft activities, even back in high school, she recalled doing sculpey art for projects.

Her sculptures and art have always been a side hobby for her that was just for her, not her clients, kids, or anyone else. However, as time went on, she found a lack of space made her consider an alternative, and so she went into business.

“I’ve just gotten really into it, and I just enjoy it so much, and I can do it pretty quickly,” she explained. “I gave a lot away and then at a certain point, I was like, well, let me try one of these craft fairs and see if I can put it out there.”

“This isn’t why I did it, but it’s been really cool to have the experience of making things that other people want to take home and want to put in their house or want to put on their desk or want to gift to friends,” she continued. “I love making these kinds of things, and I want to keep making them.”

There are two main craft styles that Stroup offers. The first are sculptures with succulents made out of clay, and the other is done with beads.

She recalled working with her kids, though working with air-dry clay when they were younger as to how she started making the succulent sculptures.

“At some point, I just started sitting there with them, and I just started playing with it, and I made my little succulent, like the pointy kind of like round succulent, and I just kind of kept making them from there,” she said.

The beaded sculptures started with some beaded cacti she made for her daughter’s teachers. While she doesn’t recall exactly where it came from, she says she often jokes she had a lot of little pots because she killed a lot of little plants, since she says she isn’t very good with real ones.

“I enjoy making these; it brings me a sense of calm and happiness, but also I do like to think that I can hopefully share some of that,” she said.

Currently, Stroup does not have a local market she attends regularly but did note she had a shelf at the Catalillies Play Cafe. She also notes that she usually ends up at events hosted by Billsburg Brewery.

Stroup says the best way to inquire about purchasing one of her pieces is to go to her Facebook page, where she posts pictures of things she’s made and the price. If any parties are interested, they’re welcome to message her.

“I always tell people at craft fairs that they can message me if they have ideas of things that they want and I’m happy to kind of customize them,” she said.

She also express interst in having another in-store installation to carry her art, but at the moment doesn’t have one.

To learn more about her pieces, visit the official Facebook page.