Meet Jarrod Napierkowski | Woodworker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jarrod Napierkowski and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jarrod, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
One of the greatest privileges of being able to work from home is well, working from home. I’m a dad to two young boys, ages 3.5 and 8 mos. and being present for them during this stage of their life is a huge priority. While I try to work in the workshop every day, I also make sure that I am spending the mornings and evenings with my family. After all, one of the reasons we chose to go all in on the woodworking business was for the schedule flexibility and we take advantage of it as much as possible. That said, being your own boss and working from home can be demanding and difficult seeing that everything you need to make money is literally steps away. I have to remind myself to take breaks and that it’s ok to have days off.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started woodworking as a hobby in my teens and began focusing on jewelry around 2006 when a friend asked me to make her a pair of earrings. Word spread and I was soon attending local artist markets and selling my work from behind the bar of the brewery where I worked.

For years, it remained a hobby and something that earned a bit of extra income. That all changed in 2019, when I left the restaurant industry for good and went all in on Brambles Woodwork. My wife, Francesca, and I were planning to start a family at the time and we thought it would afford us the ability to have a stay-at-home parent while still earning two incomes. We found that our audience couldn’t get enough and week after week, my work would sell out. Soon after, my wife was able to leave her marketing job to focus on the business/marketing side of Brambles. While the process has had its challenges, the benefits have made up for them in spades.

I work mainly with wood, much of which is found on hikes near our home in Ada, MI. I’m proud to say I don’t use any stain, dye, or paint in my work and all the colors you see are natural. I’m inspired by Mid Century design and the natural world, specifically our beautiful corner of the Midwest. I absolutely love working with wood and creating pieces that can be worn. Knowing that the art I create is helping define someone’s style aesthetic is an honor. It’s the best.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, we’d take someone visiting the area to my absolute favorite place on earth: Saugatuck Dunes! My wife, Francesca, and I have spent countless hours hiking, beachgoing, and exploring the beautiful terrain of this area. Plus, we were married at the Felt Estate, a gorgeous early-20th century mansion built in the dunes, so it’s extra special. The nearby town of Saugatuck is a fantastic day-trip option for antiquing, restaurants, or just walking around.

In the Grand Rapids-area, we’d want to take them to Frederick Meijer Gardens for an afternoon visit. This huge sculpture park is filled with beautiful plants, walking paths, and art. We go at least once a week as a family.

We’d also head to Seidman Park for a hike and to take in the lovely local flora and fauna. After our hike, we’d grab a sandwich at the Schnitz Deli in Ada.

If they were visiting on the weekend, we’d definitely go to the Fulton St. Farmer’s Market and get some fixings for lunch.

We don’t get out much these days seeing that we have two young kiddos, but if we did, we’d probably want to catch a show at the Pyramid Scheme. Not only does this venue bring in some fantastic performers, it also has one of the largest collections of vintage pinball machines. The perfect way to pass the time while you wait for the show to start.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When my wife, Francesca, and I set out to turn my woodworking hobby into the family business, we laid out all of the things that were important to us. We wanted this pursuit to be something we could both enjoy while starting our family. Many of these ideas we were able to execute by putting our heads together and working through the problems. Francesca and I are kind of yin and yang when it comes to personality types so we work well together and tie up each other’s loose ends.

We did find that there were a number of questions that we couldn’t answer, however.So, we turned to our family members, friends, and community of local artists to help. I went to my dad for financial advice; he started his own business when I was a boy. I went to the dynamic duo at Gemini Handmade, a local handmade shop, for small business and tax advice. They’ve been running a successful business/art co-op for years and I value their ideals. We spoke with and learned from local artists and entrepreneurs like Alynn Guerra, Jen Schaub, Erika Morgan, and Shana Hansma, to name a few. They gave us valuable advice and insight that we couldn’t have found on our own. I also observed many local artists that I admire greatly follow their hearts and passions to create what was in their heads. We have a really solid artistic community here in West Michigan and I found immense support as I started to find my way as an artist. I wouldn’t have had the guts to pursue a passion like this were it not for this love, compassion, and support.

And, of course, I owe a lot to my mother and her undying support of my creative ambitions. She has always encouraged me to pursue the passions in my heart, no matter what anyone else thinks about them. That motivation has contributed greatly to my sense of confidence; a quality that is more of a necessity when your artwork is also your business.

Website: brambleswoodwork.com

Instagram: @brambleswoodwork

Facebook: @brambleswoodwork

Other: TikTok: @brambles_woodwork

Image Credits
Francesca Jasinski