Meet Art in the Park Vendor: Laura Rubin

Laura Rubin is a jewelry maker who uses natural materials like wood and flowers combined with resin to create her pieces. She founded Branch + Barrel in 2015 and will be at this year’s Art in the Park sharing her pieces. Steamboat Magazine caught up with her before the weekend.

Steamboat Magazine: What drew you to working with elements in nature like wood and flowers instead of typical gemstones?

Laura Rubin: I traveled all over the world after finishing art school, and as a very crafty person I was always finding ways to create things. I was surrounded by nature and so I was weaving things like grass and creating little things. When I settled back down, I started experimenting with resin – that’s how I started Brach + Barrel. I loved using nature to create jewelry. I think that natural elements require a lot of creativity so I enjoy trying to represent the beauty of nature through my pieces.

SM: Do you have a favorite material/wood to work with?

LR: My customers really love Teasles, and the way I arrange them makes a beautiful geometric display. But my personal favorite is Juniper. It's unlike any other wood; it doesn’t have typical rings on the inside, instead it’s wild patterns. I like that you never know what you’re going to get until after you cut it open. Juniper opens the door for some amazing and unique pieces. 

SM: Wood comes with many unique imperfections. How do you plan a piece? Do you find materials that match your vision or adjust based on the material?

LR: When working with flowers and wood, I have no control over what I think it should look like. It’s very difficult to plan a piece out because everything changes once you cut into the wood. You don't get to pick and choose how the resin works with the wood and how it fills. That’s what makes each piece special; the resin will fill a crack you couldn’t see and create some fun patterns. When I’m creating, the resin, wood and flowers are dictating what the final piece will look like, and I’m along for the ride. I work with the materials, not against. It’s impossible to plan what the piece will look like, so I stay open and showcase the natural beauty that the materials formed. When I’m deciding what flowers and woods to combine, it’s a lot of trial and error. I try many different combinations and versions before using the resin to make it permanent.

Find Branch + Barrel online at branchandbarreldesigns.com.