Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcel Hawkins and Brooklynn Scott.
Hi Darcel and Brooklynn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This is a tough question because what determines the start? I myself remember being curious as a child. Wanting to invent things… always creating and exploring and questioning. Brooklynn too had an artist mind. She remembers in her younger years decorating paper plates with images and then selling them to her grandparents (art gallery style) for .50 each. So much of who we become stems from the experiences we’ve had growing up so I would say that was the start. Our business, Two Birds and One Stone, as well as Spiritual Whiskey and Souldryft are built upon the foundation of youthful enthusiasm and curiosity. We wanted to keep creating and to embody an artist-like lifestyle.
Our bracelet business itself came about around the time of covid. We were working in separate fields (me as a yoga instructor, Brooklynn as a custom laser engraver) when it came to our attention how lonely people were beginning to feel. We saw the disconnect and wanted to create some way to help them know they were NOT ALONE. I say that so boldly because it is something we strongly strive to convey. You are never alone! Our first prototype showed up at a local market inside “The Vault” venue downtown Holly. They were called “better together” bracelets and were displayed, two bands, on a wooden plaque similar to what we have today. The bracelets themselves were made of river stone, they didn’t have a charm, and they were hand-strung by an acquaintance in Boston, MA. A few sold. We were happy but along came my mother (God bless our mothers) who suggested the wood should snap in the center to create two pieces so that each friend, sister, lover, or family member could have a piece. In that moment I thought “yes, two birds with one stone.” And the rest is history. We now create these bracelets that circulate all over the United States, hopefully as a reminder that connection is always there.
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?
As a small business there always seems to be a little bit of the rollercoaster effect. We sell a lot, then we sell a little. There’s no consistency yet and I suppose that’s what you willingly step into as an entrepreneur. I would say the biggest challenge aside from that is trying to get noticed in a saturated market that is often controlled by the “big guys”. We’ve traveled with the bracelets in our backpack, sent samples across the U.S. and hustled hard on faire marketplace. We are not tik-tok trending but slowly, we are getting noticed. We are gaining traction and although it can seem like an uphill hike, we know from experience, the view at the summit is always worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Our business Two Birds + One Stone in and of itself is a unique concept. It includes original writings and hand-made bracelets. I think it’s so easy to gravitate toward mass creations but there’s something really beautiful about slowing down enough to hand-string those beads ourselves. This product is sold under our wholesale business (soon to be, direct-to-consumer) Spiritual Whiskey. We are known for eclectic inspirational goods that bring a little shot of sacred into people’s lives. Journals, pens, sage, quote plaques and other wellness related creations decorate our faire page (faire.com) and the shelves of many businesses throughout the US. If it can be made by hand it is and if not we try to source as sustainably as possible. We don’t sell on Amazon, we keep the writings our own and we also try to support other local artists when we can. A small percentage of each sale gets donated to an organization out in California called Spirit Awakening (https://www.spiritawakening.org) that also believes in bolstering artistic expression.
Our third business, Souldryft, is our travel brand. Let’s say it’s more up-and-coming. We absolutely adore traveling! It’s what inspires a lot of the writings and creations you’ll see across the board so, including others in our passion and admiration of the wild is a dream come true. We sell some wander bracelets, stickers, clothing pieces and journals but our goal is to one day sell worldwide and keep people connected and moving toward what they love. We have future planned adventure retreats and many things in the works. Stay tuned!
How do you define success?
Living what you love!
Ok, maybe it’s a little more than this but we’d definitely say that success aligns with what brings you alive. For some people that’s a corporate office and lots of material goods, for others it’s a spot behind a counter, for us, success feels like bringing together what we want to do with what we’re actually doing. The other day we sub-stacked a note that read, “What would you rather be doing? Do that.” We spend so much time doing things we hate, to try and make space, time and money to do the things we love. Maybe, we should just do the things we love. I mean, we all are passionate about different things for a reason. Right? I know not everyone could sit and string 50 bracelets at a time but there’s something zen about it for us. And there’s something beautiful about creating inspirational and meaningful products that help people smile. That feels like success.
Contact Info:
- Website: twobirdsandonestone.com // spiritualwhiskey.com // souldryft.com
- Instagram: @twobirds_and_onestone // @spiritualwhiskey // @souldryft
- Other: https://spiritualwhiskey.faire.com
