There are moments when you realize that your dreams and ideas are becoming reality, and you get to share those dreams with the world in a tangible form. Creating a logo, making the first reel, seeing the first completed candle, receiving an encouraging message from a friend, each one comes with a feeling of excitement and joy and a feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty. But seeing the pieces—the candles, the found antiques, the branding, The Journals—come together to create this world has been one of the most rewarding processes.
Long before there was Russell & Field, there was a little glimmer of an idea. The concept was simple; own a shop and fill it with curated objects we would want to surround ourselves with in our home. A concept stemming from vacations and weekends roaming through shops in small town—owned by individuals who decided to share their style and idea with the world. The quaint shop with colorful awnings and an owner’s apartment overhead, sitting along main street in a small town, always appealed to me. Those experiences paired with my own time working in home and gift retail planted the desire to create something of my own.
Russell & Field started as an idea over dinner one spring evening, “what if I created objects for the home?” The idea again inspired by those roaming adventures and my experience building furniture and other items for ourselves and family members. The name Russell & Field came soon thereafter, one quiet morning, while sipping coffee with our loveable Jack Russell terrier snoozing on my lap. Russell is our family name, which, coincidently, made for a clever way to incorporate our loveable friend who’s always ready to take on the day. The word field came from somewhere just as personal.
I set out on this journey to learn new skills, how to use unfamiliar tools, to pour candles, to identify and source old objects. Throughout the process, there have been many successes and failures. Turns out, there is more to running a business than buying, making, and selling beautiful things. But through this, I’ve learned that restraint is hard for both ideas and design; however, the constant push and pull is how the best versions emerge. I’ve learned that creating a sense of place and sharing that with people requires more than just a logo or catchy name. It’s created through the photos we take, the stories we share, the products we make, and the products we don’t make or sell.
The word “heritage” is so freely tossed around today in marketing language, but I wanted to create something that was truly rooted and inspired by actual heritage—not just a marketing ploy, and what better place than our own backyard, the rolling fields, small towns, gardens, and historic homes of the Virginia Piedmont.
Ultimately, the biggest lesson learned thus far is when to stop questioning and perfecting and simply begin. The desire to bring the best version of ourselves can become the very thing that keeps us from showing up at all.
I am excited to share this version of Russell & Field with you.
We’re at the beginning of this together, a journey I hope which lasts for many years. I expect that some of the products we make today will look different with time. I hope to continue improving my own craft while creating the opportunity to share the artisanship and craft of other makers. I hope that our Journals, letters, and seasonal Field Guides become sources of inspiration for home, collecting, hospitality, and marking the seasons. I hope to one day be able to warmly invite you through the doors of a Russell & Field shop.
Most of all, I hope you find something that you can bring into your home and becomes part of your own story—an object, a scent, an old treasure, or a favorite recipe to share around the table.
Thank you for being here, this is just the beginning.
