Whirl & Whittle
Location: Ottawa, Canada
About:
Whirl & Whittle makes handmade wooden objects that appreciate the beauty of imperfection & impermanence.
How did you get started?
In summer 2019, Sam, my husband, and I packed our entire life in Princeton, NJ, and moved to Toronto to find a new beginning. We did not have any friends or family here; we just had each other. I was scared and unsure about what the future held for us. I knew I was done with a 9 to 5 job. I finally wanted to live a creative life, a more fulfilling life. Frankly, I knew what I wanted to do; I just wasn't sure if I dared to pursue it. I needed courage. And who else could I turn to other than Elizabeth Gilbert? I re-read 'Big Magic' when we were still looking for jobs and a lovely city that we could call home. In the book, she says, "There are only so many hours in a day. There are only so many days in a year and only so many years in a life. You do what you can do as competently as possible within a reasonable time frame, and then you let it go. A good enough project violently executed now is better than a perfect project executed never. Done is better than perfect,". So I decided to execute them. I told Sam I was prepared to turn "whirl and whittle" into a business. In less than two weeks after moving to Canada, we registered our business. And here we are today. I did not see any significant growth until mid-2020, but it was all possible because of the steps we took then. That decision changed our whole life. And I am grateful for it.
What’s your favorite space and why?
If I had to pick a space that I love, it would have to be my studio. It's my sanctuary. There is no judgment, no right, no wrong, no prejudices in this space. I can be myself and create objects that tell authentic stories. I usually walk into this space around 10 am every morning; I water my plants, light some incense and enjoy a morning cuppa joe while I sketch and plan my day.
