I’m a wife, a creative, a friend, and lots of other fun things. I started The Riverbanks in 2021, and it’s been a slow unfolding into what it is now. Let me start here real quick…

My middle name is Brooke, and I’ve always felt connected to it. A brooke is a little river, and my last name is Banks. So - River-banks. Get it?

I started The Riverbanks with the plan of starting a Self-Care Coaching Business, which ended up evolving into me working for my husband’s graphic design business. And that is too long of a story with too many left-turns for one about me section.

I can say that I’ve gone through some less than ideal times over the last few years, and when I was struggling, I really needed someone to sort’ve take my hand and say, “Hey, it’s okay. You’re a human. Being a human is a lot. You can be tired.”

It often felt like I was surrounded by women who were building these big amazing things, and all I felt was…tired.

While I found so much encouragement from the people around me that I would get stronger, what was often missing was the permission to be soft. No one was telling me that being soft is actually a good thing. Something the world really needs more of.

So, when I started The Riverbanks, my heart was to metaphorically lay out a blanket next to a river, and say, “Hey, it’s okay. You’re a human. Being a human is a lot. You can be tired. And we can just sit here for a while.”

I’ve done that through coaching, prayer beads, and workshops over the last two and a half years. While the “mission” won’t ever change, I’m focusing mostly on writing and pottery (& maaaybe some other merch) around here.

I’ve also poured my heart into “The Riverbanks Notes” over the last year, my monthly newsletter. I pack as much loveliness into it as I can, including different ideas for ways you can take care of yourself and deepen your faith. I hope to continue to offer written reminders like that, especially as I hone my writing skills.

I do plan to continue offering very small batch pottery! Nothing reminds me more of our need to stay soft in this world than the process of creating a pot. And I am a sucker for a physical reminder.

Thanks for being here in my creative outlet with me. I hope you always find yourself taking a deep breath when you come in contact with The Riverbanks.