We recently had the chance to connect with Hannah Shelton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Hannah, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think what’s often misunderstood about my business is that people assume I create art from bones and unusual materials simply because I’m drawn to “weird” stuff. In reality, my work comes from a deep love and respect for the natural world. I want to celebrate the beauty of creatures that are often overlooked and advocate for their protection. Every piece I make is sourced respectfully and responsibly, and my goal is to provide a responsible outlet for those interested in unique art. I want my community to feel confident that they’re supporting a business that prioritizes sustainability and ethical practices, and that they’re contributing to a greater awareness of environmental issues. It’s not just about the art; it’s about making a positive impact.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Hannah Shelton, the heart and hands behind Vertebrae and Vine. Growing up in southern Appalachia, I’ve always felt a primordial connection to nature. not just the idyllic, “pretty” aspects, but the raw, intricate life cycles that shape our environment. This deep appreciation for the natural world led me to create using materials equal in primordial presence and natural expression: Bone. Vertebrae and Vine has become one of East Tennessee’s most recognized names for jewelry and home accents hand made from bone. I wanted my art to be a means of raising awareness about the importance of conservation. I’m continuously inspired by the natural world, and I strive to create pieces that not only captivate but also invite others to appreciate the beauty in all aspects of life whether that be adorned skulls, vertebrae candle holders, or fine jewelry. I run my own online shop as well as attending local events. I have a physical shop location in my city’s first and only horror bookshop and oddity market place: Crimson Curiosities. I’m also an educator in my community and the author of a best selling guide “The Beginner’s Guide to Cleaning Bones” a tutorial on how I personally process and clean the bones I use for my work.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
This isn’t the earliest memory I have but certainly a very impactful one.
I was driving home from a trip when I noticed a doe had been struck by a car. My mood immediately deflated and I TRIED to cheer up by thinking of the very much alive doe I saw earlier that day safe in the woods. I kept driving. And then I saw her. Her trademark spots, her delicate legs, her cherub face. Lying in the grass medium of a busy highway. Gone. Just yards from her mother. If you know my page or my work you know I’m no stranger to death but this made me physically ill. Thinking about a panicked mother desperately trying to urge her baby forward, or a terrified and lost baby looking everywhere for her mother? Either way it was just freaking tragic. And of course I’m caught unprepared. The tools I normally keep with me for just an occasion aren’t with me. No gloves, bags, bins. Great. Nothing I can do this time. Fast forward to that night and of course despite being exhausted, I can’t sleep. I’m thinking about the department of transportation that will come by in the morning and take her and her mother’s body away to be buried in a landfill and covered with trash. Because after acquiring that knowledge it’s all I can think about when remembering the little furry lives that get left in the road. Unceremoniously dumped like trash. OR I think about the coyote. The vulture. All of the hungry carrion cleaners with babies to feed that might meet the same end. I’m up. It’s 1:30am and I’m loading a patch of old carpet into my trunk and LAUGHING thinking of all the times someone compared me to a serial killer for working with bones and remains, only to now be wrapping a body in a carpet, and putting them in my trunk in the middle of the night… okay, I can see the humor (maybe it’s sleep deprivation) ANYWAY, I felt immediately relieved after laying her to rest in a quiet spot away from the roads. No landfills, no other hurt animals. I visited her the next morning and brought her flowers. I’ve decided to call her Anne after Queen Ann’s Lace that now rest with her. She and her mom can go now. Natural. Safe. Nourishing. Slow down please. For them. Bringing awareness to these creatures and having the honor to immortalize them through my art is the most powerful I’ve ever felt.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t listen to the harsh words of others. Having empathy for voiceless creatures and being brave enough to have such an open heart is what makes you special and there’s nothing wrong with it. People may not understand or even ridicule you for it, but have the courage to stay soft in such a hard world. It may be more difficult but that’s what makes it even more necessary. NEVER stop caring.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Considering it’s mostly ALL I talk about in some capacity I have to imagine they would say the natural world or conservation! I have devoted much of my personal life to learning about every aspect of our environment from wildlife to native plants and beyond. I care about many things deeply but like they say, “there’s no system like the ecosystem”
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
In my mind and heart I know I’m doing what I should be. I’ve worked in different fields doing things that served others for years all while putting my own ideas and desires on hold. The moment I started working on building something bigger for myself I couldn’t stop. I’m a part of nature, not separate from it. And all the time I spent in opposition to that was time I was suffering. Mentally and physically. Now I’m fulfilled and also get to fulfill my own role by honoring and creating an afterlife for misunderstood creatures through my work and art.
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