Walking with Grace: Clare Bowen
Behind every strong woman is a network of strong women, lifting her up, lighting her way… and handing her a strong cup of coffee!
As a woman-owned and operated small business, we feel deep gratitude for the incredible community around us, and we love to lift up the women who inspire us and share their stories! With so many oysters to be recycled, cleaned, painted, and shipments to process, prepare, and mail, we haven’t yet introduced our favorite inspiring women on our blog. But today, during this quiet time of physical distancing and reflection, we’re launching our “Walking with Grace” series.
For our first “Walking With Grace” segment, let’s rewind a couple of months ago when we discovered a post from talented artist Clare Bowen wearing our Golden Tide Necklace. Her husband and fellow musician, Brandon Robert Young, purchased Clare’s oyster necklace from our beloved retailer Provisions by Palmetto Bluff in an undeniably adorable gesture. Of course, we immediately stalked this beautiful artist’s page, and what did we find? An incredibly talented actress and vocalist, a cancer survivor and activist, and a dog-loving boss babe doing so many things that are sure to inspire you during this tumultuous time.
8 Reasons Why We Love Clare Bowen:
She is a Childhood Cancer Survivor and Supports St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital
Clare Bowen fought for her life between the ages of 4 and 7, winning a hard-fought battle against end-stage nephroblastoma. This warrior has been outspoken about the effect this had on her life, and she’s taken up the fight against cancer in adulthood by actively supporting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Clare also released a song in support of her brother, who fought his own battle against cancer, called “Love Steps In”.
photo credit: Manfred Baumann
Her Debut Album Is Amazing
During these quiet quarantine days of April 2020, we have her eponymous debut album playing on repeat. Turn that volume up, y’all. Hallelujah for some good tunes on an otherwise melancholy day!
photo credit: Manfred Baumann
She Cut Her Hair for a Young Fan
Nashville fans will surely remember when Clare Bowen shed her long, gorgeous locks for an adorable pixie cut, but did you know Clare did it because “she heard about a little girl who said she couldn’t be a princess because she didn’t have long hair”?
“I wanted her, and others like her, to know that’s not what makes a princess, or a warrior, or a superhero,” Clare said. “It’s not what makes you beautiful either. It’s your insides that count,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Clare Supports Her Community
As a community-oriented, small business in Charleston, South Carolina, we Grit & Grace gals love, love, love when individuals lift their neighbors up! Clare supports Old Smokeys Boots and Three Wolves Trading, both vintage goods stores in her home of Nashville, Tennessee.
Taking a page out of Clare’s book, we want to give a shout out to our King Street neighbors, J. Stark, a high-quality bag and premium leather goods maker, and Ro Sham Beaux, a lighting and home decor boutique. While King Street battles the ‘waiting hours’ of quarantine, small local businesses like these need your support while retail shopping is on hold. You can support by shopping on online stores, reviewing them on social platforms (such as Google, Facebook, and Etsy), or even just giving some love on their Instagram feed!
Clare Raised Money for the Australian Wildfires
Did you know Clare Bowen actually grew up in rural Australia? Of course, she was touched by the tragic wildfires that ravaged her motherland and donated 100% of her proceeds from her online store to support individuals affected by the cause!
She is an Activist in the Music Community
She has used her voice to urge Congress to protect music makers with COVID-19 Relief funding! This campaign was spearheaded by the Recording Academy, aka the GRAMMYS, to help with the devastating impact on the music industry from the coronavirus pandemic. This babe loves supporting her fellow musicians as much as she loves music itself, and that is pretty rad.
She Is An Animal Lover
Introducing Faolan and Lumie, Clare’s dog and cat that have inspired all of us gals to consider getting an animal for the 478 King Street studio… A French bulldog was in question for a solid two weeks, and we may have to revisit the discussion!
She Rocks Our Oyster Necklace
Seeing our Golden Tide Oyster Necklace on this inspiring, natural beauty made us so happy! We work hard to keep our jewelry unique, sustainable (check out the recycle program implemented with each purchase here), and naturally elegant. When it is embodied by people like Clare, it makes all the hard work come full circle. We encourage you to share your own photos rocking our jewelry and use hashtag #walkingwithgrace.
Keep up with Clare Bowen, buy her debut album, and follow her inspiring work…
One Love & Blessings,