The meaning of “Woodbrick”

Have you ever wondered about my business name or little logo? That’s the real-life Woodbrick! She’s actually a Baby All-Gone doll that belonged to me when I was a preschool-aged ’90s kid. For some reason, I—Emily—renamed my Baby All-Gone “Woodbrick.” It became one of those childhood stories that was just too good to forget. Through my adolescence and beyond, “Woodbrick” was mentioned whenever possible. 

First internet username? Woodbrick! Quirky email address you end up using well into adulthood? Woodbrick again!

Somehow, the seemingly random name became a quintessential part of who I am. I still see that OG Woodbrick doll every day, peeking out of my kids’ toy box. She’s still part of our family life, and I never could have guessed how important she’d become.

In 2022, I started sewing kids’ bags crafted from repurposed materials—and, you guessed it, “Woodbrick” came up as a potential business name. For the first time, it started to make sense as a legitimate moniker. The doll Woodbrick embodied the ethos I was slowly developing: connecting past and present with existing, often vintage, materials; bringing joy through unique and expressive designs; and honouring a little piece of me—Emily.

And so, she became my brand identity. It brings me so much joy to see her tastefully illustrated—and significantly less creepy—face on all the upcycled goods I’ve been sewing for nearly three years. It’s an even greater joy to see her out in the wild, both in public and online, as a part of your lives. Thank you to everyone who has supported me—and Woodbrick—up to this point. I’m so excited to see where she takes me next.