From School Teacher to Smokeware Ceramicist
Say hello to Riley Brain, the founder of Wandering Bud! Driven to create functional yet aesthetically appealing, discreet bongs, Brain changed careers and launched Wandering Bud as a small basement startup. Under her leadership and dedication, Wandering Bud has grown into a successful women-led studio where Brain and her team continue to craft small-batch, handmade smokeware, challenge stigmas and empower enthusiasts to embrace cannabis with confidence and style.
We spoke to Riley to get her take on…
Choosing the Perfect Pipe Material
“Our ceramic pieces aren’t just about aesthetic appeal; they’re designed for practicality.” They even outperform glass by maintaining a cleaner look between washings. And don’t worry, “Ceramic pipes are just as easy to clean as glass!” Thanks to the similar properties in ceramic glaze and glass, cleaning a ceramic piece is as effortless as cleaning glass.
Integrating Cannabis for Wellness
“Cannabis feels like a natural way to ease my Crohn’s disease symptoms” – a painful autoimmune condition that affects the digestive system – “or maybe just take my mind off of them – and I love the way it helps me relax and put my to-do list on the back burner for the evening.”
Destigmatizing Cannabis
From Brain’s interview with A Real Nice Lady, “I realized during that week that while the city was incredibly open and accepting of cannabis and the people who benefit from the plant, on the whole, consumers were still hiding their pipes and other smoke accessories in drawers out of embarrassment. Glass spoon pipes with a masculine or novelty quality dominated the market.
I decided I wanted to be a part of a movement to bring that destigmatization culture back to my home in the Midwest through the design and production of aesthetically pleasing, handmade ceramic smoking devices.”
How to Thrive in the Cannabis Industry as a Woman
“My number one piece of advice is if you’re passionate about your idea, just start. It’s too easy to get caught up in making something perfect before you launch the thing. Perfect isn’t real, and perfectionism is a form of self-sabotage.
In my experience, most women in this industry are extremely welcoming and helpful. We want to see each other succeed and enjoy cheering other women on. I am always happy to share my industry experience with payment processing, social media censorship, etc., to help others avoid headaches I’ve slogged my way through.”
Shop Heirloom Smokeware from Wandering Bud
Orb Ashtray: Your go-to communal ashtray for windy outdoor gatherings. Crafted with precision, its cutouts accommodate up to four joints, all while protecting your ash from the wind. Available in canyon and moss.
Jellybean Tray: The cutest rolling tray for rolling the perfect joint, finished with curved edges that will hold your grinder in place. Beyond your sesh, it doubles as a chic organizer for your jewelry, keys, etc. Available in pearl, canyon and moss.
Boomerang Tray: Your new best friend for stress-free bowl loading. No scooping or pinching is required; its clever funnel design makes loading bowls a breeze. Available in pearl and moss.
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories, including Wandering Bud’s stunning ceramic creations. Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!