The Lifecycle of a Bee
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When Emma Brinkley joined Friends School in 2008 as a 1st grade student, she didn’t foresee herself as a ceramics artist or as an aspiring art teacher. In fact, Emma's first encounter with ceramics isn’t quite what you would expect: “I was really bad at it," she chuckles. “Like, really bad. You can't fake it when your pottery keeps turning out wonky.” But rather than shying away, Emma dove headfirst into the challenge, determined to conquer the art form that initially eluded her. Today, she celebrates the opening of A Little Twisted Studio, a pottery business that she runs alongside her mother, Lori Brinkley, a therapist who practices in the same space. For both Emma and Lori, the studio is more than a business; it's a community—a place where artists and soul-seekers come together to create and grow, uplifting one another no matter their stage in life.
When Emma Brinkley joined Friends School in 2008 as a 1st grade student, she didn’t foresee herself as a ceramics artist or as an aspiring art teacher. In fact, Emma's first encounter with ceramics isn’t quite what you would expect: “I was really bad at it," she chuckles. “Like, really bad. You can't fake it when your pottery keeps turning out wonky.” But rather than shying away, Emma dove headfirst into the challenge, determined to conquer the art form that initially eluded her. Beside her every step of the way were Sharon Ely and Amy McGlinn, both art teachers during Emma’s tenure at FSW and mentors that she calls instrumental in her personal and artistic growth.
Today, Emma is well on the path to becoming an art teacher, currently in her senior year at UNC Wilmington completing a B.A. in Studio Art with a minor in Educational Studies. Her dedication to teaching earned her the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship which awards an annual $7,000 tuition reduction along with a guaranteed job with New Hanover County Schools upon graduation. Forever a lifelong learner, Emma shares, “The student in me always wants to grow, but the teacher in me loves giving back to that ‘a-ha’ moment.”
In addition to her work at UNCW, Emma also recently opened A Little Twisted Studio, a pottery business located at 4410 Wrightsville Avenue that she runs alongside her mother, Lori Brinkley, a therapist who practices in the same space. For both Emma and Lori, the studio is more than a business; it's a community—a place where artists and soul-seekers come together to create and grow, uplifting one another no matter their stage in life.
That commitment to communion is one that Emma and her family deeply share. She describes herself as pseudo-spiritual, accepting signs from the universe that may be interpreted as simple messages from deceased loved ones whose souls now embody new forms. Gently touching a gold-plated bee necklace resting on her chest, Emma recalls that her mom purchased the piece of jewelry from fellow FSW parent alumna Mitzy Jonkheer (son Aidan, class of 2018) in honor of her recently deceased grandmother, Nancy “Mimi” Dekleermaeker. “My grandmother was a bee”—bouncy, buzzing with energy, a free spirit whose life was profoundly intentional, even in its quieter moments. “She would be so happy and proud that we opened this business and its mission to build community.”
The immense beauty of Emma’s story lies with that exact bee. Over a year after Mimi’s passing, Emma signed the lease to take over Mitzy’s studio space—the very same building where she purchased the necklace months before. As life often reminds us, the path we travel can take unexpected turns. Emma’s story is one of resilience, of dedication, and of serendipitous moments that shaped her as a human being. It is a tribute to the impact of mentors—Friends—who believed in her and a testament to the unwavering spirit of a young artist who searched to find nectar among the blooms—much like the lifecycle of a bee.
Follow Emma’s journey with A Little Twisted Studio on Instagram at @alittlettwistedpottery or visit the studio at 4410 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403.
- Alumni