Photographer: Robert Sterry

 

I’m very excited for you to get to know our artist Emily Sukiennik with Cactus & Bloom. Emily makes handcrafted cactus wood jewelry, pressed flowers, and desert inspired pieces here at Moab Made. They truly feel like you are taking a piece of the desert home with you and each design celebrates the delicate balance between nature’s rugged textures and its fleeting blooms. I couldn’t wait to hear more on her connection and inspiration for her art so let’s step into her world of cactus and wildflowers…

 

I’d love to hear about the early days of your creative life. What was one of those sparks that made you realize creativity wasn’t just something you did, but a part of who you are?

 

When I was in college, I spent my summers as a camp counselor, surrounded by the laughter of kids and the hum of creative energy. One of their favorite activities was art, and before long, I found myself sitting beside them, stringing beads and shaping glass. I still remember that feeling—the quiet peace that came over me as I melted glass into luminous beads, the colors dancing in the flame, the sense that I was breathing life into something beautiful and new.

Jewelry making became a small but steady thread in my life. I explored beadwork and hemp designs, always chasing the feeling of flow that came with creating. Years later, while living in Sedona, I began selling my pieces at local markets. One afternoon on a hike further south in Phoenix, I found a piece of cholla cactus wood—its intricate holes and organic shapes unlike anything I’d ever seen. I carried it with me for years, knowing it was waiting for its moment.

In 2020, that moment came. I finally cut the wood, sanded it smooth, and transformed it into earrings. That was the beginning of my cholla cactus collection—a blend of desert spirit and human hands. From there, I began pressing wildflowers from the wild desert of Moab, preserving their delicate beauty in resin.

Creating has always felt like remembering something ancient within me. It’s not just about making things—it’s about connecting with nature, color, and energy. Each piece teaches me something new, and I’m always reaching for the next medium that calls to me. Soon, I hope to learn the art of silversmithing—another way to tell the story of the earth through my hands.

I can almost see you discovering that piece of cholla and knowing it had a story waiting to be told. If you could freeze one moment in your creative process and live inside it forever, which would it be?

If I could freeze one moment of my creative process and live in it forever....I don't know if I could. For me, my favorite part is all the memories. As I sit here thinking about which part I like most, I am imagining little bits, tiny fragments, of the journey. I'm imagining the hike where I found my first piece of cholla and the soft barren desert surrounding me. I'm seeing myself in a crystal shop in Sedona, asking the expert what each one means with wide eyed wonder. I close my eyes and I picture myself sitting outside of my RV, cutting and sanding the pieces of wood while I envision the beadwork I would add to each piece to make it special. It's the process, the journey, and the memory. I suppose it's all of it.

 

 

It feels like the land itself is infused into your work. How do you approach sourcing your materials? Do you tend to gather them locally or from specific regions that inspire you?

I source my cactus wood from southern Arizona, the same region where I first discovered it years ago. About once a year, I make the journey back—hiking through the desert to collect new pieces. There are many varieties of cholla, but I’ve come to favor one in particular for its intricate texture and strength. These trips allow me to reconnect with the wild landscapes that continually inspire my work, blending adventure with creation.

In the spring, I gather wildflowers here in Moab. I’m drawn to their quiet beauty—the simplicity of their forms and the soft desert tones of red, orange, and yellow. Each season’s gathering feels like a ritual of gratitude, a way of honoring the land and bringing its natural resonance into my art.

 

That sounds special, making those yearly trips a ritual and keeping that collaboration with the land. On the flip side, I’m curious how being online, through social media or selling your pieces digitally, has changed the way you connect with your craft or your audience?

To be honest, the social media side of sharing my art has never been my favorite aspect. Before I began creating jewelry, I was a professional athlete in the world of slacklining and highlining. During that time, I often felt pressured—by sponsors, and even by myself—to constantly post photos and videos. Somewhere along the way, I realized that the need to document was pulling me out of the present moment, stealing some of the magic of simply being there.

With my art, I’ve chosen a different rhythm. I share online occasionally, but I’ve made a conscious decision to keep social media in the background—so the heart of my work can stay grounded in real connection. I find my joy in selling at stores and markets, where I can set up my displays, create inviting spaces, and meet people face to face. That’s where my art truly comes alive—in the conversations, the shared stories, and the beautiful community of other artists who understand what it means to create from the soul.

It’s so refreshing to hear how you’ve reclaimed the way you connect, keeping your art personal and connected to people and places, rather than a performance or pressure to share. When it comes to the hands-on part of your work, what part of your process are you most proud of?

I’m continually inspired by the natural shapes, colors, and textures found in the wood and flowers I use. These are creations of the earth—things far beyond my ability to replicate. My role is to listen to them, to work around their organic forms, and to honor their innate beauty. I love pairing these elements with beads and stones that accentuate their essence, bringing even more life and vibrancy to what nature has already begun.

 

As you keep creating, what do you think the next chapter of your artistic journey will look like?

My next chapter is calling me toward silversmithing. Earlier this year, I took a class with Asia Raine and created my very first silver ring—and I was completely captivated. I’ve always felt a deep connection to stones and crystals; during my time in Sedona, I fell in love with their colors, textures, and the spiritual representation each one carries. To be able to set these stones into timeless pieces that others can carry with them feels like such a beautiful continuation of my journey. I’m also dreaming up ways to merge my resin work with silver—blending natural elements, light, and metal into something entirely my own. I have some exciting ideas on the horizon, and I can already feel the spark of what’s to come.

 

That sounds incredible! I love how this next chapter feels like a meeting point between earth and metal.  I’m curious, who are some of the artists or people who’ve inspired you most along your creative journey?

Sedona was a huge influence for me. If you haven't been there before, it's an incredibly metaphysical place filled with people from all walks of life. Their wild, sometimes unbelievable stories sparked so much curiosity in me. The land there is sacred, magical, and even considered to be a portal to other realms. For me, Sedona opened my eyes to new possibilities, new concepts, and new ways of seeing the world. This influenced my ability to create in new and exciting ways, capturing the beauty of our planet.

Your work is such a beautiful reflection of the places, materials, and memories that guide you. For those who want to carry a piece of that magic with them, how can they find your jewelry and creations?

My main form of connection is through shops and markets, but my Instagram account is: @cactus_and.bloom

 This is where you can find photos of my artwork, markets I attend, and it's a place to contact me if you'd like one of my pieces <3