I am always so curious about how each of the brands that I work with got their start. So my first question is, how did you get started making jewelry?
When I was in college I saw my debt piling up and started selling jewelry online as a way to offset my tuition. I had been making it since my first job in a bead store when I was 15. Eventually I was making more money doing that then working my other part time jobs. I convinced myself that I could put myself through grad school if I gave myself a six-month break from school to set up the business to run more efficiently. I ended up loving it so much I never went back to school!
Where do you draw inspiration for new designs and products?
I believe my best designs come from quiet moments in the studio. I think the trick is to have lots of time to turn my brain off. I naturally want to think about work, systems, and numbers. When I can get my mind to be quiet by hiking or taking some time off, it’s easier to access my creativity. My best work has always come after I return from a trip abroad. I find some inspiration from travel, and when my focus isn’t on the other parts of the business, it is easier for me to let the designs flow.
I’ve never been formally trained, so I work best by just sawing and soldering things together until they look right, then slowly refining the design. I usually come into the studio early when it’s quiet, make myself a cup of tea, and sketch a few ideas that have been swirling around. I’ll take some time to look over my notebook for any other designs I’ve jotted down recently, and then I just get started.
You have a lot of pieces in each collection that you make. What are currently some of your favorites?
I am always wearing a stack of rings. My favorite combination to wear right now are the Fragment + Slim + Confetti. They overlap really well and are minimal, but interesting. I’ve also been alternating between the Circuit and the Mono Necklaces, as well as really loving the Comet Earrings and the Drip Bangle.
I love the stacking ring combos that you come up with. Your designs are so light and simple, which makes them the perfect layering pieces. I personally like to stack the fragment ring with the spike ring. Do you have any other styling tips for your jewelry?
I’m going to give some stacking recipes that are really good:
. Twin Ring + Stitch Ring + Twin Ring
. Transit Bangle + Fragment Bangle
. Fragment Bangle + Fragment Bangle (especially if you mix one silver with one gold!)
. Layers of Twin Rings
. Fragment Ring + Any Other Stacking Ring (My favorite is Fragment + Slim + Confetti)
. Lasso Posts in second ear piercings
. Taurus Ring + Circa Ring
. Taurus Ring + Gumdrop Ring (but make sure to get the Taurus Ring ½ size large for this to stack well)
. Twin Ring + Circa Ring + Twin Ring
. Black Spike Ring + Clear Spike Ring
What kind of items do you hope to make in the future? Do you think you will ever venture out of jewelry?
I would really love to make some home wares. I’ve been making some functional home pieces lately for myself, and would love to expand them into a full collection.
What is the best part of owning your own business?
I love being able to build something from nothing. It’s a wonderful feeling of accomplishment to look back on where I started and see what has come from it. I am also grateful that I have the power to make acting ethically a priority. We have a lot of collective power to change the world by emphasizing where products come from and how they are made.
You have a sustainable//environmentally friendly message. How did you get started with this? What do you do to make sure that your process follows that message?
I always thought I would work for a non-profit. When I decided to leave school to work on my own business full time, it was very important to me to make sure that I would still be working for something ethically-minded. It started with simply making good quality products that would last and be stylish for years, not just seasons. From there, I focused on working exclusively with American mills that recycle their metals. Then I researched non-toxic metal-smithing and made the decision to never plate any of my metals because of the environmental consequences. It’s a process, and there are always improvements to be made, but I’m so proud of the decisions that we’ve made.
What is the best business advice that you gotten and would want to pass on to others?
Google has all of the answers!
