I’ve always been a bit of a tomboy in stiletto heels with a love of working with tools and building “stuff”. I attribute this to growing up with three brothers and a father who was great at fixing things and building just about anything you can imagine. Some of my earliest memories are of being in the garage with my dad, watching him work, fascinated by all the different drills, vices and hand tools. I can see how those moments with him influenced my future with metal and tools. Now, as a “grown-up” (and I use that term very lightly), I still get a rush at the hardware store!
I am a self taught jewelry artist who stumbled upon jewelry making completely by accident. I came across some thicker gauge wire that resembled the large gauge surgical steel wire used to make my gauged earrings. Curious, I purchased a roll and started experimenting with it, making different shapes which slowly transformed themselves in necklaces, rings and bracelets. Little did I know that this small bit of curiosity was the beginning of an entire life shift for me.
At the time I was working a grueling job as a legal secretary in a large law firm — and let’s just say that it was sucking the life out of me. Making jewelry was a way to unwind at the end of the day. My designs got more creative and intricate and my knowledge of metal work grew. I began wearing my pieces and co-workers and people out and about would ask where I bought them. From there I started getting orders and opened my Etsy shop.
Within a year of those initial designs, I made the decision to quit my 15 year corporate career (more about that in this post) and relocated from the city to the beach. And from there, all the right doors opened for me. I met good people. I stumbled upon a great opportunity to open my own boutique right in front of the beach (read about that here). I unwound. But most importantly, I found peace. Things just fell into place – which to me felt like a sign that I was heading in the right direction.
Fast forward to today, and I absolutely love running my own business and being a full time jewelry artist. I enjoy talking with the people that stroll through my shop everyday, representing countries from all over the world. I could not have planned a better outcome.
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