Hi Angela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
If you asked me at the beginning of 2019 if I would be running a small business – especially one that is selling my own creations – I would have laughed. It has been a long and winding road to get to where I am now, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. It first started with me being in my late 20s, realizing that I wanted a career change. Originally when I was attending college, I thought I would like to eventually become a professor of Art History. That was the plan but in reality, for about six years after graduating from college, I was working as an administrative assistant at various different companies. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world because learning the skills I did during this time has been so valuable, but I knew I needed a change.
I realized I wanted to go back to my original love for teaching and art so I enrolled in the Art Education Master’s program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It took two straight years for me to work full-time during the day, attending classes in the evening and online (even summer semesters), taking care of my toddler and family, and even having to take a semester off to have my second son to get my Master’s in Education. Finally, after all that, I became an art teacher. So, this is where it leads me to create Woodlawn Jewelry Co. While teaching my first year, I realized I wanted to make some fun earrings to wear that coordinated with lessons. I wanted earrings that looked like Matisse cutout shapes and also paintbrushes and paint palettes. I was inspired by the great art teacher, Cassie Stephens who made some polymer clay earrings and essentially said, ‘Hey, I’m not selling them but you guys are art teachers… make some!
That is a very loose interpretation of her message but it inspired me to try, so spring break of 2019, I bought some clay and set out to make me some art teacher earrings. As with most, it was hard to start and I had NO IDEA what I was doing but I just remember being so proud of my creations. I remember the feeling of being able to wear my own art and I was hooked. I felt elevated and confident and wanted to keep creating and that is what lead me to where I am today. It has been a growing process and a learning process and now here I am in my early 30s, finally doing what I love to do – teach art and create jewelry. Woodlawn Jewelry Co has grown very slowly as I step cautiously into the scene of an entrepreneur but the more I take this dive the more I realize it is something that I want to nurture and make into a business that can help women feel the way I did when I first wore my handmade earrings—elevated and confident.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The advice I would give to myself when first starting out is to be confident and committed, take the time to really invest in my business, work out those tough questions of knowing why I am doing this and what I would like my collections to be and how my brand will look. Because of that lack of confidence, I didn’t allow myself to fully explore what it meant to have my own small business and kept putting it down as just a hobby or just a side gig. Having that confidence in my creations and business from the beginning perhaps would’ve meant that some of the things I am learning now and exploring I would have already have had the answers. For example, just this year, when Covid shut everything down, I was forced into opening an Etsy shop. Not having any online selling experience or presence beforehand made pivoting my business from selling at markets difficult- It is still slowly growing. Regardless, Covid has been a blessing and a curse for my small business. It has been incredibly tough navigating a small new business during a pandemic, but being able to use this time to study, experiment, research, and really work on my craft and brand has been so invaluable. I don’t think that Woodlawn Jewelry Co would be where it is today without this strange time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create handmade polymer clay jewelry through my business, Woodlawn Jewelry Co. My brand is an amalgamation of my style – I love everything and in between. However, what I gravitate most to creating are bold patterns in big shapes mostly organic in style, but there is a lot of geometrics too. I also enjoy using metallic elements and incorporating mixed metals and neutrals into my designs. I think what sets WJCO apart from others is the fact that there is a style for everyone at Woodlawn Jewelry Co. We range from big and bold earrings to small and simple. I like to create earrings and jewelry that I would wear but also provide women a place to purchase affordable, one-of-a-kind pieces that speak to their personalities as well! Additionally, a passion of mine is able to make custom pieces and collections. Being able to collaborate with my customer and have their vision come to life through my hands is such a special experience.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think one of the most important qualities to my success is being vulnerable and willing to learn. I would say that constantly striving to improve my craft, whether that is in polymer clay techniques or Instagram posts, is something that keeps WJCO (and myself) going. Each day I become more and more confident in my skills to run this business and that is because I allow myself to be an amateur and learn. That almost sounds counterproductive, but refining each of the areas of my business is so important to me. I love looking back to where I was a year ago and getting excited about where I will be in another year. It isn’t a quick race that I am running and being aware of that fact allows me to stay grounded and focused.
Pricing:
- Studs – $8 – $12
- Studs – $8 – $12
- Large Dangles or Resin Pieces – $28 – $32
Contact Info:
- Email: woodlawnjewelryco@gmail.com
- Website: www.woodlawnjewelryco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/woodlawnjewelryco
Image Credits
The photograph of myself wearing the earrings is credited to: Tosha Gaines Photography, The photographs of the jewelry is credited to: Woodlawn Jewelry Co
