Today we’d like to introduce you to Selena Castro.
Hi Selena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Palettes and Petals started as a place for me to share about my interests, but I always knew I wanted it to become a business where I sold my own product. It took almost two years until it really blossomed into what it is today; a handmade earring and accessory company with a mission to help end ALS. Palettes and Petals does this by donating $1 for every piece sold to ALS research.
The mission of Palettes and Petals to raise money for ALS research came when my dad was diagnosed with ALS back in 2018. However, the handcrafted products did not start until 2020 when the pandemic hit, and I was still in the thick of grieving the loss of my dad.
Making earrings became my therapy, and it became a way to successfully raise money in my dad’s memory. I’m just so grateful that people have enjoyed what I make, that it has kept me going despite how difficult it can get trying to balance everything.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
To be honest, the struggles I face with trying to run a small-batch handcrafted earring business are far inferior to all the struggles I dealt with leading me to where I am now. When my dad became ill, I spent a lot of money flying to CA to visit and help care for him. It wasn’t too long until it got to the point that I had to drop my entire life I was living and move back in with my parents because my mom simply could not care for him on her own. I was commuting an hour to and from work, working 10hr shifts, and then spending every other free minute spending time with and helping care for my dad. For the record, I would do this again in a heartbeat.
My dad was my best friend. I miss him dearly. ALS is a terrible disease, and I want for no family or person to have to endure the nightmare that it is.
All that to say, the struggles I face with trying to keep up with social media trends in order to promote my business are just a fly on my shoulder. I have my little niche and clientele, and I’m grateful for it all. My dad loved the creative part about me, and he would be excited at my success.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I make jewelry, but I’ve always been an artist. My formal education is in fine art, and for years I was known as ‘the fire hydrant artist.’ But after years of doing paintings of fire hydrants and not making any progress with that niche, I decided to lay down my paintbrushes and took a break from art.
I dabbled in ink drawings for a while, but my biggest jump back to creating routinely was when I discovered resin. I started making earrings and found such joy in the medium I honestly felt like a kid again.
I’m most known for the big and bright resin earrings that I started my business with. But last year, I added to my skill set by learning how to do simple wire-wrapping and now offer gemstone earrings and necklaces.
My recent work I’m getting ready to launch on the site is probably my favorite to date. It marries resin with hand-painted elements and really feels like something that is unique to me and isn’t already out there. Each pair will truly be one of a kind, and I love that it feels like you’re getting a tiny original painting with each piece!
The best part is that when you buy from me, you are helping a greater cause. There are a lot of earring makers out there right now, but my fundraising efforts help set me apart.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
For one, I’ve never been able to pick a favorite of anything, and two, I have a horrible memory (ask my bestie since age three, who remembers our entire friendship, and all I remember is that she dragged me to a N’sync concert which I secretly loved). At this point in my life, having lost my best friend, my biggest fan, and the most special relationship I’ll have ever known (my dad), as well as both my grandparents who helped raise me, I’d say my most cherished memories are holidays where the entire family was together. Making tamales with my grandma, playing poker with my grandpa, drinking beers with my dad, I quite honestly have heart-achingly nostalgic thoughts of holidays from my childhood often.
Pricing:
- Earrings: $15-$34
- Gemstone Necklaces: $30-$35
Contact Info:
- Email: selena@palettesandpetals.com
- Website: palettesandpetals.com
- Instagram: palettes.and.petals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palettesandpetals
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/palettes_petals
Image Credits
Hannah Rhodes Bybee
