Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Thiessen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I actually received a degree in interior design. I never had any intention of being a jewelry designer. After college, I got married and worked in Atlanta with several different interior designers. While I really enjoyed my career, my husband was offered a transfer to Hawaii and I decided it might be a good time for a change. We ended up moving to Waiki and I got a job at a local gift store where I could ride my bike to work every day. Through this job, I met several different jewelry designers who sold their pieces in our store. After talking to them, I knew that I needed to make jewelry! I started taking some classes at a local bead store and squirreling away my paychecks so that I could buy more beads and silver. I went to my first bead show while we lived there and I was completely obsessed. I really love color and seeing millions of strands of beads together in one place is magical to me! it gives me that feeling that I used to get on Christmas morning when I was a kid. I eventually started taking a few basic silversmithing classes and learned how to solder. I would get home from work around 10 and sit in my living room watching Lost and soldering until 3 in the morning. My husband’s big joke was that I was like the cobbler and the elves. he would go to bed and when he woke up in the morning there would be a finished piece of jewelry and an empty bag of M&M’s.
It wasn’t until we moved back to Georgia a few years later that I actually started thinking about selling my work. Making jewelry is something that I love to do but I didn’t feel like everybody else would appreciate, I guess. I’m a very shy person and it’s really hard for me to put myself out there like that so signing up for my first arts festival was a huge step for me personally. I have a lot of weird social anxiety. Having to sit outside for two days while people come in and talk about something you’ve poured your heart and soul into is a little nerve-wracking. Once I got past the initial intimidation, everything turned out really well. My first show was a success and I gained more confidence and I’ve been working on growing my creativity and my business ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think anyone ever has I completely smooth road to anything. Everyone has struggled in some way or another getting to where they are. I know that I definitely have had a much easier time than a lot of people and I feel really lucky about that.
My parents and friends are incredibly helpful and involved! My daughter loves to sit with me and make necklaces while I’m working. My husband, Darren, is my biggest supporter and I honestly could not have done any of this without him. He encouraged me to take classes in the very beginning. Now he’s there with me at every show and helps me with basically everything that doesn’t involve making the jewelry. He even built me a studio in the garage so I have an amazing space to work in. I am very thankful to have such an amazing support system!
My struggles are more internal than anything. I have ADD and anxiety so sometimes it’s very difficult for me to focus and get things done. I get very easily distracted or can’t make up my mind about design and end up changing it 10 times instead of finishing it and using the same amount of time to make eight more pieces. Sometimes my anxiety amps up before a deadline and I end up getting nothing done.
As cliche as it sounds, my advice is to believe in yourself. Its easy to get discouraged but if you are serious about starting a business or doing something you love, you have to be confident. If you want to have a successful business, people need to be able to trust in you and your product.
We’d love to hear more about Heatwole Thiessen Jewelry Design.
I create one of a kind jewelry using sterling and fine silver and semi-precious stones. Right now my favorite is working with metal clay. It’s so versatile and fun to play around with. It’s basically moldable silver. Once you fire it’s solid.
Where I grew up you can go most places on a golf cart. I use silver clay to make necklaces that say “golf cart hair don’t care.” That’s really the only thing that I made consistently. Pretty much all of my other designs are one of a kind and I like thinking of them as snowflakes lol. I really want to make things that you won’t see in every store you go to. I want it to stand it and be unique.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
There’s not one particular place that I go for new information. I usually just find videos online and try to learn as much as I can from that. I do really love the Metalsmith Society’s Instagram. They post amazing tips and tricks from other jewelry artists. I swear some of those people are geniuses!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heatwolethiessen.com
- Phone: 7703800517
- Email: elizabeth@heatwolethiessen.com
- Instagram: @HTJewelryJunkie
- Facebook: Heatwole Thiessen Jewelry Design
Image Credit:
Darren Thiessen
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