Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Burgwin Faulkner.
Ann, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I first started making jewelry as a fun hobby and would wear what I had made to work or when I went out with my friends, and never imagined it would be anything more than that. People started asking where I got the pieces I was wearing, and would then try to buy them when I said I had made them, which made me think that this could turn into a little side hustle. I started selling through a small local store, and the demand started becoming too much to keep up with since I also had another full-time job. Around this same time, I had a health issue that required bed rest for three months, and so all I could do was make jewelry. People started driving to my house and buying jewelry from me in the bed, which was when I knew that it was time to give this “little side hustle” a chance. Then, with the encouragement from my parents and now husband, I launched Burgwin Studios as a full-time venture.
When I first started, I did strictly wholesale jewelry sales. Showing at the Atlanta Apparel Market and Dallas Apparel Market, I was voted the South’s Top Emerging Designer 2 years in a row and was in 80 stores my first year in business all over the country as well as Saudi Arabia. Despite how well my jewelry was being received, I found myself resenting making so many duplicates of one piece, as custom, one of a kind jewelry is my passion. So, after two years of strictly selling wholesale, I opened my working studio as a retail location where people could come in and buy already made one of a kind pieces, or design their own. This was such a fulfilling and fun chapter, and during this time, UK Vogue and Uk Brides both featured different pieces of my jewelry in their magazines.
After 4 years of being open in retail and loving every second of it, I decided to close my studio and move my workspace to a home studio in order to spend more time with my child. I have also started making pottery and selling it along with jewelry. Although I am still navigating how this next chapter for Burgwin Studios will look, especially during this unprecedented time, I am excited to see it unfold!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was very hard for me in the beginning to learn how to do all the administrative parts of running a business, but I learned!
I think the thing that I have learned the most is to trust your gut instinct when making decisions for your business and to open yourself up to the advice of others. Sometimes the advice does not fit with your goals, and that is ok, but sometimes it does! You cannot be good at everything, so it is important to seek the advice of others who excel in areas you may be weaker in.
Please tell us about Burgwin Studios.
I make high quality, one of a kind jewelry out of precious and semi-precious materials. I specialize in making jewelry out of people’s family heirlooms or sentimental pieces that are not currently being worn-I love making jewelry for someone out of something sentimental that they can wear and enjoy! Get those pieces out of a drawer and let them be remade so you can be wearing them!
Someone told me once that worship was just giving God his breath back. Because I believe God is the ultimate Creator and Artist, this is a way for me to worship him. A lot of my pieces have obvious spiritual significance (crosses, religious icons, or ancient coins from the time of Christ) but all of them are created with this mindset of worshipping God with my gifts.
I am most proud of the quality of my work, and this also is what sets me apart from others. Another thing is that because it is truly wearable art, my designs are unique to me. They are unusual and funky, yet timeless.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up, I was always running around the woods with my brothers. I am from a very rural area, so we were always looking for arrowheads, riding horses, or playing outside. I am still passionate about animals and the outdoors and this very much influences my work as I use a lot of natural elements.
Pricing:
- Most pieces range from $100-$200
- Diamond and ancient coin jewelry range from $250-$2000
- Most pieces do not make it to my website… follow on social media for updated pieces or contact me to have something custom made!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.burgwinstudios.com
- Phone: 334-233-1305
- Email: burgwinstudios@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burgwinstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burgwinstudios
Image Credit:
Colorbox Photography
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