Today we’d like to introduce you to Danae Sweeton.
Danae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins in the creeks of Southern Georgia. Growing up, I was the kid running around barefoot behind old abandoned farms, searching for cool rocks, plants, and just enjoying nature. Fast forward, a few years, traveling across the country with my family, my dad made sure to stop for us to enjoy the Grand Canyon. It was there where I fell in love with and begged him for my first Turquoise and sterling silver ring. It is native made and I still have it today.
These moments, and a few others, are the fabrics that have sewn my life together. A beautiful weave of travel, adventure, and well…rocks. I look back and realize my story began in Nature.
I rediscovered my passion for minerals once I began crafting simple necklaces for myself and a few close friends. I used a few personal pieces I had collected over the years, mainly agates and jasper. I guess you can say it kind of took off from there. my company Jasper in June was birthed. At the time, I was working as an administrative assistant for a large hydraulics company. I began saving for about two years working both 9 to 5 and every night/ weekend for myself. It took me two years before I could leave corporate America. Everyone wanted a necklace and I was wanting to get more crystals, so I began studying the Earth and her story. I learned how and where to find crystals for my jewelry and my passion quickly became to dig my own stones for each piece!
After working with copper and wire for about a year, I then decided I wanted a different style of jewelry, more sturdy and with heirloom quality. So I then began teaching myself how to silversmith. With each new facet to my business, I fall more and more in love with sourcing directly and creating passionately. My grandfather Gerald taught me the importance of working with my hands. He is a talented carpenter and I have been able to apply his teachings to my line of work today.
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?
Being a self-taught artist is never easy. You got to learn to not give up on yourself. Stepping out on your own as a creative and saying, ‘here I am world,’ is one of the most terrifying things you can do. I had to face my fears and trust myself more than ever. As a small business owner, challenges will come, its how you choose to see them that will make or break you. The main goal is to not give up. Ever. Keep pushing and turn your obstacles into stepping stones towards your goals.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I take great pride in my craft. I enjoy working with self-collected stones to create custom small batches of artisan and whimsical jewels. I find, cut, polish, and set my own stone with love and passion for Pachamama. I research geological events to locate fossils and crystals for my jewelry. I love working with mixed metals such as brass, copper, and sterling silver. My work has been featured in boutiques across Georgia and Tennessee. Love what you do and the rest will fall into place. It is extremely important to me to align my heart and spirit with my work.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There are many appealing things happening in the fossil, gem, and jewelry industry. Exciting new discoveries are still being found today. As supply and demand continue to grow, I encourage all crystal sellers to promote education on their minerals. Every stone has a story from the earth and how it was collected. We need to shift our focus towards education to preserve and uphold respect towards mother nature, the land, and the beautiful gifts she bestows upon us!
Pricing:
- 40
- 250
Contact Info:
- Email: jasperinjune@gmail.com
- Website: www.jasperinjune.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasper.in.june
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasper.in.june
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaZHkrRhtjXzFKZvmcZNPw
