Today, we’d like to introduce you to Emily Grimes.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the summer of 2017, I started a Facebook page selling stone-wrapped jewelry. While doing that, I had thoughts of how I could preserve my grandpa’s memorial flowers in jewelry.
I did lots of research, experimenting with resin, and fell in love with the process and outcome. Every Saturday, I would attend my local farmers market selling my stone jewelry while advertising for resin flower jewelry!
From word of mouth and social media, I grew a decent-sized customer base in a matter of a year! Almost 7 years later I now work with several different wedding venues preserving bridal bouquets along with still working with memorial flowers and cremation ash jewelry. In the past two years, I’ve been researching and working on perfecting the art of breastmilk jewelry!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has been far from easy, I’ve always been a one-woman team since day one! Juggling being the artist, running all my social media, finances, and working markets, can be a heavy load some days.
Through all the hard days I have so many good ones, markets are truly my favorite because of all the artists and people I meet. It is what builds this community: the people! Every day I try to tell myself that nothing great comes easy and with that comes so much joy and success.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in floral preservation of all types. I preserve wedding, memorial, and all occasion flowers into functional and wearable artwork. Cremation jewelry is also something I specialize in, taking cremation remains and preserving them into wearable jewelry.
This year, I started working with mamas all over encapsulating their breastmilk into jewelry. These pieces are so special to me as a mom myself to reflect the hard and sometimes difficult journey of breastfeeding. I am so grateful for all of the people around me that lift me up and support what I do.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My best advice for someone starting their own business is to not give up. Some days you will feel like you will never make it. I still have those days. Some weeks or months you will make it below your goal or not even close to it.
And sometimes you will have so much work on your hands it feels overwhelming! Give yourself grace and believe in yourself! Nothing great or successful ever comes easy, it is always hard work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.southernsagejewelry.com
- Instagram: @southernsagejewelry
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/southernsagejewelry
