Meet Erica Young of On the Lookout Jewelry in Scottdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Young.

Erica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always loved making and building things, especially being able to customize something to my own particular needs and specific style. Being able to create something out of nothing with your own two hands was always an invaluable skill that I practiced and dreamt of excelling at. I am also a hardcore Gemini, always pulled in every direction and wanting to work and learn how to use every material I can get my hands on. When I was younger, I really wanted to be a fashion designer, but soon realized I didn’t have the patience to learn to sew or the big-picture mindset to put an entire look together. Jewelry allows for that same design eye, on a much smaller scale. With a small project, I get to focus all of my attention into one concise outcome – I’ve found that working small keeps me from getting overwhelmed. It took me a while to learn that I was more detail-minded individual – this revelation changed the game for me, allowing me to excel by playing on my #1 strength.

I’ve been working with little seed beads since I was a kid, probably about 6 or 7 years old. I basically lived at summer camp and you could always find me with a pocketful of half-finished beaded necklaces or a woven friendship bracelet safety pinned to my jeans. So, to say I have been a bead nerd since the beginning would be an understatement and the playful, camp-y vibes run heavy within my work. My mom was always the most supportive in my creative endeavors, enrolling me in any and every art class we could find. She also had an extensive collection of African and Indigenous American art books. As a very visual being, I remember pouring over the intricate patters and bright color-play used in those books – I was incredibly drawn to the images of women and children, decorated in layers upon layers of colorful beads. These images served as insight into my ancestry and while it may not have been purposeful at the time, I now see this ancient practice of decorating with beads as a way to tap back into a rich heritage that has been severed and partially lost.

As a college graduate, I was lucky enough to work for two small businesses that really gave me insight into running a business and the skills needed to set up a shop and sell my work. Since both were small (under ten employees) and locally owned, I got to see the how’s, why’s and why not’s of running a small business first hand from my bosses, who were also the businesses owners. I was able to learn skills like sales, customer service, buying, setting up an eCommerce shop, photography, videography, email marketing, content creation, SEO and web design. I don’t think I would have had a chance to have learned all of these skills working for a large company and I am SO grateful for those experiences.

I’ve always been super ambitious and I knew at a young age that I preferred making my own decisions and doing things the “Erica-way,” with any insight I can grab from knowledgeable people who will give it. The leap from hobby to business was actually a 30th birthday present to myself almost six years ago! It was one of those now or never feelings and it was terrifying but so incredibly exciting. It kept me up at night and was all I could think about. At the same time, I was able to recognize this whole craft explosion was happening all around me. I saw maker fairs, art blogs and craft-specific platforms (like Etsy) popping up and I was in awe of seeing other makers behind the magic. The internet really helped make this lifestyle more transparent for me, more achievable and provided a wealth of information on how to do so.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a relatively smooth road – I am extremely proud to still be in business after six years of what feels like fumbling through it. The struggles are many, but they are also always necessary and an opportunity for growth and learning … if you can step outside of the situation and not let the fear of failure stop you short.

One of the hardest parts of running your own business is that there is no recipe for success. You literally just have to try everything and have faith that you can pivot quickly if the outcome is less than desirable.

Becoming more money-minded has been a big struggle for me. There was a period of time early on where I binge-purchased supplies and sunk every single penny I had into this crafting obsession, only to wake up one day with a $6 bank account balance and almost all of my credit cards maxed out. While I don’t consider this a huge failure, it was enough of one to shake me to the core! This was my rock bottom, and although I was still selling my jewelry, I wasn’t able to pull myself out of debt by continuing frivolous spending habits and playing small. I decided that day that I was going to put everything I had into my business, not just financially, but my heart and soul and a boatload of passion AND direction/focus. I was going to treat my hobby as a true business and operate as such, mostly so I could continue doing it. This was the day my work ethic skyrocketed and I went from just getting by to being an overachiever and a goal-getter – a space I had honestly never really tapped into before.

On the Lookout Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
On the Lookout Jewelry is a line of handmade accessories, designed + created entirely by myself. Unique color combos collide with bold geometric elements to create pieces that are equal parts nostalgia and new, dainty and durable, for all types of wearers. 20+ years in the making, my aim is to make jewelry that evokes a sense of wonder, adventure, and a playful attitude.

I work primarily out of my home studio in Scottdale, GA. I create my pieces with self-taught techniques that I have been refining since I was a pre-teen: bead weaving (on and off the loom), gemstone stringing, wire work, macrame and assemblage of simple shapes to make intricately patterned jewelry. I’ve also begun to fabricate my own pieces to make the OTL line even more unique! This involves sawing and hammering brass and silver shapes and sculpting beads with clay. I usually begin each piece with an idea that’s been tumbling around in my head and a rough sketch … or 20. My patterns are inspired by looking through history and architecture books, surrealist art, and African and Indigenous American decorative pieces. Unexpected color combinations are usually inspired by my view, specifically the colors in the sky and any beautiful view of nature. I love translating inconspicuous inspiration, seen in the everyday, into a fun, little wearable.

I am known mostly for my attention to detail and extensive and quirky color combinations – I really love how the smallest bits combine to create something that is so visually appealing that it begs to be touched and enjoyed.

I think my proudest moments come when I am at shows and able to interact with people who find joy in looking at, trying on and touching the jewels. Little beads seem to attract lots of curious kids and kids-at-heart and I love to enthusiastically explain my process and where my business started, hopefully, to inspire others to tap into their creative side. Getting people excited about something, whether it’s about the pieces I’ve made or helping remind them of their own ambitions is when I feel most content. Beads and bracelets may not be the most important thing in the world, but they make me sublimely happy – I am so passionate about sharing this in an effort to help others finding their own “sublimely-happy-inducting-thing,” whatever it may be!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by how I feel, physically and mentally. If I am doing what I love and am able to sustain it, that is success. If I am able to share my work and inspire others, that is a HUGE success.

I’ve learned SO MUCH through this process of cultivation my handmade business. It’s a vehicle that can literally take me anywhere and one of the things I love most is that my direction can change and evolve as much as I would like it to. That feels like freedom to me and the freedom to make, create, learn and do is what I desire most.

Pricing:

• $20-200

Contact Info:

• Address: 741 Milton St
  Scottdale GA 30079
• Website: on-the-lookout.com
• Phone: 847-894-4674
• Email: hello@on-the-lookout.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthelookoutjewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onthelookoutjewelry/

Image Credit:
Erica Young, Mhandy Gerard

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.