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PrintMeet Michele Gallagher, owner of the JAM Jewelry Shop
Ruby Briolette Necklace
Michele and her husband hand craft all of their products using high-end materials such Swarovski Crystallized Elements, authentic gemstones and sterling silver components. Their motto is that everyone deserves to be glamorous and you don't need a martini or a black dress to do it - a little sparkle is all you need!
When did you become interested in jewelry making?
Around the age of 7I would string pony beads to make necklaces and bracelets for my sisters and friends. When I was 10 the school parent-teacher association allowed me to sell some of my jewelry at the holiday fair. I love working with Swarovski Crystallized Elements because of their sparkle and versatility, and also gemstones because I love their natural beauty.
Has there ever been a piece that you absolutely hated and then it became your favorite?
At first, I really didn't like the Briolette Necklaces. I always liked the Briolette pendants, but couldn't figure out how to incorporate them into a design. Most of the bails that are made for this pendant are silver plated and we only produce jewelry with sterling silver components. It took a lot of research to find a sterling silver bail that would fit this particular pendant. I finally came across the swirl bail we currently use, but I was unsure if I liked the end result. The first reaction to the necklace was from my sister when I was setting up my jewelry for a craft fair - she loved it. In fact, that necklace was our best seller that day. Now, the Briolette Necklace always gets a lot of attention at fairs and from talking to people, I have learned to love the simplistic but still sparkly design.
Has there ever been a piece that you didn't want to part with?
There has never been a piece that I didn't want to part with, but one of the pieces I have decided to keep for myself grew to have personal significance. I've always been reserved when it comes to talking about my jewelry business, just because I never know how to bring it up without feeling like I'm trying to make a sale. After I started to make the Large Cosmic Rings, I fell in love with the Jet Ring. I finally decided that, in order to be successful, I needed to talk more freely about what I do. So I kept a Jet ring for myself. It has allowed me to open up about my shop and be confident sharing with people what I do.
Do you plan to expand or stay small?
I don't think that I will ever open a physical shop; I love the freedom of having a virtual shop. I can make my own hours, design when I feel creative and engage with customers from around the world with Twitter (you can follow us @Craftychick101). Although we do not plan on opening a physical retail store, there are currently two retail stores that carry our line. We are always looking to expand into other stores.
Why did you choose Etsy?
Etsy is known world wide. There are several options for setting up virtual handmade shops, but none of them get the amount of traffic and buyers as Etsy does. I love the community feeling there and they provide a ton of tips for sellers and opportunities to grow your business through street teams, guest speakers and blog posts.
Do you ever have the opportunity to meet other Etsy artists and compare notes?
Not often enough. Fortunately, I have met several Etsy sellers on Twitter and we will help each other out by recommending that our followers check out each others' shops.
Who has most inspired you?
My husband inspires me every day. He was kind enough to allow me to run with my dream, even though it meant a leap of faith investing in materials. He has become my "camera man," taking pictures of our products and playing with the lighting to get everything just right. Whenever I get a large order or need to restock one of the stores that carries our line, he is always there with pliers in hand ready to do what needs to be done, even if it means giving up some of his free time. I could not be successful without him.
Check out JAM Jewelry Shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/JAMJewelryShop
