Katelyn Johnson produces fashionable jewellery working with damaged porcelain parts and cautiously crafted sterling silver bezel configurations. Producing jewelry helps Katelyn acknowledge her ADHD, and she hopes her handcrafted layouts also aid some others who are struggling with brokenness in their lives. She is a 2022 Halstead Grant Semi-Finalist and a 2022 Interweave Prime 20 honoree.
Higher than image: Blue Rose Ring by Katelyn Elyse Jewelry. All pics courtesy of the artist.
Growing a Business
Q: Convey to us your tale, exactly where you are in your occupation, and has jewelry producing become your complete-time task?
I started Katelyn Elyse Jewellery virtually five several years back and it has slowly grown each yr. My aim just one working day is to be in a position to create jewellery and run my company as my comprehensive-time career. In the meantime, I function a normal 8-5 task and use that profits to aid myself and my enterprise though my company proceeds to increase.
Q: Did you examine jewelry generating in university? Serve an internship? Self-taught?
I discovered most of what I know through earning my BFA in Jewellery and Metalsmithing at Grand Valley Condition College. Even though ending up my degree I worked for an impartial jeweler in Grand Haven, Michigan, Lisa Lehmann, who confirmed me that it was probable to produce jewellery as my full-time vocation. As a result of earning my degree and working with Lisa I was capable to study so significantly about jewellery building and how I could use my competencies to assist myself economically and are living my dream lifetime.
Produced With Appreciate
Q: What is the solitary most crucial jewelry making talent you have realized and why?
Soldering. Every single piece of jewelry I make needs very careful soldering and working experience to fuse the silver items jointly with out melting them. It’s the talent that took me the longest to master and the a person that I enjoy employing the most.
Similar: 4 Suggestions for Building Pottery and Sea Glass Jewellery with Gentle Soldering
Q: You speak about putting your heart in your perform, be sure to clarify to us how you move your feelings by means of you into your method and materials.
My overall Renewed line came from the experience of currently being broken and contemplating there was a thing completely wrong with me due to my ADHD. Each time I make a piece of jewelry employing broken porcelain, I’m capable to mend my damaging thoughts and arrive to peace with how my individual mind works. Having a damaged piece of porcelain, smoothing out the tough edges and then cautiously producing a silver encasement in which to hold the porcelain is amazingly therapeutic. I appreciate that in the span of a few hours I can deliver elegance and pleasure into one thing that was the moment damaged.
Completely Imperfect
Q: Notify us what sets your perform aside from many others? What would make your function exceptional?
I’m not the only a single to generate jewelry out of broken plates but I am one of a kind in my design and style. Environment the porcelain parts demands time and care. Relatively than drilling a gap by way of the plate and attaching a chain or earring hooks, I handle the porcelain items as if they ended up a valuable stone. I build a silver bezel specially for every one of a kind form. Then, I position the prongs diligently to carefully hold the piece of plate in position although demonstrating off the floral style. It’s a wearisome and time-consuming system but it creates significant high quality pieces that are as opposed to other jewelry of their type.
Q: Have you manufactured any issues that you can to share?
My biggest mistake has been assuming that I require to tackle every little thing on my individual and that asking for enable is a signal of weak spot. It was only when I asked for outside help that my company was in a position to flourish. I have figured out more about what I’m able of. Owning and jogging a small enterprise is a enormous task and is normally really isolating. But inquiring for assistance is not a sign of weak point, it is a indication of toughness.
Learn Katelyn Elyse Jewellery
Katelyn says, “Jewelry design and the ability to operate with my palms is a daily life passion that delivers me unbelievable pleasure. I dwell in the countryside and appreciate the peace and fresh air it brings. I appreciate spending time gardening, participating in with my pet dog, transforming my home, or hanging out with my family members.” Abide by @katelynelysejewelry on Fb and Instagram.
