We were lucky to catch up with Tamara Wicks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tamara, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My Grandma Judy! She left me at age 93 on March 31st, and her loss really has been tough to navigate through. She drove until she was 91 years old, worked for herself 60 years as a beautician, and beat cancer THREE times in 30 years. My grandma was always jazzy, positive, loving, and didn’t let illness get her down! I saw her rebound so many times, and I pray to have that level of resilience!
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
In this season of my life, I am focused on building my Blueberry’s Trinkets brand! I’m taking opportunities for vending at events and various pop-up shops in the region. I’m creating new bracelets almost everyday to keep my inventory fresh and eye-catching.
The excitement hits every single time I finish setting up! The rush of seeing hundreds of my handmade bracelets and the customers complimenting the heft gives me such joy.
Right now, I’m primarily at the Agricenter Farmers Market on Walnut Grove, but I update weekly on my next stop. I’ll be at Cynthia Daniels’s Juneteenth Festival at Fourth Bluff Park on June 17th and the SweetFetish Pop Up Shop at the Bartlett Municipal Center July 2nd!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
* The ability to accept constructive criticism: People who support and care for you don’t want to see you any less than your best. I couldn’t get to this point without taking those helpful tips and applying them. From displays, to business cards, and even the building of my website, all of those ideas came from my friends & loved ones.
* Patience: Sometimes, the growth seems to come almost overnight! Then sometimes, it feels as if you will never make another dime. Give yourself time and grace!
* Step out on faith: No matter your belief system, you have to be willing to just LEAP! How will you know if your art will sell unless you list it? Take a chance and bet on yourself. Even if it doesn’t land perfectly the first time, you’ll know what to do the next time!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
My goal is to connect with places to sell my bracelets and see Blueberry’s Trinkets all over the country, not just Shelby County. I would love to have my bracelets sold in your place of business or to allow me space to set up and vend.
Please email me at [email protected] or reach out to me via Instagram @BlueberrysTrinkets
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @BlueberrysTrinkets
- Facebook: Facebook.com/BlueberrysTrinkets
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-cranford
Image Credits
Haitian Boy Images
