Meet Emily Olson

We were lucky to catch up with Emily Olson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to create. From painting to origami and everything in between, making things with my hands has always made me feel most like myself. Even at a young age, I was never the “I’ll do whatever you want to do” kid at playdates. I always had multiple crafts planned out and could barely wait until my friend arrived to get started. I was not very confident, though, so I never considered art as something I could pursue as a career. Regardless, my arts and crafts continued to grow with me, and I eventually realized that I had something to offer. When I was twenty one, I moved from the east coast to San Diego, California, where I met some of the most creative and inspiring people I have ever come across. I created my brand, BeYoutique Crafts, which represents the importance of being YOU, and got to work. My friend and I spent most of our time making jewelry, and set up a table every week by the beach to sell it. I moved back east during the pandemic, and continued to make and sell jewelry online. Since then, I’ve settled down in Portland, Maine, where I continue to vend at local shows and events. I am also collaborating with other local artists to hold art workshops to spread our love for creating with others. Through all of these experiences, I would say that surrounding myself with other people who find value in making art inspires me to do the same, and keeps my creativity alive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Although my desire to create has never changed, the things I make always do. When I first started my brand, I was focused on making wire wrapped jewelry, including mostly earrings and pendants. One time, on my way to a concert, I stepped on a pair of my sunglasses and broke off one of the sides. I used my wire to replace it, and it looked even funkier than I expected! This led me to begin wire wrapping sunglasses. I would bring them to music festivals to sell for cash or trade, and I had so much fun meeting new people through the things I created. When I came up with the name for my brand, BeYoutique Crafts, I did so knowing that I wanted it to be vague, to allow many different types of crafts to be included, not just wire wrapped jewelry and sunglasses. I explored the art of wood burning, digital art, tie dying and painting clothing. In 2022, my boyfriend’s mom taught me how to crochet, and I fell in love. Over the last two years, I have learned to crochet dresses, hats, pants, crop tops, and so many things in between. I have been excited about sharing these things I’ve made with friends old and new through the various events I have vended at. Unfortunately, I have developed carpal tunnel, which has made it pretty painful to crochet. I am not discouraged, though, as I am sure that I will become obsessed with a new craft soon enough. This spring, I purchased a cargo van that I am in the middle of converting into a pop-up shop that I will use to travel and sell my crafts, whatever they may be! I am a middle school teacher, so having the summers off gives me this amazing opportunity. I think the most exciting and special thing about what I make is that it is always changing and evolving as I enter each new chapter of my life. I started out selling wire wrapped pendants that I carried around on a piece of cardboard, and now I will have my own little store on wheels!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I look back through my journey, I would have to say that the three skills that were most impactful were networking, being curious, and allowing myself to fail. Networking is so important when building a community of creators because it involves meeting other people and putting yourself out there. When I was early in my journey, I followed the lead of friends who were more experienced and had made more connections. I watched how they interacted with other people and nurtured their relationships. Now, I feel confident in my ability to create those same kinds of meaningful connections, and I have made so many amazing friends this way. I would tell anyone else just starting out to believe in themselves and the possibilities that could emerge from each interaction, from friendships to businesses! It all starts with the first step. I have always been curious, and I love to learn new skills. Staying in your lane can only get you so far. Stepping out of my comfort zone has always provided me with priceless adventures, as well as tools that I have used to continue doing what I love. If I had never taken the risk of moving across the country, I don’t know if I ever would have started selling my jewelry, and I am eternally grateful for everything I learned from that experience and the people I met along the way. Allowing myself to fail has probably been the most important part of my journey so far. I have tried to take every opportunity to set up a table and sell my crafts. Some of these opportunities lead to a day full of sales, and some do not. The key is to find value in each experience. Some days are great opportunities to make money, and others are great opportunities to practice different set-up styles. I also take note of what does and doesn’t work as far as bringing the public to events, which I will use to inform my own events someday. I also need to allow myself to fail a lot with the items I create. Even when I spend 30 hours on a project and it doesn’t come out the way I planned, I do my best to see it as a learning opportunity that can help with the next project that comes along. Even though it is frustrating to fail, it is also so valuable, and makes the successes that much sweeter. There is no finish line when you are embarking on a creative journey, so my advice to others would be to appreciate every step of the way, and to remind yourself about the passion that got you started.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am always looking for other creative people to collaborate with, whether it be for building community, sharing ideas, or supporting each other in our business endeavors. You can reach me on instagram @beyoutiquecrafts, or by email at [email protected]. I look forward to meeting you and seeing what we can create together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beyoutiquecrafts.etsy.com
• Instagram: @beyoutiquecrafts