Meet Andrea Binetti

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Binetti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Andrea, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

It’s only been recently that I’ve truly found my purpose. Four years ago I moved into a unique little community called Stoudtburg Village. The village is a ‘mixed-use’ community designed for residents to have a business or shop in their home if they choose. The Bavarian architecture and esthetics attract visitors, photographers and film crews from both near and far and moving to the village provided an opportunity for me to have a ‘brick and mortar’ shop. It was a welcomed change after 30 years of traveling to art festivals while working full time as a school psychologist. In April, 2021 I opened Fire Kissed Jewelry and set out to increase my social media exposure and expand my customer base. That fall I was offered the opportunity to be a Tour Stop on Lancaster County’s Best Kept Secrets Tour. It was a huge undertaking for a sole proprietor with no staff but it increased my visibility county wide and brought many new visitors to my shop. The success of this event was what helped me begin to find my purpose. It evolved as visitors asked about the origins of the name “Fire Kissed” and my logo, which is a rising Phoenix. I share that “Fire Kissed” was named, in part because I use torches and fire to heat, soften and transform metals into unique pendants, rings, and other one-of-a-kind creations. It also comes from life ‘fires’ that have transformed me into who I am today and that the phoenix, the mythological bird that is reborn, rising from its own ashes was the perfect symbol. Sharing some of my journey and life ‘fires’ opened the door for others to feel comfortable and safe to share stories of their own life ‘fires’, and how those events shaped and transformed them and their life circumstances. Of course this does not always happen and time doesn’t always allow for deep conversations, but when they do the experiences are moving, touching, and sometimes profound. My visitors leave knowing that there is someone else who has been through difficult situations and ‘fires’ and many times they leave feeling a little better and less alone. Sometimes there are hugs, sometimes there are tears, but often they say that they are glad they came in. So while sales are important to sustain my business, the shared connections made with my visitors really feel like my purpose.

Some of my life fires that I share include being diagnosed with Alopecia in early childhood and experiencing total hair loss by young adulthood. The impact this had on my self-esteem and confidence to navigate in the world has been profound. It has stunned me how many of my visitors have knowledge of, experience with, or have a friend or family member with some form of Alopecia. Our conversations, in some small way help ‘validate’ the feelings and experiences we’ve been through. We may not know each other, but we have a shared ‘fire’ and an understanding about that fire that other’s do not.

Sometimes I share that I’m a cancer survivor, not once but twice. First when my daughter was very young and I was diagnosed with a rare cancer that required extensive surgeries and subsequent facial reconstruction. It was a lengthy and extremely stressful time but I had a great medical team and my daughter’s unconditional love. I pushed through and over time was able to heal. Just a few years later there were more ‘fires’ when my marriage ended and I became a single parent. And then, when I was within two years of retiring from my 30 year career as a school psychologist, I was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer. It was caught early and treatment should have been a simple lumpectomy. But after multiple attempts at reconstruction and surgical complications that spanned two years the end result was a mastectomy.

So what starts as a simple question about the name ‘Fire Kissed’ sometimes opens a door where people can choose to share their life ‘fires’. Be it cancer, divorce, alopecia or other medical trauma, loss and grief, employments stress or other situations, I listen and we share how these events have transformed us and how much we appreciate life, having come through those fires. Some of my visitors have become friends, some have brought their friends and family to visit and some come back to shop or to talk about having something custom made.

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?

My story pretty much dovetails with my purpose. I grew my business slowly, over the course of more than 30 years, and while working full time and being a single parent. I’m blessed to have a pension that covers my living expenses so I never feel pressure to ‘sell’ my work. I create simply because I love designing and creating and I put a little bit of myself into each piece I create. I am self-taught. I have read books, researched, and networked through various social media platforms. Over time I managed to build a small studio and I worked diligently to continue to develop different skills. When I was recovering from medical procedures and couldn’t work with certain tools I learned how to weave and wrap gemstones with silver and copper wire. I learned pearl knotting and made necklaces on traditional silk thread. When my visitors look around my shop they see a variety of techniques, metal types, and gemstones. I like to think that the fires I’ve been through have somehow all led up to this point in time, this moment in my life, where I am creating and doing what I love, while giving back in some small way to others.

My focus at this time is to continue to ‘grow’ as an artisan and creative. I find that my mind is clear and focused when I’m piercing silver sheet with teeny tiny drill bit and then sawing out tiny dragonflies, hummingbirds, sea turtles, dinosaurs and other animals with a saw blade that is as fine as a strand of hair. I feel the same when I’m using my torch and soldering silver or flaming copper, gently heating with a controlled flame to transform metals into something new and hopefully wonderful.

I truly love creating custom pieces and I always try to get a sense of my customer and their vision. I want the creation to reflect or incorporate something unique to that person’s life, interests or personality. These are the things I get a sense of when we talk. I seek that connection, whether big or small, so that I can create something special, meaningful and beautiful that is uniquely theirs. Sometimes I’m asked to create something that requires a technique or process I haven’t yet explored. I tell them that if they’re game, I’m up for the challenge and we work out a realistic timeline together, and I’m happy to say that the outcomes thus far have been great.

To me it’s also exciting to share the process of creating a finished piece of wearable art that began with a literal rock in the ground. I have rough stones and samples of split geodes filled with crystals for people to see. I always show a beautiful piece of agate that is ‘sliced like bread’ to expose the vibrant colors, veining and crystal “pockets”. I have rough dinosaur bone fragments, polished dino bone cabochons, and also finished bone pendants with backs that have tiny dinosaurs, embellishments, or a T-Rex pierced through the silver so that the dinosaur bone gem can be seen. When young children come in with their parents I sometimes pull out my bag of rough dino bone and we play ‘Guess the fossil’, which is sometimes as much fun for the adults as it is for the children.

I have a few new things going on that I’m really excited about. First, I moved in to a larger retail space that became available at the north end of our village a few months ago. The location is close to our main parking lot which has increased my visibility greatly. The additional room has allowed me to expand displays of my work, add more more illustrative photos on the upper walls and I’m planning to add a video display of torch work and benchwork on a wall-mounted monitor. I’m also planning to get back to creating enameled jewelry soon and I hope to have a small line ready for the upcoming holidays. Additionally I’ve been making new, small fused glass pieces like sun catchers and trinket bowls that are great handcrafted gift alternatives to jewelry. Lastly, in addition to my personally handcrafted jewelry I’m also working with a major US manufacturer of fine jewelry. I’ve have had the honor and pleasure of creating some beautiful gold engagement rings, anniversary bands and pendants with fine gemstones, diamonds and Moissanites. Being able to work with their CAD team has allowed me to design truly unique pieces for my customers.

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?

Only three? Hmmmm….

Being humble and brave enough to seek help: As a self-taught metalsmith and artisan, my knowledge and skills developed from reading texts, trade journals, researching and connecting with an on-line network of artisans who have experience in metalsmithing and stone setting. Initially I was hesitant to ask questions within an online forum, especially when I was just learning a particular skill. I lacked confidence and have always struggled with the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. I want to excel in my skills, and that means being humble and recognizing what I don’t know and need to learn. Even with ‘mastery’ there is always room for improvement. So I reached out and was met with incredible support and kindness. I maintain a connection with a very skilled artisan on-line that is talented and gracious. I may never meet them person but I will always value the knowledge they have shared over the years and the wonderful friendship we have developed.

Time management skills. When I transitioned from a ‘hobbyist’ into a brick and mortar business, time management was and remains essential. My life journey has taught me well; single parenting, full time employment, home owner, and managing my own medical issues required planning, scheduling, and the ability to adapt spontaneously whenever needed to meet timelines. Time management and good record keeping help me manage stress, keep order in my work, and help me make sure I have all the needed materials and supplies on hand.

I don’t know if this is a quality or knowledge but I know that we are all unique in our craft and in our skills and that skill develops over time and with much practice. I have found patience, learning from my mistakes, and perseverance are essential. When frustration hits I walk away, take a break, get a clear head, and then start again. When I hit the frustration wall I listen to music or take a walk and ‘re-set’ my mood before picking up my torch or starting again. I remind myself that every day I learn a little more, and that is all part of the journey.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Currently, my biggest challenge is trying to maintain a healthy and productive balance in my daily life. I have a lot going on, personally and professionally. I’ve custom orders to fill and I always want and need to create new pieces for my inventory. I do my best to maintain three websites: mine, one for Stoudtburg Village and one for our Village Shops. I maintain my home and I’m also a board member in our village. I’m recently recovering from the second of four breast reconstruction surgeries and have a few more medical things coming up. Fortunately I’m able to use some time management skills, set priorities, and carve out a little bit of time to socialize with friends, enjoy a meal, drinks and occasional trivia nights. I could use more down-time; it seems that there’s never enough hours in the day yet somehow I’m getting things done. And most importantly, I absolutely love what I’m doing, where I am, and I look forward to every day!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.firekissedjewelry.com
• Instagram: firekissedjewelry
• Facebook: fkjewelry
• Yelp: Fire Kissed Jewelry

Image Credits

Andrea Binetti