We were lucky to catch up with Kara Maguire recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kara , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
About six years ago I walked out on what I thought was my dream job. It was the first real opportunity after college where I was able to apply my degree, and at the time I felt that I needed to do whatever it took to prove I was there to stay. Unfortunately I was very wrong about the opportunity itself. I was convinced in the wake of my resignation that I had made a massive mistake; one that could affect the rest of my life. I was right, but not about it being a mistake. Everything in our lives, every decision before us, has a risk associated. Maybe it’s simply stepping out your front door, or trying a new restaurant for lunch. Maybe it’s accepting a promotion at work or quitting your job altogether. Of all the big decisions presented before me, the main force behind them has been a gut reaction, saying “I need to do this”. I needed to quit my dream job; I was being manipulated, I was being overworked, and my future would have had a completely different outlook that was not the one I dreamed of. This wasn’t so different from my decision to study art and science at a local university instead of going to a more prestigious art school, or my choice to finish high school online instead of completing my last two years in public school. All of these decisions ended up providing different paths when I chose not to follow another.
There are infinite opportunities, choices and risks. I can finally look back on those risks and recognize that they actually benefited me in the end. Did they pay off immediately? Pretty much never. Do I have regrets or wish I had handled some situations much better than I did? Of course. But I’ve learned to recognize they were opportunities for change and progress. I can remember that each risk has given me the chance to take more risks time and time again. There are unlimited possibilities before me that circle back to one moment. When I left one job, I found another where I learned the foundations for what I do now, a role where I exceeded my own expectations. That led to me to take another risk and combine all of my knowledge in a new business I’m starting.
I have absolutely felt resentment towards my past situations, and I’ve been angry at what appeared to be a barrier before me. Barriers come in many forms; exterior or self inflicted, sometimes both. My barriers have kept me from doing what I needed to do. I needed to better my future, in my own definition. I needed to create my version of success. I needed to find my joy and reason for living. I don’t know that I can tell you how I developed the ability to take risks, but I do know I keep moving forward; I know there will be another opportunity, and another following. Trust yourself; trust the process!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Over the last two years I’ve had the opportunity to focus on becoming an artist and maker full time. I was able to leave my corporate job and now I’m on the cusp of running my own business! The inspiration has come from years of personal interest in finding alternative materials to use for my artwork, specifically with recyclable products that I could find a new purpose for. I started researching other makers and artisans that create new materials from recycled plastics and paper. After many months of experimentation I was able to develop my own method for using paper pulp to create jewelry, providing an alternative to polymer clays and traditional materials for jewelry making. You may have seen paper beads before, which traditionally are made by rolling thin strips of paper to create a round bead. You may also have seen paper jewelry made with quilling or origami techniques. My process utilizes paper pulp from recycled paper to create three-dimensional, sculptural earrings. The pulp is made using waste newspaper, magazines and junk mail, which are broken down and combined with a small amount of glue and other binders. Then I use a technique called Paper Casting, which involves pressing the paper pulp into a mold to shape the design and allowing it to dry. The dried form is hard and durable, but the earring itself is surprisingly lightweight. I hand paint each earring and the pieces are varnished to protect the color.
I’ve created a series of silicone molds using hand cut wood pieces to form the shapes for the earrings, like a printmaking relief. A series of five designs will initially be available to my customers, all with a geometric style and painted in bold colors. In the future I will be able to expand what I offer, in the form of other styles of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, beads and even my own hand made gift box. I will also offer a wider range of colors. I believe that there will be endless possibilities for new products and materials made from recycled paper, and I am especially excited to finally share them!
We will be launching the Etsy store soon, and you can follow my Instagram pages for updates!
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?
Document your day and next steps. Whether it be through a physical notebook, the calendar in your phone, or a Kanban board, documenting your work and creating structure in your day is important to staying organized and remembering that your time is valuable. It’s also helpful to have something to reflect on how much you have accomplished. When I was in school my planners and sketchbooks were my lifeline, and I still think best when I write on paper. It can be very empowering to flip through a full sketchbook and see the evidence of my ideas and hard work. My main tool right now is my weekly planner, with sticky notes and scraps of paper tucked in it to remind me of my goals and daily tasks. I also use notepads on my phone to keep long lists, journals with new ideas to try and quick sketches that need refinement. I learned how to use Kanban boards in my last job and even though I don’t follow a strict agile format, the boards are helpful when I need to track future projects and record progress, even though I don’t have a large team. By creating a routine and keeping track of information you can free yourself to focus on the fun parts of your day, like creating a new work of art or writing a business plan.
Talk it out.
I work on my artwork and my business alone, but it is essential for me to have someone to talk to about my ideas and issues. As difficult as it was sometimes in school to have a critique with your professors and peers, it was so important to my growth as an artist and to learn how to communicate my ideas more effectively. It’s also important because you alone can’t have all the ideas or knowledge, or the ability to interpret everything in every way. Having an outside perspective helps you expand your thinking, and in the case of a business hone your purpose and customer needs. In the tech world, Rubber Duck Debugging is a method where you find issues in your software by explaining it out loud to a toy Rubber Duck. Sometimes just having a conversation with an object can spark creative thought and help you find solutions.
If you don’t know what to paint, paint.
Many of my teachers reminded us that if you don’t know what to do, you have to do something. Pick up a pencil and doodle; open your notebook and write, even if it’s literally the words, “Bla, bla, bla.” You can break any creative mental block by just creating something. It doesn’t have to be good, or perfect, but it will never be anything if you don’t start.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
A year ago we were visiting my best friend, following months of trial and error as I tried to create my product, designing and envisioning my business. My friend and I have known each other since fourth grade, and it’s been our long held dream to write a children’s book together, so we decided to get some inspiration and headed to the bookstore. I thumbed through numerous books, and eventually picked up “Trying” by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Elise Hurst. I was initially drawn to its uniquely loose and monochromatic illustrations. Then I started reading the book. The story is about a child who meets a sculptor, and is in awe of his art and abilities to create. Over and over the child repeats that he can’t do what the sculptor does, that everything he tries to make is terrible and how he wishes he could be better. I was completely taken aback. The last thing I expected while flipping through cute picture books was to find words I not only needed to hear but a story about a child who wanted to be an artist. I was that kid; I am still that kid. I feel all of the wonder, but also his frustration and self deprecation. I especially feel it now when I am trying to start a business and do something I have never done before. Many times I have felt overwhelmed by the abilities of others and by my own ambitions; overwhelmed by the realization that I may not succeed, to the point that I lose sight of the joy of being creative and making something beautiful.
To the child, the sculptor says, “If you do nothing, it feels safe, but everything stays the same. If you do nothing, there is less to experience, less to love, and less to learn. The fear of failing is the scariest part, and it stops most people from starting. The only way to get to where you want to go is to take a step in that direction. And the best way to do that is to begin.”
I bought the book and it sits on a shelf where I can see it every day. Through good days and bad, I will always have more to learn and improve on, and all we have to do is keep trying. I keep a bookmark on the page where I need the most reflection:
“The truth is, we are all failures. The dreamers, the doers, the creators…Being a failure means you loved something. You cared. It means you stepped forward, you didn’t hold back, you tried.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: paper.thin.jewelry
- Other: personal Instagram: kmaguire_art email: paperthinjewelry@gmail.com & kmaguireart@gmail.com
Image Credits:
All photos by Kara Maguire for Paper Thin Jewelry
