We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kimberly Weaver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly, 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?
I think important parts of keeping creativity alive are exploring, experimenting, and prioritizing rest when needed. For me, exploring is going to craft fairs, scrolling on Pinterest, going to my favorite crystal/bead stores, and walking on the beach to find inspiration. I also like to look back at my old work. I find it inspiring to see how far I’ve come, what has changed, and what I’d like to work on next. With experimenting, I believe sometimes we need to make things solely for the purpose of making- the intention is only to play around, without worrying about mistakes or a refined product. This helps take away the pressure to have the ideal outcome and just focus on enjoying the creative process. Prioritizing rest is also very important and easily overlooked. Especially as a small business owner, my brain just doesn’t shut off and ideas are constantly running through my head. I can feel when it’s time to step away and recenter myself by doing something unrelated to my business that I enjoy (ex. read a book, cook a meal, exercise) instead of trying to force the creativity to flow.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a small jewelry business owner based out of Myrtle Beach/Charleston, SC specializing in handmade hypoallergenic gemstone, shell, and pearl jewelry. Each piece is crafted to highlight the slow and steady processes of nature and serve as a celebration of the earth’s beauty. In addition to years of research and trial and error, I make everything in small quantities, ensuring high attention to detail and careful craftsmanship. The most exciting part of my job is being able to share my work with so many kind people and be a part of their special moments. A big part of what makes my business fulfilling is being able to give back to our community, which is why 5% of proceeds are donated to various charities throughout the year, with a goal of spreading kindness and awareness that reaches beyond handmade accessories. You can find my shop online and at local farmers markets, festivals, and other events along the Grand Strand, as well as 3 local stores (details on kimmyshandmade.com)! I am always looking for other small businesses to collaborate with and hope to expand into more shops in the upcoming year!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Persistence is probably #1. With that, I would say if you have a dream/goal, and it’s really calling to you, just get started. And remember as you go on why you started. I didn’t go to school for business, art, or even take any jewelry-making classes. I actually got my bachelors in biochemistry, and never thought I would own a business, especially as a full-time job. When I graduated, I really just felt called to make my hobby of jewelry making a job and see where I could take it and it has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life.
Another skill that has been significantly impactful is the ability to do research. There is a lot of misinformation in the jewelry-making community, about gemstones, metal quality, product origins, etc. Being able to find quality sources of information helps me find what’s actually true and what’s made up to get a sale. It also helps me make the best quality product that I can, provide accurate product details, and build trust with customers.
Lastly, I would say creating a welcoming environment- both for others and for yourself. A little kindness goes a long way and makes people feel seen. As a vendor, this can be something as small as greeting every customer with a smile, addressing questions with care, or making sure everyone feels included with various size options. For yourself, a positive environment helps make you want to do your job, especially when doing something you’ve never done before! Things won’t be perfect, or always how you intended them to turn out. You have to give yourself grace as you learn!
Overall, my advice to others in a similar journey would be, if you have an idea for a business, just do it. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, you can refine the details later. Remember why you started. Remember how badly you wanted what you currently have. Don’t let a few negative comments overshadow the positives. And lastly end each day with a grateful heart for the opportunity to learn and create!
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
The biggest area of improvement, beyond just the quality of my work, has been creating a deeper purpose. Giving back through each purchase motivates me to want to work harder and continue to raise awareness for meaningful causes that positively impact our local community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kimmyshandmade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmyshandmade/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimmyshandmadejewelry/
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