My Jewelry Journey

Jewelry making or running a small business was never part of the plan.

I knew at 17 that I wanted to work in mental health. Back then, I thought I’d be a therapist. By 26, I had a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and was working in a social worker role. I loved the work but struggled with the stress of supporting some of California’s most high risk families. Their resilience inspired me, but the secondary trauma was intense.

By my 30s I was working as a director, leading teams and building programs. I loved the leadership, but we were stretched thin. Burnout and vicarious trauma were common among my team, and the weight of it all was heavy. I often came home feeling completely depleted.

Some coworkers introduced me to jewelry making, and I decided to give it a try as a way to cope with the stress. I was immediately hooked and opened an Etsy shop that very first night (probably not the best way to start a business - no plan, no inventory, just a lot of enthusiasm).

In the beginning, I experimented with colorful beads, vintage buttons, and wire wrapping. I learned about gold karats and gold filled vs. plated. And then I picked up a torch and taught myself to solder. Metalsmithing became my escape. 

For years, I balanced jewelry making with my full time job; working evenings and weekends, selling online, and doing occasional local shows. I set up a small workspace in a corner of my garage with hand-me-down desks. It was cold and there were spiders. But it was mine, and I loved it.

When I got pregnant with my first daughter in 2018, I started thinking seriously about turning Laurel Elaine Jewelry into a full time business. After maternity leave, I went back to work briefly before deciding to take the leap. It was a wild decision - even my gross sales weren’t anywhere near my salary, and looking back I can see that I really had no idea how to run a business.

Then 2020 hit. It was a year of uncertainty and upheaval, but my business was uniquely positioned to meet the demand for supporting small businesses online. And despite the challenges, I experienced exponential growth. In the middle of it all, I also welcomed my second daughter that year. 

During those intense years, I refined my line, invested in professional photography and videography, launched a website, and joined a mastermind group. I learned how much I still didn’t know and started chipping away at my areas of weakness.

Parenting during that time was tough. With two under two, life was chaotic. The pandemic kept us cautious, and I felt so lonely without a community. Making jewelry became my sanctuary. When my husband took over with the kids, I’d escape to the garage, turn on a podcast, and zone out while creating.

In the years since, I’ve narrowed my focus to 14k gold filled dainty, minimal stacking rings and bangles. I’ve made tens of thousands of pieces and have gotten pretty good at soldering gold filled, which is one of the most difficult metals to work with. I upgraded my workspace again, turning a backyard shed into a jewelry studio with the help of my family.

I’ll be honest: business growth isn’t as easy as it was a few years ago. The economy has shifted, so I’m learning new skills and revisiting old strategies to market my business. Two big changes I made in 2024 were returning to in person selling and leaning into social media marketing. These efforts were meant to grow sales, but they also grew my community in ways I didn’t expect.

And beyond all that, I’m so grateful to be a small part of the special role that jewelry can play in the lives of others. Whether it’s an interlocking ring that represents the bond between friends or a bangle for each year of marriage, it’s an honor to be a small part of celebrating your most cherished relationships.

Being a small business owner is a roller coaster - it’s at times the most stressful and the most fulfilling job I’ve ever had. Laurel Elaine Jewelry buoyed me during some very difficult times in my life. The journey is far from over, and I’m so glad that you're a part of it!