05/28/2026
I’ve been at this game a while — half my life (20 years!) to be exact!
I wanted to go big and share the love with 20% off all Grey + Aqua-Teal moissanite rings! Shop via link in bio. Use code BDAY20 at checkout. 🛒
Honestly, I still wake up every day wondering how the f*** I get to keep doing this for a living. Read on if you feel like a trip down memory lane with me:
20 years ago, I was an art major focused on metalsmithing + jewelry design. I basically lived in the jewelry studio — even TA’ing after hours and during summers. I was obsessed.
While still in school, I got hired at a high-end jewelry store as a bench jeweler/salesperson. They encouraged me to sell my own work there too, but I was so terrified of talking about my own pieces that when customers asked about them, I’d pretend another artist made them. 😅
Then the 2008 recession hit during my final year of college, and the store closed. Around that same time, I heard about this tiny little website called Etsy and listed a few pieces to help pay bills.
Not long after, I moved from Vermont to Los Angeles with one duffle bag to work as a bench jeweler for another artist, while keeping my little side hustle going at night.
Eventually that “side hustle” grew enough for me to take the leap and go all-in on my own business.
In those early years I never thought this would be a long-term career. I felt like I just kept getting lucky, and that eventually I’d have to pivot into a different career.
But somehow...I’m still here, which is totally wild. I mean, I worked my buns off. I’m passionate about jewelry, and I was a classic perfectionist workaholic, which are admittedly not good qualities to have (would not recommend, tbh!).
But I’m grateful for all those early years, and do not take it for granted that I still get to do what I love every single day.
Thanks for being here and for celebrating 20 years in this industry (and my 40th) bday with me!
all my love,
Kristin
