Look Ma - No Hands!

So I believe today is the day the training wheels come off. As I move forward with my business, I'd like to take this moment to celebrate one of my small success stories. Today is the day I was listed on Etsy's website as 'new talent'!

For those of you not in the know, Etsy is this fantastic website where it allows designers to post images of their work and sell them online for a small fee. It's a great space that allows you to get your work out there. I am living proof that this forum really works! Shortly after this article posting I received a message from a buyer at a museum shop. We'll see if he places an order, but the nod is what really makes me happy. My work in a museum??? WOW.

Ok, I'm done bragging for now. As my journey continues you'll find there are some days where you are sad, disheartened and slightly depressed. Starting a new business is not for the faint of heart. This is one of those moments where I'm going to take the opportunity to jump up and down with happiness. I hope you'll join me in my reverie!

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It's All in a Name

I've been told I have a soap opera star's name. Told my name should be in lights someday. Guys favorite pick up line has been "Hey is Sharon your sister?" And now how ironic is it that my name directly corresponds to my passion in life? A match made in heaven!

Salt and Stone is birthed out of my full name, Jacqueline Ann Stone. I never wanted my company to be my direct nakesake. No offense to you other jewelry designers out there, it just isn't me. In my mind it seems a bit too boastful and doesn't seem to consider all the incredible people involved in the process. Where would I be without my teachers? My gemdealer? My bench jeweler? The stonesetter? Not to mention the photographer!

As my business is built with blood, sweat and tears I want to make sure I appreciate all the people who help make what I do possible. They are the salt to my stone. They help make the magic happen and they make me love what I do even more each day. All though my enterprise is involved in the creation of beautiful things, what makes each thing special is the beautiful moments. The moment my photographer approached me at a trade show and we became fast friends. The moment my bench jeweler and I got laid off from our previous roles during the same week and decided to make lemonade out of lemons. But most important, the real life moments. When he asked her to spend the rest of her life with him. When my baby cousin, Colin, was born.

Salt & Stone = Chemistry & Geology = A Explosion of Magic. A slight nod to the movie "If Lucy Fell" (appropriately all about falling in love), this equation was created when I started studying gemstones and realizing they are the beautiful result of two topics in college that I practically failed. No joke, I got a D in Chemistry my freshman year at GW. The only D I've ever received in my life!

I hope you enjoy learning more about Salt & Stone in this blog and learning about my journey. I'm using this space as a place to nerd out about jewelry, talk about building a business from the bottom, up and about love. For all that know me, I am hopeless romantic. I always have been and I try to put love, magic and a bit of hope into each piece I create.

P.S. No, Sharon is not my sister. Sigh.