Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanette A.
Hi Joanette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Joanette!
I am a Jamaican born jewelry designer living in Austin, TX. I first developed my love for rocks from my dad, who is a geologist and would always take me around the quarry as a child. Later on, I developed a love for colored gemstones, such as turquoise, amethyst, opal, agate and citrine. I was making jewelry just for ‘fun’ using these stones, but people were always telling me to turn my hobby into a business, I never did … until 2021.
My desire is to showcase art in the ‘raw’. Every striation, inclusion, discoloration and shape adds to the uniqueness of the stone. I desire to look beyond the obvious ‘pretty’ faceted gemstones, and create pieces that remind us there is beauty in the ‘simple’ and undervalued. I am most proud of the journey and the fact that people think my pieces are unique and special.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a solopreneur is challenging. Some of my biggest challenges is staying on top of social media engagement while still managing the time to work a 9 to 5 and create new designs.
In small business, you wear ALL the hats, and I have had periods of burn out. I’m currently learning the value in hiring help, asking people who are better than I am to help me with photography, website design, casting services and finance.
It is challenging, but it is not impossible. Entrepreneurship is not for the weak, its a marathon!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I design pieces that tell a story.
I create jewelry in gold, silver and bronze with raw gemstones. I also set stones into my pieces such as garnet, amethyst, peridot, opals and more in my kitchen! It is labor, but definitely a labor of love.
Whether its for a celebration, love, grief and the in between. Life is happening all around us, and I desire to tell a story through my art. Crafted with care, built to last, and backed by a lifetime warranty. Each creation is a labor of love, handcrafted to a high standard so it can be worn, remembered, and passed down through generations. Every piece is considered ‘wearable art’ and finding beauty in the overlooked.
I am most proud of the fact that I never gave up.
What’s next?
I am really hoping to scale and hire full time staff in the near future.
I strongly desire greater sales and getting my name out there! Thanks for this opportunity!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joanettecollections.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanettecollections
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@joanettecollections
