Dreams to reality.

It all begins with dream. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. I know I did. I am a stay at home mom, I wasn’t always. Once upon a time, I was getting my degree in Art Education. During this time I completely fell in love with metalsmithing. So much so, that I added it as a second major. After graduating, I was actually pretty nervous that my degree choice would make it extremely hard to secure a teaching job. I mean, after all, how many school districts have open art teaching positions?? I was pretty surprised, actually, I was able land my first teaching position with ease. It was a position at the middle school level. Boy was that an experience, one I am grateful for, but bless those teachers (if I knew how to insert a shocked sweat running down my face emoji I would). I eventually moved on to high school, which I absolutely loved. I was actually hired to primarily teach metalsmithing. Ah, it felt so good to get back in the game. I had been so busy when I was teaching middle school that I had barely picked up my torch. Let me tell ya, it was amazing to be working with metal again, even if I had to make sure 24 students didn’t catch their hair on fire, cut their finger off or burn down the school- it was a magnificent time-truly. Years went by and I decided to stay home with my first child. I didn’t know at the time, but there would be almost a 12 year hiatus with my passion. As time went by I kept finding myself somehow creating. But it was in the form of elaborate handmade Halloween costumes, graphic design for my husband or birthday invitations, my step dad and I even made a beautiful couch and chair set (of course child sized). I didn’t realize I was yearning to be creative any way I could. I finally made the decision to set my metals studio back up. I started making again, it was like a surge of energy I didn’t realize I was missing. I decided after some hard core jewelry making sessions with my amazing sister, that I wanted other people to wear my art. Gilded Laurel was born. It took 12 years to get back at it and I am so grateful that I did. I will be sharing my journey as a small business owner, jewelry designer and creator. Thanks for reading and coming along this ride with me, it’s going to be exciting.