From simple silver and gold necklaces to intricately hand-stamped jewelry, we felt the need to introduce you to the maker behind the aftcra shop The Azure Rose. Not only is the jewelry in The Azure Rose stunning, but the variety that she offers is incredible. What we found even more interesting was the story behind The Azure Rose, and how Genevieve got the inspiration to create her shop and work. Let’s get to know Genevieve!
My name is Genevieve, my shop is called The Azure Rose, and I create hand stamped sterling silver jewelry and stainless steel key chains.
I work out of my home in Newark, Delaware. I have a work bench in my house, but I have my basic tools in a carrying case so I can take them outside on my deck when the weather is nice. It’s great to be able to work outside!
How did you come up with the name “The Azure Rose“?
One of my middle names is Rose, and I really love the blues of the sky and ocean, so I chose to combine my name with one of my favorite colors in nature, azure.
How did you get drawn to making?
I’ve been crafting various styles of jewelry for about 7 years, but am now focusing mostly on hand stamped jewelry. I’ve been hand stamping for almost 2 years.
My background is in geotechnical engineering. I started creating jewelry when my first daughter was born, and I decided to take a break from engineering to stay home with her. I’ve always liked making things with my hands, and when I tried crafting jewelry, I found I really enjoyed it and was able to sell it. Seven years and four kids later, I love the flexibility of my business, and the creative outlet it provides me.
How do you create your jewelry?
I love to sit down at my work bench with a bunch of blanks, tools, stamps, wire, charms, and anything else that has caught my eye that day, and get swept up in creative inspiration. I’ll pair various blanks and charms together, or try stamping designs or words in different ways, or I may just grab my hammer and work on texturing methods to find one I like. Those are my favorite days, the ones where I am free to just create something new, whatever I feel like. Then when I’ve made something I love, I finish all the details and photograph it to add to my shop.
What is the inspiration for your work?
Generally, I feel inspired to work with my hands. I love the feeling of working on a piece of jewelry and then seeing the finished piece at the end, a physical representation of something I imagined. More specifically, for my personalized hand stamped jewelry I am often inspired to create things by my friends and family. I like to make things that would be meaningful to the people in my life, to remember an anniversary or a child’s birth, or a loved one that has passed. I like that I can create pieces inspired by meaningful events in the lives of people I know, and then personalize those pieces for my customers.
What is your next new exciting project?
I am excited to expand my new line of minimalist geometric jewelry, which focuses on the lines and textures of the metals I work with, rather than the impressions I stamp into the metals for my hand stamped jewelry. I am starting to work with other metals in addition to silver, including gold-filled and rose-gold filled materials, and have been creating simple mixed metal pieces which combine different shapes, metals, and textures.
As a small business owner, what is one piece of advice you would share with other small business owners?
Believe in yourself and your craft! Starting my business was challenging, and there were a lot of bumps along the way. I always strive to improve my jewelry, my brand, my photos for online sales, and am fortunate enough to have a wonderful husband and family encouraging me. I believe in myself and love what I do!
What is a quote that you personally live by, or you have shared with others for inspiration?
“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all of those things and still be calm in your heart.”
-Author Unknown.
As a wife, a mom to four kids under the age of seven, and a small business owner and jewelry artisan, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by everything going on in my life. This quote reminds me to stop and take a deep breath, that I can still feel peace within myself when the world around me is chaotic.
What handmade-related business resources do you use to help improve your business?
I don’t really use handmade-related business resources specifically, but I think one of my best resources has been other artists. Whether I meet people in person at craft shows, or through my online selling communities, I find that other artists have great advice and lots of new ideas that have helped me along the way. Building real and virtual friendships with other artists has helped me discover both better success with selling my jewelry, as well as helped me improve my crafting techniques and creation process.
Why did you choose to join aftcra, and what do you enjoy about the community?
I like the idea of an American artisan marketplace, and I think it’s awesome that this whole thing was created by a mom, like me. I think Aftcra represents “handcrafted artisans” in a way that fits me, and it’s been a welcoming and friendly community.
What does “handmade” and “handcrafted” mean to you?
Handmade and handcrafted, to me, both mean something created by the hands of a skilled artist. It’s a physical expression of a person’s creativity, and the imaginativeness and care behind something created by an individual artist’s hands adds a depth and significance to the item for person who receives it.
Get regular updates from Genevieve and The Azure Rose! Connect with their social profiles here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheAzureRoseJewelry
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/theazurerose123
Twitter: @theazurerose
Want to get featured on aftcra’s homepage! Interested in becoming aftcra’s Featured Store of the month? Send an email to info@aftcra.com and we will send you the requirements. All requests will be considered to become the next aftcra Featured Store.
Have you checked out aftcra yet? Discover handmade goods from American artisans at aftcra.
