This month we’d like you to meet Alison Kelley, a jewelry designer who grew up in a family of artists, woodworkers, and seamstresses. Her family roots are in Malta, a tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea that inspires her jewelry design. Alison started designing jewelry 17 years ago, but in the last few years, with the encouragement of her husband and three sons, she has turned her passion into a successful small business.
What is your favorite Nina Designs charm?
I love the sterling silver pineapple charm. It’s the first charm I ever bought from Nina Designs and still my favorite. It reminds me of my second honeymoon in Maui. I love pairing it with a white fresh water pearl and a champagne cubic zirconia.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Color is my biggest inspiration. I love to study how nature combines colors. This makes it easier for me to come up with inspiring color combinations for my upcoming jewelry designs. I used to watch a TV show on BBC America called “What Not to Wear,” hosted by Trinny and Suzanne, who offered advice on how to wear color and that’s always stayed with me whether I’m designing jewelry, decorating my home, or getting dressed.
If we were to visit your studio would we see a neatly organized workspace or messy mountainous piles of beads?
I’m a bit of an organization freak and I don’t work well in a mess, so I’d have to say most of the time you’ll find my studio well organized and tidy. If it’s not, then I’m not designing jewelry.
What is one piece of trusted advice you would give to someone just starting their jewelry business?
I’m a completely self taught jewelry designer. I’ve been making jewelry since I was a teenager. When I started selling my jewelry I did loads of research, mined the internet for how-to’s, and bought books on jewelry making. But, in the end, I learned most by trial and error, and it’s still that way. Don’t be afraid to go for it. If you never try, you’ll never succeed. I would also say create what you love and others will love it too! The jewelry I make are things I would wear, colors I would wear, and styles I would wear. Go with your gut and trust yourself to make what you love, and you will find that your love and confidence in doing so will inspire and attract others to your work.
Who is your ideal customer? Who do you make jewelry for?
My ideal customer is a woman who’s not afraid to wear color or add a little glitz to a casual outfit. She’s a woman who loves to wear jewelry because it brings a smile to their face. This tells me my designs are heading in the right direction.
How do you choose where to sell your jewelry?
Over the years I have become more particular with where I sell, because I have a better sense of who would buy my jewelry. I’m currently selling on 3 online venues, Etsy, ArtFire, and TrunkT. I’m also in a couple of local shops, including a day spa in Los Gatos and most recently the Hudson News Gift Shops in the San Jose Airport.
