Believing In One's Self.
Growing up, I was always the creative type. Loved to draw, made scrap books to tell my story, I even think I was the first one who invented self-tanner when in high school I used powdered bronzer in the little terra cotta pot and mixed it with baby oil! I could have made millions.....
In my 20's, I started creating Mop Dolls, quirky dolls made out of mop heads, I sold a lot of them...mostly to little old ladies who loved that sort of thing.
In my early 30's, when my children were babies, I needed to fill the little time I had with something creative so I started Primitive Pickins and hand-crafted dolls and such. I decided to take it a step further and started to host shows out of my home. I wasn't sure of myself, who would come? Would they like my work? To my surprise, I began to have a following so I stared to do shows at local rec centers and street markets. Years later, my company name seemed to be a little "cutesy" so I changed it to The Vintage Crow. From spring time bunnies and flowers, to life-size Santa's (which I am known for), I hauled my antique display pieces and my hand-crafted product from show to show. Realizing how much work it was (as did my Saint of a husband who did most of the schleping), I decided I needed to scale down but what would I do? My sister-in-law, who is a talented and known artist in her own right, taught me how to solder. I found my other passion. From there, I launched Raven Rocks Jewelry and Design. The name came from my husband who thought keeping the crow theme would keep my following.
For the last 30 years I have soldered and hot glued and sewed my way to where I am now, doing it all- raised a beautiful family and loving my friends who have always been my biggest supporters. How happy I have been, finally believing in my abilities and seeing that people love and believe in me, too.
On a side note, I love expressing myself through art, having people appreciate what it takes to create something from nothing. The art of the hand-made product seems to get lost in our fast pace, instant gratification world. I am in awe of people who take what they love to do with their hands and bring it to the public. Support them, we all need to stick together.....
