We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taylor Aselin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taylor below.

Taylor, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

There was a lot of thought that went into how I chose Solstice Charms to represent my business. A solstice, is a naturally occurring marker of seasonal time. It is a beautiful event that happens twice a year in the summer and fall, and I wanted to pay tribute to the magical element of time and the changing of seasons in some way. Aside from that, solstice is also a word that declares change, and new beginnings. I was at a point in my life when I started creating the necklaces, that felt very much like a fresh new beginning, after a period of finding myself again and what I wanted to put out into the world. When the word came to me, it seemed to fit almost perfectly, and then I realized it was perfect because it coincided with exactly what I was creating. I make the charm necklaces out of pieces of old charms I find from local antique stores here in New Hampshire, as well as from old earrings and bracelet pieces of my own, or my family members, (with their permission of course!). I take everything apart, and assemble them together to create a brand new, unique piece; thus, giving new life and new beginnings to the charms themselves. So solstice is a word for myself personally, and for the process of creating the necklaces as well.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I am Taylor, and I am the creator of Solstice Charms! I create unique, one of a kind charm necklaces, and I actually started this business without meaning to. I had wanted a unique charm necklace for myself for some time, but after seeing how expensive they could be, I decided to not spend the money. One day, my grandmother, Mootie, had given me a huge bag of her old jewelry that she no longer wanted, and it sparked an idea. I sat down and created my own necklace, using pieces I loved from her old jewelry, pieces that I loved from my own collection, and other things I found along the way. It all combined to create something incredibly special, unique, and fun. I started wearing it all the time, and my friend Shawn absolutely loved it too. I decided to make her one for her birthday, and spent weeks sourcing new charms from local shops, and putting everything together. I created one that was representative of her essence, and used colors that reminded me of her. After that, I got more and more requests for necklaces, and decided that I had found something that I absolutely loved to do. I started grouping charms together that evoked certain themes, moods or feelings, and even songs. It became one of those things that you start, and can’t seem to stop! I ended up creating 19 unique charm necklaces for Wildflower Festival, (my first ever time vending at an event this past August), and I was in awe that I sold 11 necklaces! Several people even came up to my booth, said that they had found my Instagram, and came to the festival specifically for my necklaces. It was so wonderful, and truly not something I expected to happen from starting a fun new hobby. I sometimes have a hard time being able to feel proud of myself, but I was overcome with it after starting Solstice Charms. I put so much of myself into these necklaces, it was incredibly rewarding to see others love them as much as I do. I’m currently working on a custom piece for a friend’s mom for a wedding they have coming up. She kindly gave me bags of old jewelry she no longer wants, as well as some old bracelets and pieces of hers that are special that she wants to incorporate into her new charm necklace. It’s such an honor to be trusted with someone’s special lifelong jewelry, be able to pull it apart, and reconstruct it into a necklace that essentially is a collection of their memories. I’ve also found that what I make, is truly so different than other charm necklace businesses. Most of these companies use newly manufactured, plastic charms. The majority of mine are found in my local community, and they all are completely different from the rest. I am so grateful to have the ability to have even started this, and so grateful to see how it has already received so much love back. I’m excited to keep creating, and see what other ways Solstice Charms grows!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Honestly, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele, has just been wearing my necklaces out! Because of how unique they are, they get a lot of attention and I am always complimented on them and asked where they are from. Whenever I’m going to a big event, night out with friends, or somewhere with a lot of people, I make sure to wear one of my necklaces, (firstly because I do love them and want to wear them!), but to display my pieces as well. I have made my friends their own unique necklaces as well, based on things that remind me of them, and they all have gotten compliments wearing them too and refer people back to me. So simply wearing the necklaces has been extremely effective, and easy, in growing my clientele!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’d say the most rewarding aspect for me is truly just looking at all that I’ve done. Before the first festival I vended, I had covered my dining room table, (sorry mom), in necklace stands displaying all of my pieces. I had about 19 necklaces that I had spent so many hours sourcing charms for, designing, grouping together, coming up with names, assembling, taking photos and vides of; and there they all were right out in front of me. I felt impressed by myself that I had the ability to expand my creativity so much, and seeing them all was a really special moment. And of course, having people show up to buy my pieces specifically, was incredibly rewarding as well. I’m still kind of shocked about it! I gave them all huge hugs. I come from a family of artists; my dad, my grandma, and my brother, are all so talented and incredibly inspiring to me. I am always amazed by their work, and seeing myself become so enthralled by a new type of art and already see it gaining positive responses, is just so wonderful and exciting. I am so grateful and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @solsticecharms