We were lucky to catch up with Carmen Hoffert recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carmen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Legacy is such a big word! I hope that people remember me as curious and creative and warm. It’s important to me that they feel seen when with me. That’s such an important piece and a great question.

Carmen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Art has always been extremely important to me. I’m an artist and I deeply enjoy learning about the life experiences and inspirations of other artists. My home is also filled with handmade pieces (quilts, ceramics, paintings, jewelry, etc.) that I’ve collected over the years to surround myself and my family with the energy of art.

At a young age, I began collecting jewelry made by artists that had rich life tapestries and began to admire the construction of the pieces. As my love of textures, color and design expanded, so did my understanding of art and the beauty of story. Each piece of CARM.N jewelry is inspired by quirk, charm and feels vintage-influenced. I knew that I wanted our jewelry to start with our story which we would then pass to the client to create their own experiences with their new piece. It felt really affirming when a client said “I received my charm and the design is so beautiful. It feels like this piece has always existed.”

I find inspiration in daily life and the nature around me. Our Marie and Demi Shell Collections were born from my love of the Ocean. They also hold the love story and life transition of a dear, soul friend. I later discovered that shells represent resilience, determination and a bridge between two worlds. How wonderful is that?!

Our Mushroom Collection came into being due to walks with my daughter. When she was young she would spot mushrooms on our walks in the woods. It quickly became a sweet, hide and seek game between the trees and my little child. I learned that mushrooms represent beginnings, good luck, grounding and understanding. When I wear this charm it reminds me to stay present and to enjoy those little moments in my life.

Each CARM.N Collection has meaning and love woven into our pieces. Jewelry should feel special.

CARM.N is BIPOC, female owned/founded and we greatly appreciate each client we have. Each client is supporting a small business and the humans behind that business. It’s a very powerful exchange – and I don’t take it for granted.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I really needed to drop the idea of perfection and had to replace that idea with evolution or iteration. When I first began CARM.N I thought I needed to know everything before I started… as though iterating or evolving wasn’t an option. Of course that idea is impossible and overwhelming.

In the beginning, this lesson came up with the website and working to get it launched. I probably changed the product images five times before we went live! Finally, I remembered that things can change and grow. This is such a basic reminder too. Sometimes you’re too close to the project to see that, yes, things can be this way today and that way tomorrow and that’s ok.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Art is hard. I say that because the inner critic can be so mean sometimes! I would say the most rewarding aspect is when you’re able to work though that critic and follow your creative expression and really see when you go. Often I will create art with my child and she will get frustrated or doesn’t like whatever she’s making. I remind her that whether or not she likes her art isn’t always the point. It’s simply an expression of that moment.

When I can remember that myself, I can really let myself enjoy the process. That’s so rewarding!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carm-n.com
• Instagram: @_carm.n_
• Facebook: facebook.com/WeAreCARM.N
• Email: hello@carm-n.com