We recently connected with Alicia and have shared our conversation below.

Alicia, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

About 6 years ago, I was asked to create a meaningful product with a specific word on it that would be available for purchase at a gathering for women. I explored a few different options and ultimately decided that I wanted to create a custom piece of jewelry using metal stamping. I knew nothing about the craft of metal stamping but I watched some videos and purchased the supplies. I quickly learned that it was harder than it looked! I messed up so many times as I was learning. I was ready to give up until I remembered that all crafts take time to learn, so I practiced on less expensive pieces of metal until I was comfortable working with the sterling silver pendants I was using for the project. I also had to come to the realization that metal stamping is much different than metal engraving. Engraving creates a uniform product while stamping allows for a touch of creative whimsy with variations in spacing, depth, and alignment. I love how each piece I create is unique.

Ultimately I sold out of everything that I had made for the event and had orders for more. The stories of how much the necklaces I made meant to my customers propelled me forward to create more designs with new words. I worked hard to source the best materials that allowed me to create meaningful jewelry at a reasonable price point. I put my jewelry in a couple local retail shops and set up a storefront on Etsy and Simple Sisters Handmade was born.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Alicia and I’ve always been a creative. Creating, whether it’s been stories, jewelry, painting, food, or the way I’ve created a home, has always been central to my way of doing life. Creativity is how I’ve stayed sane, how I express myself, how I care for people around me.

As a woman filled with ideas, and as a mother of five kids, it hasn’t always been easy to find time to nurture my creative side. Anyone who identifies as a creative understands the dizzying cycle that can take over as soon as we stop creating. After a few years experiencing this frustration myself, I funneled my creativity into a small handmade jewelry business that holds me accountable to the creative process and to my customers.

Today, I am running a growing Etsy shop where I stamp meaningful words onto simple jewelry.

I am committed to sourcing quality materials, a great customer experience, and enjoying my work. I am also committed to continuing to grow as a creative, trying new things, and lifelong learning.

I live in Michigan with the love of my life, our 5 kids, about 50 houseplants, and a small flock of urban chickens.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think resilience is a good word to describe my journey as a creative. I incorporated my business shortly after having my fourth child. As a parent, my capacity for creativity is constantly ebbing and flowing. I have had spurts of growth as well as seasons I’ve needed to pull back a little and just keep my business in maintenance mode. I have found it important to remember I am doing the best with what I have and to neither give in to “hustle culture” or to let my creative spark fade.

Keeping the creative spark alive is all I can manage in some seasons. This has looked like making myself a visually interesting meal and photographing it, swirling paint around with my kids, or writing in a journal about my day-to-day life, which really is filled with inspiration if I pay attention to it.

I am constantly starting new projects, at times to a fault, but I have a lot of ideas! This has included starting a blog about how I manage my busy household as well as experimenting with urban gardening and chicken keeping.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe it is so important to support creatives whenever possible. Nothing speaks louder than using your purchase power to support small businesses and creatives. I love searching platforms like Etsy for meaningful gifts because of the opportunity to support artists. Another huge support to us creatives is when friends, family, and customers share our products and services with their networks. Word of mouth and social media are powerful marketing tools and we appreciate all the help we can get spreading the word about our creative ventures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleSistersStudio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticalicia247