Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anna DeChellis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Anna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Jewelry making began for me in 2020. The coronavirus shutdowns had me out of a job and I had a significant amount of free time that I was never used to. I took advantage of the free time that I had, and set out on a two month road trip across the US. The main goal of that trip was to explore as many national parks as possible and separate from all the craziness that was going on in the world at that time. When I was traveling through Arizona, I stopped in to a local gift shop right outside the Grand Canyon to take a look at some things. I was absolutely mesmerized by the beautiful turquoise jewelry they had in their shop. That was also where I came across copper electroformed jewelry for the first time. I had never really seen anything like it in Ohio. My severely ADHD brain always had me wanting to try new creative projects. I remember thinking, “I could learn how to do that.” I became somewhat consumed with the idea of learning how to create jewelry. For the remainder of the road trip, when I wasn’t hiking, I was reading as much as I could about copper electrforming. I also began to watch hours and hours of YouTube. Jason Welsh was a huge inspiration for me. He creates very detailed, step by step videos on the entire electroforming process and that was very helpful in the beginning stages of learning this craft. By time I returned back home to Ohio from my road trip out West, I had ordered all of the material I needed to get started. From there, it was many weeks of trial and error. It was very exciting when things started to turn the way I wanted them too. Often times when people ask how I learned electroforming, I joke around and say, “YouTube University.”
After I got the electroforming down, I wanted to dive into silversmithing. I began to look into different workshops around Ohio. Some local jewelers from my hometown recommended that I look into taking the workshops at Drouhards National Jewelers School in Mansfield, OH. I saved every penny that I could so that I could afford to go to that class. There is three levels of workshops they offer. The first level was Jewelry Repair and Diamond Setting. The workshop was run by an amazing family that had many years of knowledge to give. It was very hands on and jam packed with information. This was a great way to get familiarized with soldering and basic repair techniques. From there, I saved up so that I could purchase my at home bench set up. I spent lots of time practicing basic soldering skills and began trying to create pieces on the torch. My skills on the torch were okay, but I still had a lot of questions and a long way to go. In October of 2022, I seeked out a paid full-time apprenticeship through Signet Jewelers in Canton, OH. At Signet, I was surrounded by a group of five very talented jewelers with many years of experience. Being in a shop atmosphere and having access to so much knowledge was extremely beneficial. I felt like a sponge during this time. I really wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and soak up as much information I could about the industry. Everything I learned during the apprenticeship helped me grow tremendously as an individual and in my business.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have changed too much. I think each decision I have made along the way has helped me grow in my craft. My best advice for someone interested in becoming a jeweler is to just really immerse yourself in the community. Don’t be afraid to ask questions- that’s how you learn! Spend time in a shop setting so you can really see how things operate. Most importantly, be patient with yourself. If you give it your all you will begin to see your skills grow and that is a very exciting point in your career!
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?
My name is Anna Marie DeChellis. I am a 25 year old, small business owner from Canton, OH. I have spent the past three years growing my business, MetalBug Collective, in Ohio. I recently have relocated to Winter Park, Colorado in June of 2023.
MetalBug Collective started as a way for me to just share my work online with others. I had no idea or plans of it turning into what it has, but I am extremely thankful for all the doors it has opened for me and all the support I have received over the years.
Once I started sharing my work online, I was invited to work a local market in Canton, OH. Working that first market was extremely eye opening for me. I really enjoyed connecting with customers and other vendors. I began to work more local events and started having a lot of ideas. I observed what the other vendors that had been doing it for awhile were doing and asked a lot of questions. At the very beginning, all I had was my copper electrformed jewelry to sell- but as time went on I started having lots of ideas on how I could grow my business and turn it into something bigger. My shop now contains sterling silver jewelry, stainless steel jewelry, copper electrformed jewelry, art prints, clothing, home decor, + more.
MetalBug Collective is a traveling pop up shop. In 2022, I worked over 75 events in Ohio. My shop contains alternative jewelry, bohemian goods, + more. I would say that the jewelry I create and the other goods that I sell in my shop are an extension of myself and the things that I like. Everything is a bit out of the ordinary.
I now offer jewelry repair services and take on custom work as well.
My main goal with MetalBugCo from the beginning has been to create a space for other artists to share their artwork. Over the next few years, I plan on traveling and working different events in different cities so I can get a feel for where I would like to settle down and open my first brick and mortar.
I pour my heart into this business and I want my customers, family, and friends to know how extremely thankful I am for the support over the years.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
There are many rewarding aspects of being an artist! One of the most rewarding parts for me is the community of artists you get to connect with over time. I love hearing other artists stories and watching them grow in their craft. It’s really exciting to be connected with other individuals that are on the same path. We bounce ideas off of each other and help each other grow.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
There is a video that I came across about five years ago that I watch often for inspiration. I will include the link below.
Neen Williams, professional skateboarder and entrepreneur, has been a huge inspiration for me. I really appreciate skate culture and the art behind it. In the video- Neen talks about how he wants to be able to skate forever but in his early 20’s his lifestyle didn’t really align with his goals.
In the video he says, “partying is so easy, getting a trick isn’t.” He then goes on to talk about all the healthy choices he has decided to make for his life and how it has helped him grow in his career and an individual.
I think about that quote often. I remember hearing that and thinking to myself, “there will always be distractions in life but you have to make smart decisions, sacrifices, and stay focused for your end goals.” The end goal you’re working towards will be way more rewarding than any temporary satisfaction. I think balance in life is important, you don’t have to miss out on all the fun things- but it’s important to stay focused and make decisions that are going to make a positive impact on your end goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.metalbugco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metalbugco/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetalBugCo/