We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Beth Turner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Beth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Learning the craft of jewelry making has been something that I have experimented with since I was a little kid! I remember having to “teach a skill” in middle school and I taught the class how to make braided string bracelets! It has since evolved into something that I am very passionate about. I love learning new techniques and putting my own spin on it. What I have learned is that not everything works the first time. Sometimes trying something new takes working and reworking an idea until it morphs into something completely new!

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?

Creativity has really been a cornerstone of my personality since childhood. I began my creative journey drawing and painting, eventually studying for my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in college. Now, I am a wife and a mother to two beautiful girls and finding a creative career path that fit into my life was not something that came easily. My artistic mediums has evolved throughout the years, stretching from painting to paper crafting and eventually to jewelry making. I grew up in a very artistic, creative family where someone was always making something. My mom and sister began scrapbooking when I was a teenager so it became something that we all did together. My older sister has always been someone that I have looked up to creatively, in the way that she could take scraps of paper and found objects and turn them into beautiful creations. I started making greeting cards in 2018 as a way to share my love of paper crafting with family and friends.
In 2019, I shared a Mother’s Day card that I had created on Facebook and a local Texas boutique reached out to me, wanting to feature my cards in their shop that hosted local vendors. This is really where She Sure Is Crafty came to life. Over time, I expanded my brand to feature many other products, and in 2020 I began participating in the Burleson Farmer’s Market. My husband has always had a love of woodworking and we began making wood crafts together. My jewelry was always a small feature of my booth, but something I truly enjoyed making. Over the next two years, I gave myself the artistic freedom to dive into my jewelry making, allowing it to take center stage in my business.
While searching for ways to add to my jewelry making process I turned to a medium that my oldest daughter and I worked with back when she was 7 years old. It was a polymer clay kit that she received for her birthday and together we molded tiny clay charms that we added to a bracelet. The process was so much fun, but not something I ever tried on my own. In 2021, I decided to give the medium a second try, determined to make something refined that every person could wear.
This catapulted my business into what it is today. I currently make hundreds of polymer clay earrings, each pair uniquely different than the rest. What sets me apart from some of the other polymer clay earrings that you see today is my attention to detail. I love crafting the tiniest details with polymer clay, applying them with an embroidery needle. From flowers to nature scenes, I always try to create intricate designs that evoke a feeling in each pair. Crafting with polymer clay is very similar to the paintings that I made growing up. Color theory, composition, and texture all play a role in creating something eye catching.
By far, one of the things that I am most proud of is the custom pieces that I have created for clients. I love working one on one with people, taking their visions and inspirations, and turning them into something that can be worn every day. These special pieces hold so much meaning and each one pushed my creative abilities in the best way.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I began my career as a small business owner I had to pivot many times. Creativity came naturally, but finding something tangible that customers gravitated to was difficult. I listened to friends, family, and customers as to what about my brand they enjoyed most. Initially, I thought making home decor was something that would resonate with customers. My husband and I spent countless hours designing and making everything from blanket ladders to key racks. My mom’s Hand Burned Wood art was something gorgeous that we loved featuring. My greeting cards took so much time and patience to make, but were mostly looked over at shops or local events. Not being successful as a small business owner is frustrating and slowly chips away at your confidence as an artist. During the post-holiday off season of 2022, I finally asked myself what I wanted to spend my hours doing for my business. The answer was focusing on my jewelry. It was the one piece of my booth that I saw people gravitating towards, and also the one that I spent my least time cultivating. I felt that if I could dedicate more time to that creative outlet, I would be happier and potentially more successful. Giving up the other aspects of my business was difficult. I loved offering a huge variety of products, showcasing just how crafty not only I was, but how talented my whole family was. By pivoting and letting parts of my business grow, I was able to harness my new talents and it showed in my work. Sometimes, acknowledging that something isn’t working and having the courage to change leads to beautiful results.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist that also owns their own small business is being able to share my creations with people in my community. I have met so many people who became customers and eventually became friends. The love and appreciation that I receive when people see my work is the best reward I can ask for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shesureiscrafty.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shesureiscrafty
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shesureiscrafty