Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Corkie Bolton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Corkie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

After I graduated from college with my jewelry degree I had hit a rock bottom with my alcoholism, giving away and selling most of my jewelry making equipment. Thankfully I got sober in 2010 and through sobriety made a friend, Lisa. Lisa invited me to her place one Saturday and told me about her grandmother Mary whom she was extremely close to who had recently passed away . Mary had been a full time jeweler with a thriving business for over twenty years and when she had passed Lisa had inherited all of her equipment. Lisa generously offered me her Grandmother’s equipment. All the tools I had sold or given away had come back to me through Lisa’s kindness. This was a life-changing moment for me. My sobriety, this generous act and the universe telling me “DO THIS!” I was fortunate enough to recently write a jewelry making book and was able to include the full version of this story and an image of Mary to honor her. I’m forever grateful to Lisa.

I feel like maybe this should be the first question and answer to introduce me before jumping into the kindness question. Also the “missed our earlier conversation part confuses me because this is out first conversation so maybe that gets reworded? :)

Corkie, 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?

I am best known for founding Metalsmith Society, an Instagram community of over 200,000 jewelers, hobbyists and people interested in jewelry making. Our community is welcoming of everyone, at all skill levels. We share daily jewelry making tips with kindness and respect. I get the opportunity to help people with their jewelry making, their business, their social media and their marketing.

I also have my own jewelry brand, Corkie Bolton Jewelry where I design and fabricate silver and gold jewelry. I got started in high school making jewelry at the age of 14. Learning new skills and taking classes so that I become a better jeweler year after year is always a priority for me. I study engraving every year at GRS Training Center and I’ve even taken an engraving course in Italy with Metalsmiths In Vicenza. My customers buy my work because they want to support a small business, they want quality jewelry that won’t get thrown out, and they love wearable pieces that also look rad. I call my work treasures because when you work in silver and gold like I do those pieces will last multiple lifetimes, they can be passed from generation to generation. Each piece of jewelry becomes a story.

I sell direct to my customers on my website because I only have the time to create a few new pieces a month because the bulk of my time is spent doing work for Metalsmith Society. I am a one woman show and also a wife and mother so I have a lot to balance!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started Metalsmith Society in February of 2018 with the desire to connect with other jewelers and share information. Nothing proprietary that would allow someone to copy someone else’s work but bench tips, organization tips and tools. The growth has been a day at a time of showing up and posting tips. I could never have built what I have without the generous shares of the members of our community!

I believe strongly in three things when it comes to building an audience/community on social media. The first and most important thing is kindness. Social media can be a grind! I have been posting every day for five years so I have experienced burnout first hand and if it weren’t for the kindness and respect I have cultivated I would never have been able to continue. When you speak with kindness, respond in kindness you attract kindness. I found my people by putting out into the world what I wanted to receive.

The second is to provide value beyond just selling a product. Metalsmith Society’s success has been proof of that. There are over 215,00 folks following that page because they love to learning about jewelry making! On my jewelry instagram @corkieboltonjewelry I also share jewelry making tips, I give my customers videos showing the process of how it’s all made, this helps tell my story but also provides value not only to my customers but to other jewelers. Other jewelers are also some of my best customers!

The last big thing is to tell your story, get personal and show your face. For those that follow my jewelry page they know I do all my own fabrication and stone setting. They can follow along as I design a new collection and see what my inspirations are. I also get personal. They know I’m open about my sobriety (I celebrated 12 years this past December!) They also know I love working out, I have a sauna and a cold plunge and that these self-care rituals help me with my mental health. I also share about my mom who has Alzheimer’s. I don’t share extensively on any of these topics but they are a part of me as the artist making the jewelry and I want to show I have struggles that I overcome because I know that is relatable to so many. I also look for opportunities to use my privilege and following to uplift others.

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

I think the most important way to support artists and creatives is to buy their art directly from them. If we all budgeted some of our holiday shopping funds towards buying directly from artists and small businesses in our communities that carry local artisans this makes a HUGE impact.

Here are some other very important ways you can support artists without spending any money:

-Support their social medias by taking a moment to comment on their posts! You can also share their work on your social media. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest are all places you can share an artist’s work.

-If you are a customer send them a review or write a glowing review on their website. Reviews are super helpful, they help other customers feel confident in their purchases!

-Share a photo of what you bought from them on your own social media and tag them. This means the world to a creative!

-Sign up for their email list!

Contact Info:

• Website: metalsmithsociety.com, corkieboltonjewelry.com
• Instagram: @metalsmithsociety @corkieboltonjewelry
• Other: My book is titled “Metalsmith Society’s Guide To Jewelry Making” and you can order it from your local bookstore!

Image Credits
Victoria Costello @victakesashot