We recently connected with Dawn Grady and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I was in my 20s when I was first inspired to make jewelry. I was invited to attend a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in Atlanta, and it was a formal affair. I knew the other attendees would be a mix of the wealthy and politically connected, and I did NOT want my outfit to disappoint.

So, I went to a department store and spent way too much on a gown. Then, I headed to the accessories section and spent the last of what I had on an expensive (at least for me) statement necklace to go with it. The necklace was so elaborate, it only needed studs to complement it, and fortunately, I had those at home.

I got dressed and was amazed at how well my dress fit. I went to grab my necklace, and it fell apart as I was putting it on.

I was devastated! And, as I looked at the necklace to see if I could salvage it, I realized it was built on plastic wire. The materials were way too cheap to warrant the price I paid. And now, I had no jewels to wear to the gala.

My studs were my only decorations. And, even though my dress was amazing, I felt naked without my statement piece.

Fast forward a few years and I found a beginner’s jewelry-making class at the University of Cincinnati. I couldn’t resist, and quickly enrolled. We made a necklace and earring set, and my classmates raved about mine.

I was hooked, IMMEDIATELY.

I went and purchased tools and supplies and started making jewelry at home. Then, I invested in metalsmithing classes, because I wanted to be able to design every element of a piece.

After a few years of practice and experimentation, I had the skills and design esthetic to bring my vision of artisan jewelry to life.

Dawn, 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?

Bohemian. Eclectic. Modern. Funky. Earthy. You could use any of these words to describe the bold, eye-catching, handcrafted jewelry from Junebug Designs. Made especially for fashionable women with exceptional taste, each striking and intricate design is a work of wearable art made with high-quality materials and lots of love.

I’m Dawn Grady, the designer behind each, unique piece. Jewelry has been my passion for more than a decade. I fell in love with jewelry making 13 years ago with a simple bead stringing class. My curiosity for new skills led me to take workshops with master metalsmiths, and they taught me both traditional and modern techniques to develop my vision of wearable art jewelry. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a person adorn themselves with something you created with your own two hands.

Junebug began as a side hustle – a means to feed my creative passions while I worked my day job as a marketing director. But every passing day made me want to channel my professional skills into building my handmade jewelry brand.

In 2017, I enrolled in a local business incubator, called MORTAR, to learn more about running a small business. The experience connected me to resources that helped me start to get the Junebug name out to my audience. I opened pop-up shops to see how people would respond to my vision of wearable art. I also launched my e-commerce site and started participating in local craft shows.

After several years of making jewelry on the side of a tedious full-time work day, I could no longer argue with the fact that Junebug was all I wanted to do. So, I quit my full-time gig and haven’t looked back! Jobs come and go. But the opportunity to make a living through your creative passions is a true blessing.

I’m proud that Junebug has blossomed into an online and brick-and-mortar handmade jewelry boutique that delivers timeless pieces as unique as the women who have come to love Junebug Designs.

Junebug is all about originality, and that’s what sets me apart in a jewelry market dominated by mass-produced pieces made with cheap materials and limited craftsmanship. I like to keep things original – creating only one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces to ensure that you never see your unique accessories on anyone else. That’s what keeps my customers – who are primarily women over 40 with disposable income – coming back.

Junebug Jewelry Designs inspires women to invest in bold, meaningful and distinctive wearable art jewelry that empowers their personal style and celebrates their incomparable strength and femininity. This reverence to boldness and uniqueness is the driving force behind my commitment to create timeless jewelry that helps women immortalize the moments when they feel their strongest, most powerful and most successful.

I design bold statement necklaces, eye-catching earrings, funky rings and unique bracelets for women who were born to stand out. My accomplished, professional go-getters customers are confident, self-assured women who know how to speak up for themselves, and they take a stand for the causes that matter to them. They understand that self-care is a necessity and not a luxury, and are willing to spend their disposable resources on items that are meaningful, unique and well-crafted.

My customers appreciate that I only offer one-of-a-kind and limited-edition designs, so they don’t see their treasured jewelry on others.

My jewelry celebrates power, independence and originality with beautiful, intricate designs – each made by my very own hands. These timeless beauties help you immortalize the moments when you feel the strongest, most accomplished and at your personal best.

There’s a story behind every piece, and I like to think that it calls out to the woman who was meant to wear it. And, I am determined to create only one-of-a-kind and limited-edition designs, so you don’t see your unique accessories on everyone else.

A wise person once said that wearing jewelry is how you express the woman you are without saying a word. And every piece I create makes a statement.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

When it comes to growing my clientele, the best way I’ve seen is to show them what I do. It’s hard, though. Because I’m always worried about trivial things, such as whether my workspace is too junky to show in a video. But, I’m learning to be more vulnerable and to stop over-thinking everything. Because the best way to sell something you make is to show people how you do it.

They don’t want to just know about the techniques, they want to see them in action. So, I’m training myself to just record my process. I actually have a lot of fun watching myself in action. And, I always get great feedback (and website clicks) when I do.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I funded my business using my savings, and that’s not necessarily something I would recommend. It’s the way it worked out for me, but sometimes, it’s tough. I’m now in my 50s, and am not used to my money being “funny” as they say. But, I see the progress happening and realize that the struggle is often just part of the journey.

I didn’t have a roadmap in place when I launched Junebug full-time. I had a series of opportunities that I was determined to piece together to create my roadmap. I’ve learned so much in the past three years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://junebugjewelrydesigns.com
• Instagram: @junebugjewelrydesigns
• Facebook: @junebugjewelrydesigns
• Twitter: @byjunebug

Image Credits
Photos: Annie Piland Models: Laura Kirkpatrick and Kierra Winston