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

Hi Diana, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I started my journey with learning how to wire wrap. After a few years of working for myself and not having a regular 9-5 job i wanted to push myself to further my audience. Going though a whole life change of becoming a mother and set mom my husband Jason Baker taught me to take a mineral, slab it and then make a cabochon to set into sterling silver. He also taught me how to silversmith. We became a power couple. Mostly focusing on southwestern minerals. (Example turquoise’s and Variscite)  and jewelry our business as a family became known as BakerFamilyMinerals.

Diana, 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?

Having an online business has really been such a blessing. I can spend time with my family and do what i love and make a decent living helping support my family. Starting from working with sterling silver wire and learning how to weave a cabochon to make a pendant to later on learning how to cut my own cabochon and do silversmithing work. My husband and i work together. We do custom art. You can pick out your own stones and we can silversmith them into glorious pieces of art.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

While working from home our children see that we can make a living from home. Showing them the skills they need to be their own entrepreneur. I hope to inspire my children to become their own boss one day.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is creating art from the earth turning it into something someone will cherish and possibly pass down to their kiddos. I still have my grandmothers jewelry and it brings me joy every time i wear it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stonedbyd?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diana.mcloughlin.5?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Photos taken by Diana Mcloughlin Wire wraps made by Diana Mcloughlin Cut Cabochons by Diana Mcloughlin