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

Jeannie , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I was in elementary school, I knew that I wanted a career as some type of artist, either as a musician or a maker. I began playing the cello when I was 7, and started to make jewelry around the same time. I enjoyed doing every type of arts and crafts project as a kid, especially making friendship bracelets, crocheting, and beading (all techniques I used in my jewelry before I learned to silversmith). My cello teacher also made beaded jewelry, and she would share patterns with me after our lessons. I studied the cello very seriously, and I have both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in cello performance. I began teaching cello lessons when I was in high school, and I’ve continued teaching for 25 years. I also started selling my beaded jewelry to friends and family when I was in high school and loved seeing people wear the items that I had made.

I officially started my jewelry business, Vikse Designs, in 2009. For a long time, I invested the majority of my profits back into the business to purchase materials and tools, and teaching was my main source of income. Over the years my jewelry business has grown tremendously, and it is now my primary source of income. This fall I plan on taking a sabbatical from teaching so that I can work on Vikse Designs full time.

Jeannie , 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?

Vikse Designs is my jewelry brand. I am a silversmith and lapidary artist, and I make sterling silver jewelry featuring unique gemstones. All of my work is hand fabricated, which means that each piece is made one at a time, starting with sterling silver sheet and wire which I then saw, hammer, solder, etc. As a lapidary, I also cut, shape, and polish some of the stones that I use.

I started making jewelry when I was in elementary school, primarily from glass seed beads. I launched my business in 2009, with jewelry made from stone beads. In 2013 I began taking silversmithing classes, and I knew I’d found my calling. Learning new skills opened up a whole new world of design possibilities, and I was finally able to make the jewelry that I envisioned. I took a lapidary course a couple of years later, which then allowed me to be in charge of the entire process from finding a stone, turning it into a finished cabochon, and then creating the setting.

When I started Vikse Designs in 2009, I sold my jewelry at a coffee shop and at small art fairs. As I learned new skills and my work developed, I was able to get into higher quality Art Fairs, including the top ones in my state. I currently do about 17 shows a year. This fall I’m planning on taking a sabbatical from teaching cello lessons so that I can make Vikse Designs my full time business. I want to travel out of state so that I can do shows year round and meet new customers to help grow my online business. In addition to participating in art shows, I sell my work at a local boutique, The Fitting Room, through which I have the opportunity to be a part of local fashion shows.

One of my favorite parts of my business is working with clients to create a custom piece of jewelry. My ability to cut and polish stones means that I can use a client’s stone to make their jewelry. I’m in Minnesota, and our state stone is the Lake Superior Agate. I have made many wedding rings for clients using an agate that they have found. The fact that they found the stone themselves makes the ring so much more meaningful to them.

I am very proud of the pieces that I make where I control the entire process from start to finish – from finding the stone, cutting and polishing it, and making the setting. I want to focus more on these special pieces in the future, and am planning on traveling around the U.S. beginning this fall to look for and mine my own gemstones.

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

I think the most rewarding part of the creative work I have done, as a performer, music teacher, and jeweler, is forming connections with other people. I cherish the relationships that I have with my cello students, watching them grow both as musicians and into young adults (many of them study with me from 4th grade through high school). I am proud of them and their accomplishments. As a jeweler, I have also formed lasting relationships with many of my clients. They have followed me on my journey from the beginning of Vikse Designs and continue to support me as my work has developed and my business has grown. I have created custom pieces with deep meaning for many clients, such as wedding rings or memorial jewelry. Although jewelry can be just something pretty to wear, for many of my customers it is more meaningful than that. Regardless of why someone buys my jewelry, I am honored that they are choosing to wear something that I made.

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

My goal is to have the freedom to explore my interests and live the type of lifestyle that I want to, while having a successful business. I love traveling, hunting for gemstones, and spending time in nature, in addition to making jewelry. I am about to make Vikse Designs a full time endeavor, which will give me the flexibility to go on expeditions to search for gemstones to use in my work. When I started my business in 2009, I traveled often and purchased or found materials abroad which I then used in my jewelry. My work was heavily influenced by my travels, and one of my goals was to continue traveling to source materials. However, life got in the way, and between a full teaching schedule that made it difficult to take time off and the fact that I was investing heavily in purchasing tools and supplies for my business, I stopped traveling for a decade. Now I am planning trips to Montana, South Dakota, and the Southwest to hunt for stones like agates, petrified wood, fossils, and turquoise to use in my jewelry. I’m hoping to go on international expeditions in the future. I plan on documenting my adventures for my website and social media, and am excited to share them with my audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.viksedesigns.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/vikse_designs
• Facebook: Facebook.com/VikseDesigns