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

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

As a small business owner in Tucson, Arizona, doing pop up markets is the best way to get your product and business name out there. I started doing pop up markets in April 2021 and instantly fell in love with getting to know other makers, entrepreneurs, and people in my town. I quickly bought a tent and got to work on my set up, ready to sign up for more markets.

If you’ve ever done a pop up market, you know they are usually scheduled in advance and have non-refundable fees to reserve a spot, which usually isn’t a problem. The unexpected problem with advance schedules and non-refundable fees comes when you have a disability due to chronic illness that is unpredictable, Unfortunately I’ve had to cancel on multiple occasions and forfeit my fees. For me, migraines and chronic pain can creep up and ruin my plans. It makes me feel unreliable to event coordinators and to my customers that make plans to come out to the pop up.

The feelings of cancelling bring on a landslide of emotions. I feel like having my business isn’t worth it. It feels terrible to have lost a fee and potential sales. I beat myself up a lot and have tried “throwing in the towel” on more than one occasion.

Obviously I haven’t totally given up. I’ve come back stronger each time I’ve thought about quitting. I also decided that it was time to just really be myself in my business. I’m not ashamed of my disability anymore. I am able to ask for accommodations when I sign up for markets, whether it’s needing handicapped parking or extra hands setting up. I have found that coordinators, customers and other makers are there to help build a community and lift it up. I have also never met a coordinator who isn’t understanding and have even had fees refunded or applied to future markets.

Although my disablity may bring unexpected cancellations, I don’t let it deter me from continuing to plan for pop up markets.

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?

I sell handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry that started with me making stretch bracelets with my bead haul from the 2018 Tucson Gem show. I love jewelry and gemstones and I had unfortunately never been to the Gem Show before. I was so inspired by all the different beads I found. Colorful skull beads, glittery crystal beads, silver charms and some stretch cord later, I was making bracelets for my friends and family and, of course, for myself!

Fast forward to 2020, after being told I needed to sell my bracelets time and time again, I put some thought into how I would go about it. I also had started experimenting with making necklaces and earrings as well as repairing vintage jewelry and taking apart vintage jewelry to give it a new life. I signed up for etsy and started taking pictures of my creations. October 2020, Doll’s Goregeous Goods was brought to life.

I spell goregeous with the word GORE because it aligns with my darker aesthetic to my jewelry. I’ve made “blood” splattered earrings, jewelry dishes and displays and I love using ethically sourced animal bones, insects and botanicals. In October 2022, I decided to forego the vintage jewelry and items I carried and started making one-of-a-kind statement jewelry. I make an assortment of jewelry from basic earrings, necklaces and bracelets to bold rosaries, ribbon chokers, and gemstone stud earrings. I launch a new collection monthly that has a variety of one-of-a-kind jewelry with a seasonal theme. If you’re looking for that stand-out, dark aesthetic accessory for a summer pool party, I have a great selection on my website and I can even make you a custom piece to match your outfit! If you’re looking forward to spooky season, follow my Instagram for my fall season live sales for brand new, Halloween approved jewelry. I strive to make something for everyone. I make different types of earrings such as stud earrings and lever back ear hooks and both short and long dangles. Bracelets come in different sizes and most can be made bigger or smaller to fit just right. Necklaces range in lengths and most come with an extender chain. Chokers can be custom fit to your measurements.

No matter how you shop my jewelry, you will be getting jewelry that no one else has. Pick that piece that is so you because that’s how it’s made, with you in mind. I love being able to find a unique accessory, so that’s just what I make.

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

Society can support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem by just showing up. Showing up can mean following your favorite creators on social media and interacting with their content. You’re gonna scroll, so might as well take those 5 extra seconds to like or share a post. You never know who else may find their new favorite creator because you shared their post.

Showing up is choosing local over chain. Make date night as a stroll through a local artist market followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Showing up is recommending a small business for a birthday gift over a big box store.

Showing up is buying handmade holiday gifts from a local pop up market over Black Friday greed.

Showing up is be slapping a sticker from a small business on your lunch- tool – pencil box and showing it off.

Showing up is making a purchase from a small business, no matter how small because that money stays in your community instead of going to a large corporation. It’s money that feeds creativity and community over corporate greed. That small purchase from you and the next few people may be groceries for the week or guitar lessons from the neighbor or even just a boost of confidence that creators need to keep creating.

Showing up can cost zero dollars, so there’s no reason not to help.

Showing up can be fun. You can do it alone or with others. There’s no risk in showing up, only a lot to gain.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that it makes me feel like I can still flourish despite not being able to work a “traditional” job. I suffer from chronic migraines, pain from fibromyalgia and pelvic adhesions from endometriosis. Between flare ups and procedures, maintaining a “traditional” job is not possible for me as it makes me the most unreliable employee.

Making jewelry became a way to keep my mind busy and start a business that I can run on my schedule. I was able to bead in bed if I was recovering from a migraine and I bought a mobile table to work on other jewelry sitting up in bed. I work my own schedule and I’ve taught my daughter how to add new items to my website for some extra help. Although taking time away from my small business for flare ups kinda gets me down, I know I can return to my business when I’m back on my feet (and there’s no backlash from HR!). No matter how little or how much I work each day, I am still working.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dollsgoregeousgoods.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: @dollsgoregeousgoods
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dollsgoregeousgoods
• TikTok: @dollsgoregeousgoods