We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lori Roark. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lori below.

Lori , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I just stepped into it. I picked up a pair of pliers & the rusted rebar tie wire found in my builder husband’s truck. I practiced a lot of curiosity and experimented with how wire bends & works with my own two hands. I always tell people when they are stuck with a project or don’t know where to start to just to step into it. The skills that I think are most essential are perseverance through learning curves & mistakes and to always keep creating. I have made the craft my life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I had a real job out of college. That’s when my best friend, Jane, and I started playing with wire and came up with the design for our first wire shaped hanging lantern. I then took a chance and walked into stores with them and turned our hanging lanterns into a little business. But over time our designs were knocked off from bigger companies, making them over seas, and so I had to shift. Since I already had the wire shaping supplies, my sister, Denise, and I started making wire shaped peace signs, hearts, and we scrolled the word L-O-V-E into necklaces. We created a collection of hammered hoop earrings, which are still my brands signature and my proudest creations. That’s when I became the co-designer, maker & owner of LilyGirl Jewelry, with my sister by my side. What started as a home jewelry party business has evolved into all areas of my life.

My mission is to inspire other women to celebrate and express their own flair. My studio is in Oceanside, California and I’ve been creating jewelry for over 20 years now. I create pieces that are sparkly, but earthy, and hold healing energy. I love shaping and hammering wire; working with semi-precious gems, crystals, and meaningful talismans. Incorporating lots of natural elements into my jewelry is my thing. Most of my collections are limited, but you can always find my signature hoops which are made to order.

Aside from jewelry making I also offer creative workshops, home & personal styling, kids art & jewelry camps, creative retreat facilitation as well as intuitive painting parties & jewelry parties. I love to co-create offerings with others!

It feels like a dream to do what I love and share it with people. As Elsie de Wolfe once said, “I’m going to make everything around me beautiful – and that will be my life.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that it is my life and what I embody. I feel in alignment on why I am here. My purpose in life is clear and I always feel comfortable knowing that. I eat, sleep and dream jewelry. Sometimes people think it’s so easy but I wear a lot of hats. I was my own model AND photographer at first.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020 during the pandemic I was put out of my job selling jewelry at the weekly farmer’s market in Little Italy, San Diego. I didn’t have another job anywhere. Once masks were required to wear, I immediately thought about my mom and her sewing. She made me clothes growing up and I knew a little about how to sew. My sister suggested that my mom and I make masks to sell! So we hand picked 100% organic cotton fabrics and my mom designed masks. We turned my living room & kitchen into a mask workshop. We had an ironing and cutting station and a sewing work space. I went out and bought my own sewing machine and we would make masks like crazy. They were so successful that I even started offering chains for the masks and making an aromatherapy mask spray with essential oils. Those were some of the best times of my life with my mother. That’s when we really got into the mask style movement. This ultimately led me back to working the weekly farmer’s market because I became an essential business. People needed me and I was able to provide a product I was proud of. ( I was a regular vendor at the Little Italy Mercato every Saturday from 2008-2024. )

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shoplilygirl.com
• Instagram: @lilygirljewelry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilyGirlJewelry
• Other: My home show room & jewelry studio is in Oceanside, California.