We recently connected with Marge Hinge and have shared our conversation below.

Marge , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

I think the best investment that I’ve made was applying for and getting a catalyst grant. I live in the city of Providence, RI and they have an incredible grant program for design businesses that offers reimbursement grant money, a mentor, and 6 months of business workshops and classes to develop your business. I had been encouraged to apply to grants before but I was always scared to and didn’t always believe I could get one, But it was such an incredible growth opportunity for me personally and my business. I was in a cohort with 12 other businesses and it began in January of 2020, we started out in person but quickly shifted to zoom when covid hit.

With this grant I was able to go to the Tucson gem show to source materials direct from the miners from all over the world and get enough materials for the year. This was a huge step for me to be able to hand select the pieces I worked with instead of buying from third party sellers and photos online. I was also able to buy a new saw that allows me to buy larger pieces of stone and cut them down, this is essential for wholesale orders and being able to build a cohesive collection from one stone.

The classes and having a cohort of other businesses to lean on were so incredible for me to shift how I sold my work, I went from mostly selling at in person shows and wholesaling to having the world shut down and my only outlet for sale was my website. I honestly think the entire experience was an incredible tool that helped me stay afloat during such a hard time. I learned so much about how I work and my confidence grew as a business owner, it can be hard working alone in your studio without peers to talk to that are going through the same things. It was a long and sometimes tedious process but because of it my growth as a business has been exponential and I have been able to make new work and buy more materials and equipment every year.

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

Hinge Designs creates hand carved stone jewelry that capture the wonders of the earth’s materials into empowering adornments. I wanted to find a way to take the beauty of a piece of stone and make it wearable without the barriers of metal. My pieces, beyond being art, serve as wearable talismans. People often find themselves drawn to certain stones and feel they benefit from wearing them. I often make pieces for clients who don’t normally wear jewelry, but who want to feel connected to the earth and hold a piece of it with them.

Drawn to the natural world, I strive to make work that responds to the materials in front of me. From rocks to feathers to metal, I study materiality and works with color and form to create my jewels. As a child I was mesmerized by beads, cords and any other material I could get my hands on. Jewelry was the best outlet for this fascination, being able to take something hand made and carry it with you.

I went to art school to study jewelry but I have been working in stone for over 12 years. I got into stones when I wanted to take a glass blowing class and of the hot shop was full so I signed up for glass coldworking or grinding class, I ended up breaking my arm early in the semester and had to make up the class by myself during the winter semester. At the same time I was buying stones to set into jewelry and at a friends shop and he offered me some rough material to try carving too. I made my first ring and I was hooked! After school and a few years of working in other materials, I found a diamond saw for sale and started cutting beach stones. I have been growing my practice ever since.

I have grown from buying small pieces and slabs of material online to buying boulders and slabbing them myself. Now I work directly with miners from across the world to get incredible natural materials right from the source. Each stone is hand selected from piles and bins of rough material that is evaluated for its color, shape, pattern or texture. It is then slowly refined by hand using lapidary tools and technique. I just got back from the Tucson gem show (the largest gem and mineral show in the world) and brought back over 600 pounds of rough material. I specialize in stone rings and earrings but I am working on a new collection of earrings for windows and walls right now.

I feel so lucky to be able to work with materials from the earth, the colors, textures and patterns are so incredible and each piece is one of a kind. I’ve found customers who love learning about stones and the process of carving and cutting them into jewelry as much as I do. I share the entire process from the boulder to the finished product on my instagram and I think it is so special seeing the pieces come to life.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Watching someone encounter my work for the first time is the most incredible feeling! Seeing their faces light up or gasp in awe makes all of the hard times worth it. It is truly amazing to watch someone find their piece because I truly believe that each piece finds its right person.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I think that being genuine on social media makes a huge impact! I have slowly grown my following but I found people who love the same things I do and are eager to engage. And while more eyes on your work is helpful, having a small base of reliable followers that turn into friends is just as important. Do what feels right and don’t get caught up in what you are supposed to be doing. I’ve been encouraged for months to do reels but still photos are what I prefer and they still get 10x more engagement on my page so I must be doing something right.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hingedesigns.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hinge.marge/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hinge.designs/

Image Credits
Model photos are by Daniela Dawson