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

Skip, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I have had the honor of doing was actually very recent. Two of my best friends recently brought a beautiful baby boy into the world and they wanted to ask some friends to be his godparents. They wanted to make the occasion extra special so they asked me to make some matching pieces for them with some stunning picture jasper, a bolo and a pendant. Of course they said yes and now they have a piece to commemorate the occasion! Fast forward a couple weeks, the father wanted to get his wife one to match, I made her a matching pendant with the same batch of picture jasper for her with the little ones initials on the back. I had one more piece of the picture jasper so I knew that I needed to make him a matching bolo as well with his sons initials also on the back. So overall, I created four semi-matching pieces all from the same batch of picture jasper, all to celebrate little Lyle. My heart is so full and it is such an honor to be trusted with such special occasions.

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 started Malachite Silver Co. during peak quarantine, mostly to occupy some of my down time, but it quickly turned into something so much more. I have fallen head over heels for every aspect of silversmithing and starting a small business. Fast forward 3 years and I have quit my day job and jumped head first into my business. I am pursuing my dream that I did not even know I had. I am here to bring you jewelry that makes you feel good, not only when you wear it but when you purchase it. I am focused on sustainability through every step of my creative process, from where I purchase my stones to how I get your products to your doorstep and every step in between. I source 100% of my materials from other small businesses and am committed to using quality, sustainable packaging.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe the best thing we can do as a society is support small businesses in every way we can. Supporting small businesses and artists can come in many forms. It can be as simple as liking and sharing some of their work to your audience on social media to actually purchasing items from them. Opt to shop locally, handmade and ethically sourced. We all know how easy it is to shop on Amazon, I am guilty of the occasional order myself. But next time you’re making a purchase question yourself if there is somewhere local that is making this item, if there is a small business you can support instead. As a small business owner myself I know I get so much joy when people share my page, make an order and everything in between, it truly fills my cup up.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Absolutely. My top one that I am just now diving into is The Lucy Walker Online Academy. It is an online metalsmithing school with so many resources it’s amazing. You can go at your own pace and select from so many tutorials that will walk you through the entire process, give you supply lists, all of it. I am self-taught so had I found out about this three years ago I am sure I would’ve saved a lot of time and money!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.malachitesilverco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malachitesilverco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malachitesilverco