We were lucky to catch up with Tia Williams Vaughn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I have always loved art. Whether it’s painting on canvas, drawing, or creating a sculpture, there is something magical about how the final result went from idea to masterpiece.

Back in the day when Bob Ross would be on PBS on Saturday mornings painting, I would sit and try to recreate what he was doing- except I would be using my Crayola watercolors! I loved how he would she how to mix the colors then make the shades and tints. And from there use the paintbrush in different ways and angles to create trees and clouds and before you knew it, the whole painting was done. I was mesmerized. I would paint every chance I got.

Then when I was older, I took my first art class at my middle school, Baldwin Junior High in Montgomery, AL. That’s when it all clicked. Not only did I understand more of what Bob Ross was doing, but I had a better understanding of painting, colors, and so many other art forms. In my spare time, I would just start researching other artists, especially black and female artist. Art is everywhere and just studying on my own helped me gain an appreciation for it..more than I ever could imagine I would.

As I finished school and undergrad, I moved to Dallas, TX and started learning about the art scene here and wondered how I could even begin to be known for any of my art. I mainly painted in my down time. But then, my mom began making jewelry, she started teaching me and I fell in love. I’m thinking, ok now I’m a mom and wife, still want to paint and now want to make jewelry. How in the world can I manage it all plus work?

Then I thought, maybe there are art lovers like me who love a random reminder of something in nature, a life event that brings them joy, or just anything that jogs a memory of a person or anything that resonates with them. We shouldn’t always have to wait until we’re at home get that reminder from a picture or a painting. What if I can combine my love of painting with my new love of making jewelry? So I began researching what type of jewelry that I would enjoy creating and that’s when I remembered my grabdmothers vintage jewelry. I loved her classic and sophisticated style of jewelry that just wasn’t commonly seen anymore. I decided that I wanted mine to have a vintage feel but with a way to preserve and make last forever.

Then, the idea to embed my tiny paintings in miniature “frames” was born. I wanted a way for someone to have a piece unique to just them. I wanted them to be one of a kind because the piece resonates with the person and they’re drawn to it for whatever personal reason. They will have it forever and I determined away for the painting to never lose it’s beauty.

I made the first successful ring around 2011. That success led me to creating bracelets, necklaces, hair pins, earrings and more recently hat pins, broaches, and men’s pins!

Ever since then I’ve been able to combine what my mom teaches with my love for fashion, which gives me more ideas to keep expanding my offerings to others who love jewelry, fashion, and art. I’ve continued to keep everything one of a kind because we’re all unique and I want my pieces to sit with my clients on a personal and valuable level.

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’ve been perfecting my craft and as I perfect it, I’m able to offer more. I started making jewelry for women, trying to reach anyone who loves jewelry in general but also into fashion and just likes a statement piece. I’m planning on getting back into pop-ups soon because one of the most fun parts of the whole business is hearing why people like a piece. I’ve had people saying something reminds them of summers on the beach or fall and being being with family during the holidays. It’s interesting because I’ll make a piece which may have a totally different perception but they see something totally different. I am so proud to be to provide something that means more to them than just another piece of jewelry.

Another part of my business that I push is partnerships and collabs. One of my favorite collabs has been with NeoBantu. Unique fashion combined with unique jewelry created just for what they needed was such honor and it turned out so beautifully. I also have partnered with Girl Rest!. I’m all about team up and supporting other businesses, especially when their values are aligned with mine. The results have always been uplifting.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Just in general, life is going to life. I’ve learned that no matter what I’ve had to put on hold for whatever reason, I always have to go back to what makes me the most happy. I make jewelry because it makes me happy and I want that to show through and bring others happiness ad well. So even if like causes me to have to pause jewelry for a minute, or there’s a hurdle, or there’s doubt, I always remember to re-evalute what I do and why. No matter if I sold 1 piece or a million, it’s not about just the sales. I’m sending a message through my pieces and I want my clients to have a connection as well. Resilience is a given, I just have to go with the flow of life sometimes, adjust as needed, pray, and keep going.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I do sell on Faire.com to reach retailers via wholesale relationship. This mostly started during Covid and I plan to try to meet more clients via Faire. I mainly sold during events before Covid then kept in touch with clients in various ways convenient for them. Now I’ve had more success on Facebook and just directly. There are pros and cons of course because with each piece being one of a kind, it would be nice to put a face with the purchase but that’s not always possible with wholesale. I don’t like to really say there are cons, it’s more so just being flexible with the times.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tartelainedesigns
• Facebook: Www.facebook.com/tartelaine
• Linkedin: Www.LinkedIn.com/in/tiawilliamsvaughn