We were lucky to catch up with Tracey Timmons recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tracey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
I was fortunate that I didn’t have to officially “ask” for support. When I told my partner my plans for how I wanted to move forward with my business, he instinctively knew that I would need help, financially and physically. Instead of making me ask, he would say, “what do we need to do for x,y,z?” Like a lot of black women, I most likely would not have asked anyone for help. I would have tried to do it on my own and struggled mightily. I feel like it’s okay to ask for help from family or friends if they express an interest in supporting.
Tracey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a self taught Artisan Jeweler and I work primarily in fine & sterling silvers, some gold, and semi-precious gemstones. It started with a general interest in jewelry making. In the beginning I was making simple designs with beading and wire wrapping techniques but as my designs began to evolve they became more elaborate and I had to learn metalsmithing techniques to accomplish them. I had to learn to use a jewelers saw and solder with a jewelers torch. So I started buying books, and tools watching videos and practices a lot. I’ve been metalsmithing now for over ten years. A few years ago I realized I wanted my work to be experienced. I wanted people to be able to see it in real time and touch it and try it on. I realized art shows was the route to make that happen.
You will typically find what I call the 3 B s at the center of most of my work. Blooms, butterflies, and other botanicals. It’s the textures, surface treatments, and other techniques used to bring the pieces to life that inspires me.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Of course. It was the pandemic. I was working a regular 9-5 and doing jewelry when I felt like it. Right when the pandemic hit, I was leaving that job, moving to a new city and planning to get another 9-5. When I realized I wasn’t going to be getting a 9-5 anytime soon, I had to pivot on to my craft. I had to figure out how to make an income online with my work and I did. Meanwhile, planning for when art shows resumed post pandemic.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Jewelry making was my hobby until the pandemic hit. During the pandemic, there was this drive to highlight black jewelers and that’s when I began to get noticed. I was making and selling Solidarity Bangles along with getting some interest in my art jewelry. I would consider the bangles my side hustle because they weren’t in my particular style of jewelry but they served a purpose. My main goal was to get juried into art shows where I would show and sell my work full time and the sale of those bangles allowed me to set up that side of the business. When shows started back up, I went head first with applying to a huge show for my first try and got in! There was a huge learning curve because I didn’t start out small, but I don’t regret it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.traceytimmons.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/traceytimmonsjewelry
- Other: https://linktr.ee/TraceyTimmonsJewelry
Image Credits
Tracey Timmons