We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yolanda White a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yolanda, 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.

AnointedKreationsLLC is a rebirth, which came about while going through the time of my separation and divorce. I honestly had no thoughts about creating anything at that time, however customized beaded jewelry was on the rise and my little sister kept asking me to make pieces for her and her daughter. At first, I was hesitant, then going to the store seeing all those pretty colors triggered something different in me. I had visited the local craft stores so many times before, never to give thought of going near the jewelry isles. But, during this particular time, it was a magnetic moment. I was drawn in. As I started venturing closure, designs started popping out at me. Many designs, color schemes, flowing as if I was creating them right there in the store. I found a new level of passion for creativity, this level of creativity became my therapy for healing.

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?

My jewelry is handcrafted, each piece being unique. Originally I started out not duplicating pieces, but some are truly amazing and are deserving to be duplicated. My designs are based off the DNA structure of humans, similar qualities and the same makeup, but different in some way. I may change a few beads or spacer placements, and for those with charms, they will always be different. I closed out 2022 by adding customized charms and/or beads that have my custom logo engraved on them. With the custom branded addition, it sets me apart from others by helping others to recognize it as a piece from my company. I offer special customization, those pieces will not be duplicated because they are of specific requests. And to be honest, I love the challenge of bringing visions to life and more importantly, trying to do my best to provide a satisfying experience for all clients.

Thanks to the pandemic, I’ve started back sewing. I took a step away from the bead board to making masks to ensure my family would be safe since masks became a mandatory requirement for us. This determination filtered over to selling masks to more people than planned. I researched and played around with the design and specifications before offering them publicly. The more I sat behind the sewing machine, the more ideas started flowing. I added to my company, masks, clutch purses, tote bags and nursing caps. If I can think it or I’m asked, I’m willing to give it a try. My desire is to utilize the winter months to tap into some other things and become even the more familiar with my sewing skills, in hopes of designing different types of clothes. Why not? You never know what your capable of if you never try.

Other services offered include: table decorations for all types of events and personalized items, floral arrangements, custom T-shirts and so much more. I’m looking to incorporate embroidery to my skill set. Many skill under one umbrella. I’m doing my best to maximize my skills and to push myself to my fullest potential. Building generational wealth is important to me, and being able to pour a meaningful skill onto my grandchildren is a must. With all that I do, two of my grandgirls (ages 9 and 7) are creating jewelry and another (age 5) has the desire to learn how to sew.

I’m thankful for my gift of creativity, and have hopes of sharing it with the world. Rather it be with my custom jewels or my custom fashion, I keep speaking that I will one day be a household name, not just in the United States but internationally as well.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

While embarking on this creative journey, I worked as a medical assistant where I primarily cared for female cancer patients, until dreadful that day. Like I said, the pandemic came about and I was placed on furlough. Well, working with these inspiring patients was a love for me, being home gave me more time to create. Well, the doctors spoke up and my furlough was cut short. I returned to the clinic sooner than planned. Upon finishing my shift on July 1, 2020, housekeeping was in the suite doing there normal cleaning. I went in to assist with the final patient of the day, returned to my desk only to hear to patient assist alarm going off. Because the previous patient stated she was going to the restroom as I entered to help the doctor, it alerted me to search to make sure she was ok. Not to mention, the alert would not turn off on its own, I went searching. I checked all the restrooms in the clinical side, no patient to be found. So I headed over to our chemo treatment side, and surly I found out who pulled it. Sadly, it was after a slip and fall. Turned out, it was housekeeping that pulled the alarm while cleaning.

My pivot happened when I resigned from my position 1 year later, due to injury. I could no longer perform as I did. Don’t get me wrong, I was offered a position doing something totally different from what I loved. Sitting behind a desk, not able to move and function as before became mentally draining. I had to go through physical therapy and even surgery from that slip and fall. This shifted my determination and survival instincts to another level. It was time to work, besides I had no choice. A single woman, no guarantee of a steady source of income. It was either dive in and give it my best or sink. Sinking is not and can not be a choice. I have now been a full-time Entrepreneur for almost 2yrs, and I’m still amazed at how awesome my life is. I’m living in the moment of answered prayers. To be able to work for myself and have freedom to travel, to spend time with family and serve in the ministry of my church home. The pandemic not only pushed me to Entrepreneurship, but I’ve also become a Minister with my church, I’ve traveled out the country twice in one year, I’ve purchased a vehicle paying cash for it, and the blessings keep flowing. If you have dreams and desires, please give it your best and don’t allow bumps along the way to cause you to change your mind. Go all the way, one faith step at a time. Sure there will be challenges, but nothing good is worth having if you don’t put in the work to get it.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

For the most part, I signed up to be a vendor at local PopUp events, they are considered the modern day craft shows. Utilizing social media platforms to promote is helpful to let friends know where I’ll be for events. Being that I create my inventory, I had to learn discipline when it comes to sharing content though. It has worked for me, but I want to get my website up and running. This will increase my clientele base. Festivals have been a major help, it gets my product in front of a more diverse crowd. In all things, there will pros and cons, but let me say this…….. you can only benefit from the work that you put into this lifestyle.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: anointedkreations01
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anointedkreations?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
All images provided are taken by myself.