Check Out Anna Buell’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Buell. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been the creative type. It’s definitely in my blood. Over the years, I’ve started several businesses to sell the stuff I’ve made. It started with beaded jewelry, then mosaics, and some other weird stuff. It was always just for fun until in my late 20s, I found myself in a job that I hated. One day, on a complete whim, I decided to quit my job and take my love for rocks, my passion for creating things with my hands, and my desire to be my own boss and go all in on my own venture. I joined forces with my stepdad, who was already making things out of Petoskey stones and had taught me how to polish stones over the years. We started making wine stoppers, coat racks, cabinet knobs, and anything we could think of. I had an idea of putting the rocks in resin to make them look like they were in the water and that’s when the coasters were born. 

After a while I got the itch to start making jewelry again, this time focusing more on copper plating and crystals and I also wanted to build a brand and a community around our little business. So, I split ways with my stepdad and started Great Lakes Goddess. I now specialize in resin and rock creations from coasters to trays and just all-around beautiful pieces of home décor. I also make one-of-a-kind, copper-plated jewelry. All of my work is inspired by nature and the great lakes region we live in. 

Since the early days, working out of my step dads pole barn, we have come so far. We have our own home studio; my mom works for us and my husband just quit his job to go all in on the business too! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with anything, there have definitely been many struggles along the way. I did not just quit my job one day, start a business on my own and then become successful overnight. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication to get to where I am today. For the first few years, I waited tables and took on any odd job I could find just to make ends meet. I’ve almost given up countless times. I remember one time having barely enough money in my bank account for gas to make it to this show. I was putting it all on the line to make this work and thankfully I pushed on because that ended up being my first super successful show and the spark that ignited it all really. From that point on, I started gaining some traction, and shortly after I was able to quit all my side gigs and go all in on Great Lakes Goddess. Along the way other obstacles have come up such as trying to find the right resin product, learning new techniques, adjusting to the new life of being a mom and an entrepreneur, there’s always a new challenge to work thru, especially in times of growth. But that’s what makes this kind of life exciting. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are best known for our Great Lakes rock coasters! They have been the catalyst for our success and our #1 most-sold product. They make great gifts and people buy them up like crazy at shows and stores they are stocked at. We were the original creators of them and since then many people have duplicated the idea but what sets us apart is the quality and attention to detail, we put into each one. Placing every rock intentionally and carefully to imitate nature takes time and we pride ourselves in the quality of each one that goes out the door. Since the coasters were so successful, over the past year I decided to try them on a larger scale and make decorative trays which have also been a huge hit! The jewelry I make is also very unique and organic looking. I use a style called electroforming which is the science of plating copper onto objects. It’s a pretty neat process that’s basically mad scientist meets magician and results in one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. I use crystals and stones from all over the world but also find my own local stones that we bring home, polish, and turn into jewelry as well. You can learn more about my process by following me on Instagram or going to my website. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
As a kid growing up in Northern Michigan, I spent a lot of time outdoors in nature. My favorite memories are exploring the woods, running along the beaches, splashing in the rivers, and just gaining an all-around appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us in this region. Which has transpired into my passion for weaving a little of that magic into all of my work. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.greatlakesgoddess.com
• Instagram: @greatlakesgoddess
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/GLGoddess