Today we’d like to introduce you to Tisha De Giulio.
Hi Tisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I have always loved jewelry from a young age. I would often wear my mother’s jewelry (and sometimes lose it) but it brought me so much joy to wear something with meaning; something dainty and beautiful.
I went to school for Art education but never studied jewelry due to the high cost of materials. I finally graduated a few months early in 2020 due to COVID, and it was a strange time of having the chance to slow down and find ways to spend time.
I remember looking for hours on Etsy one night for some fruit jewelry (I love fruit) and came across this cute, fruit medley necklace made with polymer clay. I figured that I could make something similar. So, I purchased some clay and spent the next few weeks creating tiny, fruit jewelry.
Later, my partner, Josh, thought I should sell these pieces, so we created an LLC. We made an Etsy, Instagram, and website. I gained a lot of support from high school and college friends. Seeing them wear the jewelry I made was incredible; a little piece of art that I made which would travel with them through life. This gave me the confidence to dabble into other realms of jewelry, like soldering metals.
I began to YouTube soldering tutorials, and I experienced a LOT of trial and error. There were times of frustration and a lack of confidence for not having the “proper education” to create jewelry, but I kept ongoing.
Jewelry making eventually became a form of art therapy; I get lost in the flow of creating and its healing. I now have my studio in my upstairs room where my cat, Potato, likes to jump on my lap and watch me work. I make rings, necklaces, bracelets, and a ton of earrings. I enjoy making commissioned work because it’s a challenge, and it brings another person’s vision to life.
I hope to one day have my own storefront, where people can find a piece of jewelry they will wear through many different memories.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some struggles have been my lack of confidence because I didn’t receive proper jewelry education in school. I gained experience through YouTube tutorials and trial and error, so learning on my own was difficult and took time.
Another struggle was purchasing proper tools for jewelry making due to expenses. There are many tiers of jewelry-making tools that are very out of reach at this time, but I know one day I will get there.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work as a social media, marketing, and graphic design specialist for a home decor company.
In my free time, I make minimalist and bohemian jewelry. I often base my work off of the designs and aspects of the natural world.
I am most proud of my ability to create something that is meaningful and tells a story. I view jewelry as art that you can wear. Knowing that my jewelry travels with people through memories and significant times in their lives is a comforting and an amazing realization.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to prosper. There were times in this process where I didn’t feel that jewelry making was worth it; I felt like it was a silly dream at times, or that I should leave it for the pros. But I kept on going despite my negative thoughts. I learned to get out of my head, forget about my ego, and just create because it felt right.
What do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is spending time with loved ones, making good memories, creating art, and being outside in nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: Smolthingsco.com
- Instagram: @smolthingsco
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Smolthingsco/100071362886054/
