Today, we’d like to introduce you to Alicia.
Hi Alicia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m grateful to connect again. I continue to find my way as a creative in an increasingly artificial world.
Creativity is a way of life for me, and I express myself creatively in the way I do most things. I love to garden, cook real food, and create meaningful art that connects deeply with people in the joys and sorrows of life. I live in the city with a big garden, a whole bunch of kids, chickens, and a dog. My life is very full!
It has taken years for me to envision how the many ideas, passions, and responsibilities that make up my life fit together. Starting my handmade jewelry business, Simple Sisters Handmade has given me an outlet for my need to funnel my creative energy in a productive way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I guess you could say I’ve been fumbling my way through the creative process my whole life. I remember trying to sell mud cakes on the side of the road as a kid and later getting into beads and macrame and setting up at craft sales whenever I could.
After becoming a parent, it took several years to find my way into a healthy creative outlet. Having a small business now keeps me accountable to the creative process and allows me to connect with customers in meaningful ways. While juggling a small business and family life isn’t always the easiest path, it feels really important to me to have my kids witness this process.
This year has been a very difficult one. Our extended family experienced a deep loss. It was excruciatingly painful to stamp my 19-year-old niece’s name on crosses and coins after she died, but I was able to create something of meaning for her grieving parents to hold, and I can’t find the words to describe the significance of that.
We all need healing and these days I’m allowing myself to be drawn into very tactile things. Gardening. Fruit picking. Jam making. My craft of jewelry making is still very in line with this drive to create something with my hands, and I continue to show up to the work of it.
I’m so grateful that I can continue to show up in the world with something meaningful to offer that can meet people in their pain as well as in their hopes and joys. I’m more passionate than ever to use my handmade jewelry business to create meaningful pieces for my customers to wear or hold in all kinds of seasons of life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with your work?
I’ve been making jewelry and selling on Etsy for almost 7 years. I’ve been in and out of several retail locations over those years, but currently sell exclusively online. Etsy recently launched a campaign to “keep commerce human” which definitely resonates with me as an Etsy seller.
I design all my own jewelry and stamp it with meaningful words. All my pieces can be customized with words my customers choose. It’s a very human process! One of the things I love about hand stamping is that every piece comes out a little different since each character is literally stamped by hand. The variations are intentional and celebrated. It took time for me to learn to celebrate the variations rather than become frustrated when something didn’t come out “perfectly.” Everything is perfectly imperfect, and that’s about as human as it gets!
True human connection seems to be what most people crave, yet it is becoming increasingly rare. I find joy in working directly with customers, making something truly one-of-a-kind with each order, and providing exceptional customer service.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Grand Rapids is a growing city with exciting opportunities and real challenges. I appreciate the Grand River and the city’s abundant green spaces. I live in a neighborhood that has been affected by generational poverty, gentrification, and more recent economic development.
I live in the tension created by change, some positive and some that have been damaging to the community. Grand Rapids is filled with incredible people, and I hope we can continue to navigate growth in a way that is equitable and good for all its residents.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplesistersstudio.etsy.com
