Deepshade Creations
What do you create?
I create jewelry, mainly using semi-precious stone, shell, crystal, and glass. Most of my pieces are my own original designs, but the idea of custom work has been brought up to me a lot recently, so I've started branching into that as well.
How did you come up with your company name?
Shade is part of an alias I've used for years (it came from an old video game I love), so when I started brainstorming names, it was one of the words I tossed around. There isn't a real meaning behind the name, it was more a matter of putting words together until I found something that sounded good and I knew I wouldn't get tired of. I added Creations to the end of it because my wise friends thought Deepshade by itself sounded too much like a cosmetics line.
When and why did you decide to start your business?
I've been making jewelry since I was in elementary school, and one year I set up a table at a kids' craft show the local library held. My little daisy chain bracelets were a hit, and I loved knowing that people were out there wearing something that I had made myself. A decade later, when I was changing my career path from Spanish translation to radio broadcasting to FX makeup artistry to everything else under the sun, and working part-time jobs I really disliked, it hit me that I could try to make a living doing what I'd always loved to do and not have to play by a boss's rules anymore. Everyone always says that you should just do what you love, and it all finally clicked for me. 
Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
A lot of it is just picking up beads and pendants that catch my eye, then going through trial and error piecing them together with things I already have until I find a design that works. I like the earthy and natural-looking, but I'm also really drawn to things that look straight out of a fairy tale, so my jewelry can often end up being pretty eclectic! I also write when I have time, so I like to take characters from my stories and design jewelry that I think they might like to wear (so if you ever see a necklace that appears to have been named after someone, it's safe to guess that that's why).
What is your main goal for this year?
Now that I've gotten past most of the not-so-much-fun part of getting Deepshade Creations officially up and running, I'd like to focus mainlyon getting the name out there. I need to do a lot of spreading the word, and I think that another goal, which is getting back into the craft show circuit, will help that a lot.
What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
The most important thing is to just be confident in yourself and everything that you're doing. There are always going to be people out there who brush you off with comments like, "That's cute. So what do you really do?" and refuse to take you seriously. You can't let them get to you, because they're in the minority, and really just jealous that they haven't had it in them to accomplish so much on their own as you have! Most people I encounter think it's amazing and are incredibly supportive when they find out I make my own jewelry and started my own business, and you'll absolutely get the same reaction when you start putting yourself out there.
Which of your products is your favorite? Why?
Right now it's the Upperland Necklace. It's very whimsical and springtime-ish, and I love the way the colors of the stones worked out together. I also have a gemstone donut pendant that I would probably wear everyday if I didn't have so many other necklaces to choose from. It's very simple, and that means it goes with everything!
And just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite tool of your trade?
A very sharp pair of scissors. A good, tough pair that can even stand up to cutting wire (yeah, I do go through scissors pretty quick)!
Site:
Deepshade Creations
