Meet Amy Weber of Amy Weber Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Weber.

Amy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, the first question you asked was pretty easy. “What is your name?” I think I got that one. 🙂 But “How did you get here?”, Now that’s a little harder. I’m not even sure what “here” is for me. The road to this point has been pretty circuitous, and I’m still hugging the curves. I always had a creative side, but I didn’t really know what to do with it when I was younger.

After college, I tried lots of different things, including being a flight attendant which allowed me to travel the world. I started painting and designing jewelry, and eventually, I opened a sweet little boutique/gallery called SemiPrecious that sold my jewelry and paintings along with that of other emerging jewelry designers and artists. The shop became a “must do” on the street for ten years until there was a tragic fire and I had to close.

After being a part of the beautiful community on Montana Ave., I needed to heal from the loss and figure out what was next. I took time for introspection, and I started working on jewelry for other designers, which I still love doing, but before I knew it, I wasn’t making any of my own pieces. I ran into a designer with a cool clothing line at a party, and she convinced me that it was time for my jewelry to be seen again.

So now, I’m refocused on my website, and I’m having a lot of fun with Instagram. My designs are meant to be layered with other pieces so I love playing dress up with customers at private parties where I can show them how to experiment with combinations to create their own unique look.

I stay true to myself and only make pieces that I love. I know that my philosophy of one-of-a-kind jewelry keeps my business smaller and that’s fine with me. I’m feeling super inspired again, by nature and culture and music and so much more. My life these days is filled with gratitude; I mean come on – I get to hang out at the beach with my dog Ruby and create beautiful things!

So I guess that’s my “here”… for now.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, it’s been FAR from smooth. When I had my shop, I worried about everything – from schedules to the look of the shop to buying the product to making sure I had happy employees to… everything. I have more of an artist’s mindset than a business mind, and that can get in my way. The store was a magical place, but inside I was always anxious.

Then when I closed SemiPrecious, I thought that I could make a smooth transition to selling online. Nope! I had a really hard time putting myself out there. I was so scared to approach people to sell my jewelry in their shops, so I just didn’t do it. Needless to say, that’s not great for business. 🙂

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Amy Weber Design – what should we know?
I’m always amazed at the beauty and energy that comes from the earth, and that’s why I use semiprecious stones in most of my designs. I love playing with different color combinations and layering pieces to create something spectacular.

I’m known for creating jewelry that can be worn alone and also work beautifully with pieces already owned by the client. My favorite moments are when I’m working with someone who may not be comfortable layering new pieces in to their aesthetic. Together we come up with something fresh and beautiful.

I’m really proud of how I’m transitioning from the business I created at SemiPrecious to Amy Weber Design, and that I have maintained relationships with people that started as customers and are still friends. I continue to be available to my customers who want things fixed or redesigned.

I think what sets me apart is that I’m honest and vulnerable with my customers and the world. I still feel scared and unsure and hopeful and grateful every single day.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
To be honest, I’m not sure what success is supposed to look like these days. My business is much smaller now, but I have found the peace of mind that I never had with that beautiful boutique on one of the “fanciest” shopping streets.

I think what’s most important to me now is my daily gratitude practice. That sounds so LA, but it has really helped me with my anxiety and made me much happier and more inspired. When someone is drawn to my jewelry, I get such a thrill because I know that my designs aren’t for everyone. I’m ok with that.

I think we should only wear what makes us feel beautiful and not what the latest trends are dictating. I only make pieces that I truly love, and I never want that to change!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amyweberdesign.com
• Phone: 323-401-9696
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @amyweberdesign
• Facebook: Amy Weber Design
• Twitter: @amyweberdesign

Image Credit:
@jordanon7th photography

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