Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Roberts.
Emma, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have a circuitous path to where I am now, started my life as a physicist, moved on to retail management, and finally now as a self-employed Jewelry Artist. To be honest, I never had confidence that what I wanted to make was what people would buy. But slowly, as my coworkers and customers in my last job started to get excited about my work, I finally decided to open an Etsy shop in 2014, and things just took off from there.
I also had major encouragement from my husband, who really believed in me from the start. The name Desert Daisy is a nod to him actually, that was his nickname for me when we first met while living in Las Vegas.
My process relies heavily on my background in science and math, I use electrical current to set metal around raw stones on a molecular level. This creates one of a kind pieces that are sturdy and made to last. I feel like without knowing it, my previous careers were giving me what I needed to be successful at this one.
Now, I have this beautiful life of working with raw crystals and copper, traveling and meeting so many wonderful creatives.
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?
It has been surprisingly smooth once I figured out what my path was supposed to be, like all the pieces settled into place. But it did take a bit for me to really figure it out. The biggest obstacle has been (and still can be) my confidence in my work.
Most of my designs are one of a kind, and I launch four collections a year. This means every few months I have the repeated cycle of “will people like it? Do they get it? What if no one buys my work?” To be honest, I think as an artist, that is something I have just had to comes to terms with. It is almost part of the process now. I’m working on learning and growing from that fear, not letting it stop me.
Desert Daisy Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My brand is all about raw beauty. My younger sister pointed the connection out to me a few years back; I love showing women that what makes them unique is also what makes them beautiful. I treat my crystals the same way; I set the copper into the cracks and crevices and really draw attention to any perceived imperfections. This creates some sort of magic that is impossible to replicate.
I make statement jewelry when you wear a piece of my work people will comment on it. I thrive on the being able to connect people and increase confidence in women. It humbles me to hear from my clients how they feel when they wear my work. I believe it is a beautiful mission in life to empower women, and I like to think I’m helping in some small way.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It may seem small, but the moment that stands out most to me has to be when an elementary school on the East coast asked me to speak to their class on the topic of beauty in marketing.
One of the things I try to do in my photos is inclusive. Not all the women I use as models are 6′ tall, or a size 2. One of the models I use most barely hits 5’2″ actually. Many women haven’t modeled before they work with me, and I actually used my sister in my Holiday shoot two years ago.
I don’t believe in cookie cutter beauty standards, and I know how hard it is for women to grow up in a world of constant pressure to take the perfect selfie, or airbrush out their flaws. So when I had the opportunity to Skype with this 5th-grade class and be part of their curriculum on What is Beauty, I jumped at it.
Their questions were so intense, and they were really into it. They ended up sending me this amazing letter and video after the Skype session, and it still makes me tear up with happiness. While there have been many wins for me in my business, this moment is one that I am most proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.desertdaisyjewelry.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/desertdaisyjewelry
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/desertdaisyjewelry
Image Credit:
Studio DCF, Jamie Y Photography, Ashley M Myers Photography, Leela Moon Photography
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