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Meet Kerry Long of Blueberry Jewelry in San Luis Obispo

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerry Long.

Kerry, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been a maker. I feel like the human race was made to create. It’s in our wiring. Whether it be making with our hands and building, or a way of thinking or writing, or a way to combine things that haven’t been looked at together before. Everyone has the ability to be creative and is born that way in my opinion. It’s the fear of failing and not being right or perfect that paralyzes us.

Early in my life, my grandmother taught me to crochet and knit. The first thing I knit was a sweater for her toy poodle. I loved making it and her dog loved wearing it! I’m sure it wasn’t perfect. I’m sure I dropped a bunch of stitches and there were likely holes in it. But I loved it. I was like that with anything I made. I loved coloring. I colored patterns on graph paper. Patterns and colors and they always looked different. In high school, I got my first taste of ceramics. I hand built and threw on the wheel and loved it. That transferred with me into college and took all the ceramics classes available. I loved my geology classes too. So when I stumbled upon a part-time job at a jewelry store that filled all the spaces for me. It sort of checked all the boxes. I loved the natural gemstones and was mystified that crystals could come from the earth like they did.

I was working retail but the shop did some of their own manufacturing as well. I got a behind the scenes look at what it was like to make a piece of jewelry from scratch and I was hooked! I expressed interest in learning some basic jewelry making techniques and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to. I was taught some basic forging techniques, soldering, wire wrapping, and knotting. Techniques I still use in my jewelry today. I started my own line during this time and sold my jewelry to the store I worked for as well.

From there, my business was born. That was around 2002. For years I made my jewelry as well as worked various part-time jobs. In 2007 I was preparing for the plunge into full-time jewelry making/business owner. I felt like I was ready. I felt like I could survive and at least pay the bills… But, the summer of that year, I found out I was pregnant. It was not planned and I was not prepared. That immediately changed my mind about my business. It would seem very irresponsible of me to not have a steady stream of income and a baby on my own. The years went by, I kept plugging along, and going to school, and being a single parent. The business kept growing but was definitely not the main focus of my life at the time.

In 2014 I was part-time working as a paralegal for an attorney. Christmas rolled around and wholesale orders were coming in and I was having a hard time keeping up with them. I ultimately ended up making the decision at that time to leave my part-time, steady paying, safety net of a job, to make the leap and to make my jewelry business my living.

It was scary. I wasn’t sure how long I’d last. If I would even succeed. But I just kept telling myself if I can make it one month, I could make it two. If I can make it two months, I can make it three. If I can make it six months, I can make it a year. If I can make it one year, I can do that again too… What was the worst that would happen, I would need to go get another part-time job. Ok, I would do that if I needed to.

So, since then, I have succeeded, I did make it a month, a year, and now several years… I am plugging right along and continuing to learn and grow as I go. Im going into my fourth year as working this business full time and I love it. I love the freedom it has given me. I love the community it has connected me with. I love that I get to make things every single day with my two hands. I love the flexibility it has given me to be a single parent and to be there for my daughter. Shes now eleven and I also love the fact that she can see me succeed at this. She sees first hand the hard work that goes into running a business. And I hope as she grows up, she sees what I am doing and is proud of her mama.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has never been a smooth road. And I don’t think it ever will. Owning a business is not for the faint of heart. Ad on top of that being a single parent weighs into every decision I make. I usually tend to take the safer road because of that. Less risk, less reward, but slow and steady growth. Because I am the sole provider for me and my daughter, I want to make sure I’m not frivolous in my spending and in my decision making.

I have learned to deal with anxiety and not ever feeling like I’m not doing enough. I have lots of worry and sleepless nights and stress about things that are often not in my control. I have gotten a lot better at managing the stress but it is something that is always there.

The other thing is that being my own boss and business owner, my business brain never really shuts off. There is never really a time of day when I am not thinking about this business baby.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Blueberry Jewelry – what should we know?
Well, my handcrafted jewelry business is just that… I love the craft of making something with my two hands. The skills and techniques it takes to forge a piece of metal into a form that someone can enjoy and wear on their body is pretty amazing. It is also something that is less and less done as time goes on. It’s getting harder and harder to learn certain crafts like metalworking and therefore, they are like dying arts. I fabricate most all my findings and components that go into my jewelry with simple basic metalsmithing techniques. A lot of jewelry makers will buy premade items and assemble them into their jewelry. There is nothing wrong with that, I just like the idea that something is literally made from nothing. Raw materials and minerals that can be found in the ground transformed into something we adorn our bodies with. Something that can hold a special sentiment, something that can be passed through the generations. That is pretty special!

I pride myself on quality. This is what sets me apart I believe. There are lots of jewelry makers out there. I just have to be the best one I can be and make the best-finished product I can make. That is something I am proud of!

All of my jewelry is made from sterling silver and 14k yellow and rose gold filled. Some pieces then have natural gemstones and freshwater pearls added to them. I do not use crystals or glass or base metal or plated items. Id love to expand my line into more “fine” jewelry. I want to start using solid 14k gold and more precious gemstones and diamonds.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had many mentors and influencers in my business. Some have helped and been more impactful than others. But I hesitate listing any because I worry I will forget someone… Several jewelry store owners who I have worked for have been great inspiration and motivation for me to keep going. I am surrounded by lots of other makers and creators that also continue to inspire and support me! I wouldn’t be able to do it without them cheering me on throughout all of this. And of course, my family, my mother, father, brothers, and now daughter, have been rooting for me since the beginning.

Pricing:

  • Prices range from $30-$200+ mostling in the $70-$100 price range.

Events:

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Candace Rae

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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