Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Kelly.
Thank you so much for having me! I’m the one-woman show behind Be Loved Beads. BLB was officially established in 2020 during my downtime in the beginning of the pandemic. This business was born out of my long-time love for making jewelry and I could not be more grateful to be on this new path of pursuing my passion. Before bringing this company to life, it had been an idea poking at me in the back of my mind for a long time that I just hadn’t followed through with due to my busy school and work schedule. Looking back, as a recent college grad and being temporarily laid off work, last year ended up being a great opportunity for me to kickstart my business!
Be Loved Beads is all about adding radiance and shine to your everyday life. It is for those who like completing their daily outfits with a unique piece of jewelry. All my creations will bring you sunshine year round. They are the perfect pastels for spring, pair perfectly with your favorite summer swimsuit, look rad with your fall flannel, and they add some sparkle to your winter wardrobe.
Each piece is handmade and one of a kind so often when a certain style goes out of stock, it may not be able to be recreated, making it exclusively unique to you.
I came up with the name Be Loved Beads since all my pieces are made with so much love and passion making each bead important to the entire piece. Also because I want my pieces to resemble love, I want them to make you feel loved. I want the beads to make you feel joyful and warm inside. Maybe the name also derives a little bit from the fact that I just simply want people to love beads as much as me!
Here is a little look back at my journey and what brought me where I am today.
I have had a passion for beading and jewelry making since I was around 12 years old. Before my love for jewelry making grew, I initially had a passion for collecting beads. There was the cutest little bead shop in my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee called Lily’s Bead Box. It was conveniently located right next to my mom’s favorite boutique so while she shopped I would run next door and disappear in that little shop for hours. I often wouldn’t know what I was going to do with all the beads I had, I just kept collecting them. Sometimes I would create designs with beads I may have bought years ago. That was what was always cool about having a collection from when I was young. As I got older, I began to take beading and wire wrapping classes at Lily’s as well as online.
In high school, my friend and I would always go to the park and sit on a big blanket by the lake and make jewelry for all our friends. I would even bring my jewelry supplies to my art class and use my beads to make mixed media work. I found it to be therapeutic and became a great outlet for me to express myself and still is today.
I have to say my style of jewelry has definitely changed a lot since high school but still remains earthy and beachy with a 70’s soul to it. The beach and the waves inspire my creativity. I love surfing and skating and the lifestyle/ culture that formulates around the two. I love the colorful free-spirited lifestyle of Venice Beach where I have lived the last seven years, which has also inspired my creations.
Alright, 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?
I will have to say being a one woman business is a challenge in itself. I constantly have to make sure I have all the supplies I need and manage my time and my budget.
Honestly, one of my main struggles I tend to deal with is not being super tech-savvy. Learning how to use technology to the best of my ability has been a challenge for me. In the technologically booming world of social media marketing, it has been a little overwhelming for me to get on point with all the different ways to reach people and build a following on social media. Also, web designing is quite tricky. I am still on a road to discovery but this struggle has taught me a lot of patience and has motivated me to independently learn things on my own.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of Be Loved Beads’ staple pieces that I have so much fun creating are called the Seascape Necklaces. (pictured above) They combine an assortment of unique Czech glass beads, pearls, and different semi-precious gems. I love these necklaces because they combine so many different textures, shapes, and colors. I also love making custom pieces where I will have someone’s particular style and personality in mind and make a piece that I think resembles them.
One thing that sets me apart from others is that I prefer to shop small and support small businesses for the beads I use to create my jewelry as much as I can. I love visiting small bead shops or vintage shops especially when I am traveling in different cities or countries. The first thing I do when I am in a new place is search for bead shops.
My jewelry has an organic feel, mirroring elements of the earth as well as mystical and oceanic vibes. I like to keep a balance with my creations between funky and elegant. I am all about trying new things and innovative fashion, so I keep a variety of different collections, while some may lean more on the trendy side, some are more simple.
Just like a painting, jewelry pieces have a unique way of speaking to each individual differently. I aim to create jewelry that will remain classic and timeless. Each piece is created hoping to be passed down through generations while collecting longtime memories.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My friends and family have been a huge support system! I have enjoyed collaborating with my friends who are photographers, models or those who also have their own small businesses. I am also always grateful when my friends repost my Instagram photos or share the information on the local events I pop up at.
I also make a lot of custom pieces for friends and family. This month I was very humbled and honored had me design the jewelry worn by her and everyone in her wedding party on her wedding day.
I also want to give my community in Venice a lot of credit for where I am today because there are so many great supportive people who have introduced me to pop up markets, festivals, and events that I either have been a part of or will have the opportunity soon to be a part of.
One of my good friends Amy, who has a vintage and tie-dye Brand called LUVME2X, introduced me to a boutique on the Westside of La in Mar Vista. The shop is called Shop Morpheus. This shop holds the Indie Open Air Market the third Sunday of every month. Their focus is to connect people and bring them together to support local artists and shop small. I recently did my first pop-up there and was so excited with the turnout and all the great people I met in the community.
The Shop Morpheus is partnering with other local businesses in Mar Vista to put on The Venice Winter Festival on December 18th, which is the next place I will be popping up at with my jewelry. It is located on Grand View and Venice Blvd where the street will be blocked off and the whole street will be filled with all types of different vendors. I definitely recommend checking it out!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Shopbelovedbeads.com
- Instagram: Be_loved_beads
