Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Colvin
Hi Christie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, I was drawn to the art of jewelry making. It all began in 2nd grade with embroidery friendship bracelets, which I sold to local neighborhood children and on the bus before and after school. Starting with simple braids, I gradually honed my skills, creating intricate twists and knots. My first “shop” location was a handmade storefront, set up at the corner of my street block, made out of empty trash cans, a scrap piece of wood, and handmade posters with my 10 cent- 50 cent pricing for things that took me hours to make.
As I grew, I ventured into working with wire and seed beads, crafting basic earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. My creativity expanded further with loom work and the creation of elaborate dream catchers. By the time I reached college, I was frequenting rock and gem shops, learning wire work, and discovering the meanings of semi-precious stones, and incorporating them into my designs.
Throughout college and until I had my children, I participated in craft shows and traveled to international gem and jewelry conventions, amassing a vast collection of beads—from simple stones to high-end semi-precious gems like high-grade amethyst, garnet, citrine, and turquoise. The endless possibilities of color combinations intrigued and soothed me. Despite the meticulous and time-consuming nature of the work, I found it relaxing and took great pride in seeing others enjoy and purchase my creations. In college, I worked at Claire’s Boutique in the mall and was an engraving manager at Things Remembered for years. I took great pride that I could engrave anything and everything someone could give me!
I stopped creating for many years after I was in a bad car accident that resulted in carpal tunnel in both wrists and extreme nerve damage in my dominant arm. I thought my beading days were over. My hands would shake so bad that I sold the majority of my beading supplies as it hurt too much physically and, in my heart, not to be able to bead. Many surgeries later, I picked up some beads I found in a basement box (buried after two household moves and purges) and felt the passion and creativity that had been buried so long, bursting out of me. Although I cannot do the tiny intricate wire work as much anymore, I have got back into doing craft and vendor shows selling my handmade earrings and bracelets, while also creating personalized jewelry designs through being a consultant for JBloom and Permalinx permanent jewelry, allowing me to create, design, and create personalized pieces in a new way!
Since I do work full time (with my Bachelor’s of Science degree/master’s degree in business) as a Compliance Manager by day, creating jewelry and my love for fine art photography allows me to have a creative outlet. My husband is more than supportive with me having my own workspace to get away to. I opened a workshop and boutique space to create and share that love of creating jewelry with others, no matter the skill level, or age! I now have a small boutique perfect for selling what I love to make, as well as offering beads and jewelry making supplies, and also have a built-in workshop area dedicated to education, socializing, and creating! While I am at the boutique, people can always stop in and create small pieces with my “pay and create per bead” option! My space is called the Bead Space Creative Studio and Boutique and is located at 471 Main Street in Troy, MO. There you will find a mix of crystals, glass, wood, and semi-precious stones, jewelry findings, charms, focal beads, silicone beads and bead-able blanks like keychains and pens, as well as my handmade creations and a selection of JBloom and Permanent Jewelry inventory of all my favorites!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an entrepreneur is never a smooth or easy road. Sadly, in this economy, and with helping provide for my family with my established career, I cannot leave my fulltime job; however, I have my way of sharing my love and passion to the community and can help others get out from behind their electronics, phones, desk, and create!
The biggest obstacle in opening a boutique and bead shop that is it’s rather rural. Most people are used to driving to neighboring towns to shop the big box stores, and do not realize a small shop can have amazing offerings available right down the street. Social media can also be a great tool, but also an obstacle because social media is jam packed with so much information, videos, reels, and ever-changing algorithms, it sometimes can be hard to get in front of the right audience or be found among all the “stuff”.
Overall, I think it’s how obstacles and challenges are faced that is most important. If it was easy, everyone would be an entrepreneur and try to run a business. I think it is important to know yourself and your limits, and to use challenges and obstacles as an opportunity to learn and grow, while allowing it to show you sometimes it’s okay to take a break or say “hey, maybe now is not the right time for this”. It’s okay to reset yourself and use it as a time for redirection and repurpose.
As I have learned about running a business through the years, I wanted to share those experiences with young entrepreneurs to start their business journey though a community volunteer event I now host and sponsor. I am now a super host through the Children’s Business Fair and offer 2-3 events per year for young entrepreneurs (ages 6-18) to bring their services, products and offerings to the community. This is a child vendor marketplace event only, where the children have to run their own booth by handling all the signage, design, products, and the sales! The only help they can receive from parents is carrying items in and out of the building and money transactions during the sale. I have found great success in holding these as they truly serve as a forum for children to learn about competition in the marketplace, working with clients, financial transactions, cost to do business, and to learn that sometimes you may have amazing sales, and sometimes you won’t. This also serves as a way to get kids creating again, and away from all the electronics. The children can be productive and be proud with the amzing feeling of accomplishment with creating something that people want to purchase. My next event is April 12th at the Moscow Mills Lions Club in Moscow Mills, MO. I still have space for more children to join in the fun, am always looking for sponsors to help provide prizes for the children who are most creative, have the most unique business idea and for best presentation. Info on the children’s business fair can be found here: https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/moscow-mills-missouri
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always been a creative soul. As a military kid, I traveled the world, visiting diverse cultures and learned to appreciate the beauty of international travel, museums, cultures, and their artwork. From visiting Rome’s Vatican to Italy’s ruins, Italian castles, Spain’s ceramic steps, to Minnesota Native American museums and taking in all the bead work I could set my eyes on, I have always loved all forms of art, the colors, the story behind each and every piece.
My love for unique beads began with finding Indian beads in the gravel at my local playground, I would look for hours trying to find as many as I could, then I decide to have a go at making embroidery bracelets, advancing to music, playing the clarinet, bass clarinet, and baritone sax. I even won the John Phillip Sousa Music Award in high school and earned a scholarship for my musical talent. Competing at State competitions every year and securing 1st place rankings was a thrilling experience.
My creative expression evolved into beadwork and jewelry making. My creativity didn’t end there when I decided to be a self-taught professional photographer, becoming an internationally published photographer in many published magazines, specializing in fine art photography with one-of-a-kind couture gowns from designers worldwide. No matter the craft, I aim to tell a story. I want my photographs, jewelry, and everything I create to be personable, relatable, and inspiring.
In the St. Louis region and among local artists, I’m more known for my photography. However, I’m just beginning my journey as an educator, instructor, jewelry designer and creator in the area I live now.
In my boutique, you will find handmade jewelry and accessories for all ages! You will find the classic designs with the use of crystal and stone, from earrings, bracelets to necklace sets. You will find trendy, and sometimes silly, earrings and bracelets for teens and children (unicorns, mermaids, fish, dinosaurs, and superhero items). You will find glammed up keychains and purse charms, along with pens and backpack charms with funny sayings on it to get you thru your day of work and school. Other available boutique jewelry in my boutique is my “JBloom” and “Permalinx” permanent jewelry offerings! I can take orders online at all times from my website with direct ship to the customer; however, have a small and diverse selection within my boutique to show the quality and beauty of my favorite pieces. I can help custom create personalized statement pieces as well or you can design straight from the website! Want to add your children’s names or birthdates, maybe you and your spouse’s anniversary date to a piece? No problem, I can help with all your personalization needs! In my shop, you will also find bead strands and jewelry making accessories, as well as a “pay per bead” option, so you only have to pay for the supplies you need to create a particular piece! You can purchase the supplies and take home or take a seat at my table so you can create in my shop and get advice and help at the same time. No need to know how to finish a piece, I am there to guide and help as needed.
My workshop area and lobby area offer space for small groups (up to 12 or so people) to come and bead and design jewelry together. I also offer birthday party beading events and classes, such as classes for beaded dreamcatchers, suncatchers, and more! My favorite offerings are the bead party events, where I supply everything needed for guests to create two pieces of jewelry, ready to take home at the end of the event. For birthday parties, I handle all the party planning and a few games that helps parents enjoy the party as well. I also offer more local in-home bead parties and also can take these events to a local business (i.e. coffee shop) that would love to promote community and host their own beading/creation party,
Have a large group that wants to come in and create? I also have access to a studio location a few doors down from my boutique space for larger groups and parties of 20 guests! This is perfect for girl scout groups, church groups, and ladies or mommy groups that may want to get together and have some fun!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have a long family line of creative artists to thank. My great grandmother was an oil painter, and could have been an awesome competitor to Bob Ross, my mother followed in her footsteps and can draw, oil paint and is a floral designer by career. She can pick up anything and create amazing things!
My younger brother, based out of Clarksville, TN, is a horror mask sculptor and special effects artist, making the most detailes, sculpted, yet horrifying props and masks. He can also play any instrument he picks up and also a talented graphic artist. He is also an entrepreneur and owns his own company and can be found on Facebook @Unknown Origin FX. My youngest brother does an art form all of his own and can do anything and everything on cars- welding, modifications, you name it!
Overall, my family and close friends have been an amazing support through my business and creative ventures. They share my work, refer events to their family and friends, and have helped with designing and the physical labor of creating my shop space. I would not have done some of the things I have without their constant support and encouragement. My best friend, Geneva Crowe, Terri Clarno (Clarno Creations), Christel Hoffman (Refined Silver Portraits), with a new founded buddy beading, Julie Phillips have been amazing friends that offer much needed encouragement and support, listen to frustrations, and cheers and supports, even the small wins. My children are also a big support, my teenager helps with events, loading and unloading supplies and inventory (with minimal complaints) and my twins, who are 8, enjoy going into the shop and making a project or two now and again or helping mom carry stuff in to put a way “oohh fancy beads” they say. One of my twins have taken up my love of beading and is always looking to craft. He even runs his own booth at local craft shows, creates his own beaded pieces, and has a skill in a business already. He has also picked up the sculpting gene, and enjoys clay work as well. It makes a mom’s heart happy when her kids enjoy her craft and want to learn. It is great quality time sitting together and just creating things that make you happy!
Last but not least, my husband, Jon, deserves unlimited credit and kudos for being an amazing husband and support, no matter if I am having a good day or a bad day. He understands my need for a creative outlet and continuously supports my passion and love for my artistry. My husband, also talented in woodworking, has made more props and displays for me than he would probably like to admit. If I have an idea that I would love to see come to life, he gets out his drawing paper and says, “okay I need the details of what you want” and usually wastes no time in getting it going. As a creative, I do get some crazy ideas at times, and he is always ready to help- and knows that I am determined to see it happen (HAHA). I love his patience and supporting nature. He always reminds me “don’t ever let it become (stress) work, do it because you enjoy it, do it because it makes you happy”. This is such a true statement to follow. Life is short, life is chaotic, do something that makes you smile, soothes your soul, and makes your heart happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://christiecolvinphotography.com
- Email: thebeadspacestudio@gmail.com
- Facebook: The Bead Space Creative Studio and Boutique and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566813366901
- LinkedIn: https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/moscow-mills-missouri
- Other: https://www.myjbloom.com/CHRISTIECOLVIN/
Image Credits
Christie Colvin Photography and headshot done by Mike Winslow Photography
