From a Necklace to a Passion 💜

I recently wrote this piece for a project, and it struck me as worthy of sharing it here as well.

💎 The Spark that Ignited My Journey

It all started during a lighthearted winter conversation when my boyfriend (now husband 🥰) joked that I should expect a ton of jewelry for Christmas. I laughed it off at first—I'm actually pretty frugal, believe it or not. But then he told me about how jewelry in the U.S. is heavily marked up and that sourcing directly from overseas could save a lot of money. I was curious and told him to go for it.

When the jewelry arrived, I was blown away. Not just by how beautiful it was, but by how affordable it turned out to be. As we admired the pieces, he half-jokingly said, “You should sell this stuff online.”

Funny how one offhand comment can change your life.

💎 From a Small Shop to a Big Interest in Marketing

That simple idea sparked something in me. I opened an Etsy store and started selling pieces I personally loved. But what really surprised me was how much I enjoyed marketing the jewelry. I didn’t just want to sell pretty things—I wanted people to feel something when they saw them.

So I dove in. I learned how to write better product descriptions, take cleaner product photos, and create a brand that actually meant something. I did everything myself and discovered I loved the challenge. Each part of the process made me more curious about how to do it better.

💎 Finding My Calling

As I kept learning, I realized I had fallen in love with marketing itself. Creating content, connecting with customers, and building something from the ground up felt natural and exciting. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue it seriously.

I enrolled in college to get my degree in marketing, and it gave me the foundation I needed to turn passion into purpose.

💎 Growing Into My Craft

After graduating, I landed a full-time marketing role in the corporate world. It wasn’t related to jewelry, but my interest in the industry never faded. I even took courses at the Gemological Institute of America, where I learned all about gemstones, precious metals, diamond grading, and even how to make and repair jewelry. My favorite class? Chemistry. Learning how gemstones get their colors based on their mineral makeup totally fascinated me.

Eventually, my corporate job took center stage, and I had to put Etsy on pause. But life came full circle. I left my job, went back to school for my MBA, and decided it was the perfect time to reopen my store—with new energy and a fresh perspective.

This time, I’m using everything I’ve learned: branding, storytelling, photography, email strategy—you name it. I also started painting enamel jewelry, which has been such a joy. Knowing that something I create with my own hands can brighten someone’s day is the best feeling.

💎 From a Necklace to a Calling

What started as a simple gift turned into a journey I never could’ve imagined. That one necklace opened the door to a love for marketing, a career change, and a creative outlet that brings me so much joy.

I’m still evolving, still learning, and still in love with the mix of creativity and strategy that makes marketing so magical. And at the heart of it all? One little spark… and a lot of sparkle.