Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Focke.
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started making jewelry back in 2014, but that isn’t when my story began with jewelry. Both of my parents are artists, so I grew up around a lot of different art mediums. My mom and dad made jewelry, so I grew up around watching them and their friends design different jewelry pieces. Their ideas drawn and coming to life were pretty amazing to see. Growing up, I made the typical hemp necklaces and bracelets but didn’t actually pursue a career in art. I went to school for business and had a love for marketing. Once I finished my degree, I was able to have a little more time to pursue my hobbies outside of also being a single mom. Being a single mom left very little time for said hobbies, so I found time before bed to work on making necklaces.
I researched the best components for jewelry and started 2014 making infinity necklaces, which inspired my business name, Infinity Jewelry Designs. I made sterling silver infinity necklaces and also gold fill necklaces that featured minimalism and a dainty look. I started a new job and my daughter got more involved with after-school activities I decided to put necklaces on hold and started designing simple earrings with recycled pieces I found. In 2020, we moved to Florida, and I started to have more time after work again to pursue my love for jewelry. That’s when I began to design and handcraft my own statement earrings. I make them with anything from polymer clay, copper wire, and quartz, to shells. They all vary in design and look because I like to appeal to more than just statement earring lovers, but also the minimalist and smaller earring crowd. Now, I make and sell jewelry in my online store with a variety of designs and styles.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, there have been challenges whether it be with my personal life, finding time to create, or just finding the best components for my designs. Finding time and motivation isn’t always easy, but the moment you finally do find both it’s a very rewarding feeling to see my designs come to life. Finding the right components for jewelry hasn’t been the easiest either.
You want to make sure they’ll last and have qualified for your customers. It takes a lot of testing to make sure a design will work long-term rather than for one-time use. My designs don’t become available until I’m sure that I can confirm their quality. So, that in turn can take some time and trials to make sure they’re the best they can be.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I mainly work with polymer clay. I feel that medium is fun and easier to work with than others. I’ve worked with metal and soldering, but that requires a lot more fire and sanding than I have time for with my full-time day job. I work in marketing during the day, but in my spare time, I like to be able to work with polymer clay and create unique pieces. My favorite technique that I’m constantly looking to perfect is the ceramic look.
These pieces have the look of ceramic but are super lightweight compared to wearing a pottery-based earring. It’s so unique that I’ve had many customers look at me surprised when I tell them it isn’t ceramic, but it makes me so happy to know that I’ve successfully created what I set my mind to. I love to make statement earrings that have a Florida blue water feel, great for resort earrings for everyday wear.
What makes you happy?
It makes me happy to be able to successfully create something that others can enjoy as much as I enjoyed making it.
When a customer tells me how much they love the earrings they purchased, I am overjoyed! I love to bring joy to others through jewelry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/infinityjd?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1253700587
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ijdinfinity/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ijdinfinity
