Discover FriedaSophie

Hi. I'm Rebecca, the person behind the company Jay + Renae. I want to take a moment to introduce myself in case I haven't had the privilege of meeting you in person. It's been a whirlwind since Jay + Renae was launched just over a year ago. What began as an idle thought as I searched for ways to make my home based creative business more successful has evolved into the very company I had long fantasized about creating. I never thought it would really be possible, especially as a full time stay-at-home mom.  Of course these things never happen without the generous help of others. From the kind words of encouragement from family and friends, to the unexpected offer from a neighbor to host my very first trunk show, to the unsolicited sharing of trade secrets from a fellow designer...I have been privileged to have the assistance of those near and dear, and from those I have met along the way.

OOAK Vanilla Agate Geode Druzy Ring by Sandra Ducheneaux of Etsy Shop FriedaSophie  Today, I have the pleasure of introducing one of the very individuals who assisted me on my path. Meet our Featured Designer Sandra Ducheneaux, of Etsy Shop FriedaSophie. Not only is Sandra a talented jewelry designer and crafter, she is an incredible person and a dear friend. We met during a gem show where I had the privilege of watching Sandra work, diligently and systematically shifting through a mountain of gem trays in search of that perfect stone for her next One-Of-A-Kind creation. It was clear from a mere glance at our individual gem trays that I was a complete newbie, and she was a seasoned vet. She invited me to tea, took me under her wing, and without hesitation divulged every single one of her trade secrets.  Unique Peach Aragonite Mineral Gemstone Necklace by Sandra Ducheneaux of FriedaSophie There are encounters that can significantly shape the outcome of our lives, often in ways we don't expect. It's no exaggeration to say that my chance meeting with Sandra helped shape the very foundation of Jay + Renae and gave me the extra incentive to make my dream a reality. So meet Sandra, and discover her shop FriedaSophie, a perennial Etsy favorite since she opened it's virtual doors in 2009.  How did you get into jewelry designing? I was days away from completing my training as an acupuncturist when I fell severely ill with a heart condition. I was bedridden and physically unable to continue with my training. To entertain myself while I was on bed rest, I made myself a pair of earrings. Then while out for some fresh air, a store owner noticed them and asked me if I could make a dozen of them. They sold out within 1 month and a friend mentioned that I should open an Etsy store. The following week I signed up and named my shop FriedaSophie after my late grandmother. After just 3 months my shop became my full time business. Looking back, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found jewelry crafting when I did. I have always done artwork since I was a child but never thought that I could support myself as an artist. It has been a joyful time since I opened FriedaSophie in 2009. FriedaSophie is a true Etsy success story and your work has been highlighted by Etsy many time. What do you think distinguishes your work from your peers?  My focus has always been on quality and uniqueness. I'm very detail oriented and I'm constantly creating new pieces so that I can offer new designs all year round. So I think my One-Of-A-Kind and Limited Edition collections are what really distinguishes my work from others. I also believe in offering my best work at reasonable prices...I set my pieces at a price that I would want to pay for them.   Your Collection has a wonderful raw beauty to it. How do you find your stones?  I make a trip to the desert for the yearly gem show to meet miners from all over the world. It can be an overwhelming experience but I like being there to discover new treasures and to handpick each of my stones...it's the best way to ensure quality and uniqueness. But I also like meeting the people who mine the stones and get to know their stories. Knowing that I'm helping to support their family businesses and ensuring eco friendly practices adds a deeper level of meaning to the stones I carry back home with me. I hope that comes through in each of the pieces I create.                                                                                Sanda Ducheneaux Moroccan Blue Turquoise Earrings Hand forged by Sandra Ducheneaux of FriedaSophie I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such incredible and talented women like Sandra. The open sharing and trust within our community has helped make Jay + Renae possible and gives special meaning to these collaborations. On a more personal level, being in such great company has helped me flourish as a jewelry designer and inspires me to do better and be more to ensure Jay + Renae's success. Thanks for taking this journey with me.                                                                                                               Rebecca

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It's true that nothing great is ever accomplished alone. I met Rebecca at her very first trunk show. It was hosted by a personal friend of mine who also happended to be Rebecca's neighbor. It's incredible how a series of small events and the desire to lend a helping hand can be so powerful. I joined Jay + Renae because there is something fantastic about being part of something that truly gets better and better as more women get involved.

We're really looking forward to receiving Sandra's collection in the next few days! The pieces are stunning in pictures which means that they will be even more beautiful in person. I personally love learning a bit about Sandra's history because it adds a whole new dimension to her work. They're not just rings or necklaces, but a beautiful token of a much larger story...now to be cherished as part of your own personal story! Let's view Sandra's collection together. Email us and book your own private party! Remember that you get up to 40% off all the collections at your private trunk show.  And as a reminder, we are extending Alana Little's feature into the month of April. So if you love her collection but haven't booked your trunk show yet, here's your chance! I will have her collection along with Sandra's until the end of April. So contact us today at info at JayAndRenae dot com. We're looking forward to sharing the latest from all the collections with you!

The "Why" Question

When starting a business, there is so much to learn. Sometimes it feels like just one giant uphill battle. But one thing that I did learn at the very beginning of this journey was to pinpoint the "why." Why do I up get up (early) everyday and suit up to trek up this giant hill? Why do I stay up late to write another proposal or research a better customer relations tool when any sane person would be sleeping? Especially after chasing after a preschooler and waking up to nurse a baby in the wee hours of the night. And I'm so glad I did. Because knowing why has forced me to keep moving when really, it would be so much easier to stop. For me, it's simple: I do it because I believe in what I'm doing. I believe the small measures one person takes to help another can make a big difference in people's lives. So whether you're starting out on a business venture or right in the midst of one, if you find yourself wondering how you're going to make it up the next big hill (or giant mountain as it may be), ask yourself "why." Why bother? If you can answer that, then it lends purpose to every step. Knowing why doesn't make it easier. But it does get me up in the morning when I'd rather sleep. (For another century please!) So here is a little newsletter on one of our Collective members I did up on Mail Chimp, a wonderful emailing and customer tracking system that is totally free for smaller businesses. It's just another one of those technology tools that I had to learn in this process. A bit of a hurdle for a self-defined computer illiterate like myself! But onto Laurel's story. She's a founding member of the Jay + Renae Collective and she is really incredible.

LARUEL GUNNARSON WORKING WITH THE LADIES OF  The Didi Jewelry Project Laurel Gunnarson of The Didi Jewelry Project has just returned from a month long trip to India! Every year, Laurel plans and saves for this yearly trip, sometimes working several jobs to fund her work with the ladies of The Didi Jewelry Project. This marks the 4th year since the start of The Didi Jewelry Project.  We asked Laurel a couple of questions to get insight into what this experience really means. WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE THE NEW DIDI DESIGNS. What is your favorite part about going to India and working with the women of The Didi Jewelry Project?  I love going to India and being able to share something I love with the ladies of The Didi Jewelry Project. They are all so eager to learn and grateful for the work.  The idea that jewelry making can help better the lives of these ladies and their families is very exciting to me. And it’s always a reality check to go back to India… I realize how amazing, beautiful and kind people can be despite such harsh realities!  It truly inspires me. Also there is something very amazing about communicating when there is a language barrier that always leaves me in awe about humanity.  I know very little Hindi and they know little to no English, but somehow we communicate.  It is not just that they are able to learn to make the jewelry, but that we are able to read and understand each other on a deeper level.  We understand and can read each other's emotions, sometimes even better than you can with someone who speaks the same language.  Being able to connect with the ladies in this way is really very special.  Was there anything that made this trip particularly memorable/significant? This trip was really significant to me because I feel like I am beginning to see how the Project is slowly helping these ladies. They are more confident and happy, and tell me that it is because of this work! This is very encouraging and motivating. The ladies whom I have worked with before were excited to learn new designs and caught on very quickly. I was also very impressed with some of their designs!   It was a great productive trip. It was a joy spending my days teaching and designing jewelry, sipping chai and singing silly songs. FINDING JOY IN CREATING. Laurel started The Didi Jewelry Project because she wanted to make a lasting impact on these women's lives. As she describes it, Laurel fell in love with India during her first trip there as a teenager. She was mesmerized by the sights, sounds, smells and beauty around her. But she was equally struck by the poverty and inequality that she witnessed. Over the course of several years, Laurel traveled to India to volunteer at a number of NGO's working closely with women and children. Through this work, she learned of the hardships these women and children faced.   Young girls who are victims of sex trafficking Children who are forced into child labor Women who are HIV positive and left to die on the streets Widows who are stigmatized and thought should never experience joy again The Didi Jewelry Project ... Jewelry For Change MACRAME COLLECTION The core goal of The Didi Jewelry Project is to give these women the means to help create the life they deserve.  “Our mission is to provide Indian women engulfed in hardship with an opportunity for change. By teaching them jewelry making and selling their products, we empower women financially and personally.”                                                                                                                          Laurel Gunnarson A few of the new bracelet designs from the  MACRAME COLLECTION We are incredibly honored to have Laurel and The Didi Jewelry Project as part of the Jay + Renae Collective Like Us! JayAndRenae.com Contact Us Pinterest Personally, I'm totally amazed at what Laurel has managed to achieve. Whenever we get together to chat, I'm inspired by how genuinely devoted she is to this Project. When I describe her work and The Didi Jewelry Project to others, everyone assumes that it's funded by a grant. Easy to do - I did the same. It's tough to imagine that someone would actually work multiple jobs to help strangers in another country! But she does. Clearly, she has answered her why question. If you want to support Laurel in her work, you can do it by hosting a Jay + Renae trunk show. We like to make it fun and easy to support women run businesses and projects like The Didi Jewelry Project. Hope to see you at our next trunk show! (You can sign up here to get more info on how to host your own Jay + Renae trunk show).