Check out the full shop at: urbanaviary.bigcartel.com
*Hey, pssst! Urban Aviary is offering a generous 30% discount to BC blog readers with the code BIGCARTEL1*
BC: Can you tell us about Urban Aviary and where the name came from?
UA: My last name is Bird, and we live right next to all the big bank buildings and awesome restaurants in Wilmington, Delaware. Our home is an Urban Aviary! It’s where my jewelry is hand made.
BC: How did you come to design, create, and sell jewelry online?
UA: I started out making and selling scarves on Etsy and was featured in Delaware Today magazine. From there I grew my business and focused on hand engraved sterling jewelry for a while, I was featured in a few more magazines and some in other countries. After my daughter was born, I shut down the whole thing thinking I was done. I wasn’t away for long and ended up coming back full force away from Etsy with a new business name and focused solely on nature inspired jewelry.
BC: Can you walk us through your creation process from inspiration to final product?
UA: First step is to search the internet and bead shows for the perfectly imperfect stones. I make sure to purchase at low cost so that I can pass a deal onto my customers. You’ll find me drawing things out on paper, designing some things in photoshop, and a studio with chain laying next to stones. Putting the actual piece together is about 5% of the actual process, to be perfectly honest. I have to be extremely business minded and customer service oriented in order to even be a successful jewelry designer in this economy and digital age.
BC: What inspires your designs?
UA: Inspiration comes from the colors that the earth creates in the form of gemstones. I am on the computer drooling over gems and diamonds all day long. Minimalism is my jewelry language. I am also inspired by my customers, the ones who e-mail me after they receive it just doting over how much they love it. Serving people is rewarding, and I like to serve in this creative way. I also choose to make jewelry you aren’t going to find in your big box stores…. yet. *wink*
BC: How does Big Cartel help you build and grow your business?
UA: Big Cartel was my first jump away from Etsy. I am actually a web and graphic designer, and I chose to not make my own online store because I loved how simple Big Cartel was for me to use. Instead of spending over a week on building it myself, coding, and dealing with apps and widgets and similar frustrating things, I had more time to focus on business and making beautiful and interesting jewelry.
