Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Bergen.
Hi Christina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I had always been an artistic, crafty child who loved DYI projects. I enjoyed using my mom’s sewing machine and making jewelry from items I found at the local craft store. As life went on and I got older, my spare time-shifted and DYI projects were fewer and far between. Things shifted again in 2017 when I inherited my grandmother’s solid gold chain necklace. I loved it so much; I wore it every day, and after a few weeks, I wanted to add to my neckline. I tried to stack it with other necklaces I owned, but nothing was an adequate match. I didn’t want to pair this beautiful solid gold heirloom with costume or gold-plated jewelry and needed an economical remedy.
This was how my hobby of making handmade jewelry resurfaced. I needed to ensure that I used high quality materials and natural gemstones to pair equally with my solid gold chain and other luxury jewelry brands. I found a jewelry supply shop in Huntington Beach and was blown away by the selection and possibilities! I purchased the materials needed and started the journey of teaching myself how to make handmade jewelry.
I was delighted when friends, family, and strangers would complement my jewelry designs. I began making jewelry to give as gifts, and soon I had friends asking for custom orders. What a thrill it was to have my hobby turn into something I can share with others.
My life’s mission is to be generous, and I want the gift of jewelry to reflect this ideal. For this reason, Generous Jewelry donates a portion of the proceeds from each item to a children’s charity. Previous donations have been given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and I am excited to expand our donation recipients.
My goal with Generous Jewelry is to make luxury, handmade jewelry accessible to everyone. I’m committed to using sustainably sourced, 100% natural gemstones. My chains are made of Italian 14k Gold-filled and Italian .925 Sterling Silver.
I use Italian 14k Gold-filled and not solid gold for a few different reasons; the number one reason is price. Gold-filled materials are certified as a precious metal and are one-third the cost of solid gold. With my desire to make luxury handmade jewelry accessible to all, gold-filled is the perfect economical, high-quality choice.
My love for nature adds to my wonder of how the Earth creates these beautiful stones. This is why I only use natural, sustainably sources gemstones. I want to respect and share the gifts God has given us by highlight the beauty of the stone and letting Earth’s creation shine!
This makes each piece of Generous Jewelry a one-of-a-kind and allows for a personal connection with its recipient.
I hand-make each piece of jewelry with love and intention, and I want the owner of every item to wear them confidently, knowing they are meant to last a lifetime!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Most of the struggles I have come from being self-taught. There were and continue to be silly mistakes made that come from a lack of experience. This results in a lot of wasted time and materials, which can become expensive. But nothing is lost or wasted, many materials can be repurposed and I add it to my list of what not to do again.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I get joy from working with natural materials and letting nature shine. A privilege I have is sharing a piece of the earth to the surface for all to see and admire! I have a genuine respect and pure love for nature and our Earth. I am in awe of the wonders of God’s gifts to us and the abundance we get to experience in nature.
My ability to find pure joy in the little things, just as much as the big things sets me apart from others. I receive extreme joy from meeting new people and from life experiences. I love making genuine connections with people within different communities and the ability to enrich their life for a moment through jewelry!
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
Biggest risk I’ve taken was turning my hobby into a small business. The startup costs to any business can be daunting, and that is a major part of the risk. I was unsure of the public reaction to my designs. Where would I sell? How would I sell? Would I have success? All the standard questions a new business owner faces. Now was a time to start answering my own questions. I made the calls and booked the shows, I met the public, and handed out hundreds of business cards. The road to success can be a long one, but now is the time when the risk can be rewarded. Staying in the comfortable place doesn’t allow for much growth. I think taking risks is essential to personal development and I’m here for the ride.
Pricing:
- .925 Sterling Silver Earrings starting at $25.00
- 14k Gold filled necklaces starting at $60.00
- Permanent chain bracelet with gemstone starting at $35.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GenJewelryDesign.Etsy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/generousjewelry?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenerousJewelry?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Julia Markiewicz
