Today, we’d like to introduce you to Eva Luz Carrillo.
Hi Eva, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started creating jewelry back in 2000 while I was living in San Francisco.
I would create pieces made with new and recycled beads primarily strung on fishing lines. I gradually taught myself to do beadwork with chains. This is where “Edgy Chola Designs” began. I participated in many art and fashion vendor events in the city and became quite successful in my business.
After leaving San Francisco in 2005, I continued to participate in events in Tujuana and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I moved to my hometown of San Diego in 2014 and decided to expand my jewelry-making skills. I signed up for a metalsmith class and fell in love with the craft. I have been working with metals ever since.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely was not a smooth road. When I was first starting out, I had very limited funds.
I would post on Craigslist and ask for jewelry donations. I would take apart old jewelry and incorporate the beads with the newer pieces I was able to afford. Juggling motherhood and then ultimately becoming a single parent was challenging. With the support of friends and family, I somehow managed to make it work.
Covid had a huge impact on my business. I wasn’t participating in events and when they started up again, it seemed people weren’t spending money like they used to. This ultimately affected me emotionally. I started to second guess my talent and questioned whether Edgy Chola Designs should continue. I took some time off from jewelry making and did a lot of soul-searching.
I had to shift my mindset and put my focus on creating jewelry to make me happy and feel creative and less focused on the hustle of running a business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
I specialize in creating one-of-a-kind jewelry for the fearless individual. I work with copper, brass, and sterling silver. I am known for my vast collection of handcrafted copper cuffs. They’re my best sellers. I’m also known for my “Cosmic Rings,” made from sterling silver and semi-precious stones.
They all seem to have this space-age/spaceship vibe to them. These pieces take quite a bit of time to create. They’re kind of like my “babies.” I also really love making big earrings. They’re mixed metals and, at times, large feathers. I love creating dramatic and conversational pieces.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
When I was younger, I originally wanted to be a clothing designer. I went to Fashion school in San Diego and Los Angeles for about a year and a half.
I dropped out, moved to New Orleans, and took a painting class. I focused on painting for many years before circling back to the fashion world. I knew apparel was not my medium of choice for designing, so I slowly began tinkering with beadwork and jewelry making.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edgycholadesigns.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/edgycholadesigns
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/edgycholadesigns
- Other: https://tiktok.com/edgycholadesigns
