Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Mcdermott.
Hi Brenda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like so many who have made major life changes, I spent the first part of my working life in the corporate world. Although I had an excellent job as a senior-level executive in finance, I began to feel as though I was shackled to my desk and drowning in an unfulfilling “job.” I knew I wanted something more. Eventually, that something more began to take shape when I realized my deepest passion was to help people live their lives to the fullest. I wanted to devote myself to health, wellness, and the healing arts.
My journey away from the regimented corporate world first took me to health and fitness, something I had been focused on for many years while working in the corporate world. I opened my first Pilates studio in Scottsdale, AZ. I told myself that the first jump from where I was and where I wanted to be was frightening but because of all I could see myself becoming, I chose to close my eyes and leap. I never looked back! It would be one of two leaps that would ultimately take me to jewelry designing, something I had loved from a very young age.
I was enthralled with the creativity of working with stones and designing brought that out in me. Although I am mostly self-taught, I took some art classes in my twenties and over the years, have taken some classes to learn new jewelry-making skills and techniques. When I studied the amazing properties of crystals and gemstones, I realized I had found my true passion, combining the creativity of jewelry design with the healing power of crystals. I loved everything about making jewelry – the process from inception to completion, the creative outlet that designing provides, learning new techniques, and experiencing satisfaction when a fabulous piece emerges. I knew it was time to truly step more fully into my gifts and talents as an artist.
And so, Rei of Light Jewelry, where I joyfully design beautiful intentional jewelry that speaks to your soul, was born. Here, I can devote myself to working as an artist and teaching people ways to elevate their spirit and reach their highest potential.
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?
Not exactly smooth, however even when the road got and still gets bumpy, I choose to embrace each challenge as an opportunity for learning, growth, and perseverance. Running a small business takes courage, commitment, and lots of hard work but it is also super rewarding.
I believe great service is a critical hallmark of any successful small business. Early on, I made the decision to offer unparalleled customer service, but after experiencing several challenges, I put policies in place to avoid leaving myself exposed or taken advantage of. To this day, I have customers amazed by how far I am willing to go to make sure every customer is satisfied with their new jewelry.
There are many aspects of running my business and the creative crafting facet is just one of them–my favorite part. I am a one-woman show: the designer, the fabricator of each piece, the social media manager, website manager, product description writer, buyer for all the materials I use, shipper, and the marketer for my designs. It can be challenging to find adequate time to do it all and maintain balance and boundaries in my life. Sometimes I can be in my art studio for an entire day intending to create new designs and eight hours later the only thing accomplished is putting potential designs together and then dismantling them. I may have hundreds of stones and metals on my design table, but at the end of the day, I produced nothing but lots of cleanup (let me say that cleanup can take a very long time). Days like that can be frustrating and you start to question if you lost your creative gifts and talent. The fact is, even when things may not be going great, you show up. And inevitably that next day or the one after that, everything falls into place and inspiration produces something marvelous.
Pricing my work is also a difficult task for me as I’m sure it is for many artists. When people buy from an artist/maker, they are buying more than just an object, piece of jewelry, or painting. They are buying hundreds of unseen hours of failures and experimentation. They are buying days, weeks, and months of artist expression that eventually become pure joy transformed into beautiful art. But they are buying more than just a piece of jewelry. Whether they know it or even care, they are buying an intimate connection to the artist.
Within the art/jewelry world, there are formulas an artist can use to price different mediums, but we don’t really get to add in the hours it took to get to that final piece of art. Those unpaid hours are the artist’s gift to each person who finds value in their creations.
My “bottom line” is that I love the entire process of creating and working with all the energy and beauty of the stones. It makes every moment well spent as it never fails to lift me up. I truly appreciate my customers and I LOVE my job!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Simply put, I design jewelry. From dainty to dramatic, my original designs offer a luxurious collection of beautiful crystal necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, fine jewelry (like wedding and engagement rings) unique bohemian designs, and cancer-healing jewelry for both men and women. These are pieces meant to be worn for any occasion from the fanciest dinner to simply running errands on an average day. Each piece is genuine artistry that appeals to anyone who loves beautiful jewelry.
But my designs go a step further. They are not simply pretty accessories. The stones used in my creations give meaning to every piece beyond its inherent beauty. Yes, they are unique and beautiful wearable art, but more than that, each piece has its own spiritual energy that draws on the powers of natural stones and crystals. This is jewelry that emanates from a perfect blend of my desire to positively impact the lives of others with a passion for unique and beautiful healing jewelry.
When I design, I carefully select combinations of crystals and stones to speak to individual needs, to enhance self-expression and to empower their owner. To me, that intensely personal process is somewhat like a meditation. It draws on my own spirit and connects me with my customers on a deeper level. And, hopefully, my jewelry will connect them to the healing properties of the natural world and awaken a sense of their own inner strength and beauty.
While the stones I use can offer healing for many different conditions, helping those dealing with cancer holds a special place in my heart. Using specific crystals and gemstones for support in healing cancer, many of my Rei of Light pieces are custom designed for those who are searching for ways to ease their journey from a cancer diagnosis back to health. I take those orders very seriously. I never really imagined that my designs would travel the world, it amazes me daily that I’m shipping orders all over the world and connecting with such amazing people everywhere.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Many people who know my work might be interested to know that in addition to designing spiritual jewelry, I had my own Pilates studio for years and am also an experienced intuitive energy healer and Level II Reiki practitioner with the ability to listen and tap into the guidance and healing messages I receive from Spirit, guides and angels during intuitive readings and energy healing sessions. Thanks to an extensive understanding of crystals, essential oils, numerology, oracle and tarot cards, I guide others into a path of self-realization and clarity to make positive steps forward into their truest self.
I conduct healing energy sessions with intuitive guidance to give nonjudgmental and empathic support and love as my clients travel on an in-depth and sacred journey. Each client is unique therefore each session/service I offer is unique and incorporates such powerful modalities as Reiki energy healing, crystals, essential oils, angel cards, tarot, numerology, chakra balancing, and intuitive guidance.
My jewelry designs are a natural complement to the energy work I do. Both draw on the natural energy that surrounds us all. And both are such powerful ways to support self-realization and inner strength.
You can learn more about Rei of Light Energy Healing @ https://reioflightenergyhealing.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reioflightjewelry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reioflightjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reioflightjewelry
Image Credits
Jen Brown
Earth Alexandra Mason
