Guest Artist | Kelly Geer
/Please join me as we welcome Kelly Geer to my Guest Artist Series. Kelly is a kind, beautiful, and creative soul. Deeply inspired by nature, Kelly masterfully combines precious metals, natural stones, ceramic pieces, and leather to create a unique style of jewelry, pieces that can be layered or worn alone. Her creative point of view is clear in every handmade piece.
Please tell us about the inspiration behind Blue Sky Creative and your jewelry line.
For several years, I lived out West, where the horizons are vast and can make a person feel small. The skies are often a deep brilliant blue abutting the far-reaching prairies and the immense Rocky Mountains. I find peace in nature, the rhythm of the sun rising and setting, the ebb and flow of the tides, and the sun following the rain.
There is something about being outside in nature that calms my spirit and brings respite to my soul. Blue Sky Creative was born from an innate desire to create and a love for the natural beauty of Creation.
Do you have a designated studio or workspace in your home?
My kitchen table has become my studio and shipping station. It is large enough to host ten friends for dinner, but most days, it is covered in my jewelry projects.
Natural light floods the space, and the view of the marsh from my teeny tiny waterside cottage makes for an ample workspace. I enjoy working outside when the Florida humidity and bug population allow. My work consists of one of a kind pieces and small-batch collections. There is always something new.
If someone wanted to learn about designing and selling their jewelry, can you offer advice on how to begin?
It is a lovely way to craft a livelihood! Keep in mind that there is so much more to it than merely creating jewelry. The business and administrative part of the business includes paperwork, social media, pop-up shows, managing my online shop, marketing, and an array of details involved in running a small business. The time I spend creating makes all the hard work completely worthwhile.
Finances can be tremendous stress, especially if your small business is your livelihood. It takes a great deal of pressure off if you can swing an emergency fund of three or more months of living and operating expenses.
You will have months where sales are below your projections and having a financial safety net will keep those months from feeling too difficult. Always keep that safety net in place, be sure to keep a close eye on your monthly expenses! It is easy to slip into hoarder mode when it comes to ordering creative supplies
In the past, you have traveled to art shows around the country; how are you currently selling your jewelry?
Technology is not my favorite thing. This year has been a tremendous struggle to shift from travel pop up shows to online sales. I miss the people and the energy of shows. I have wanderlust, and I miss the feeling of freedom that a road trip brings.
My optimism made me a slow adapter to the shift. I continued to believe that shows would start back soon and that there was no urgent need for me to find a way to make online sales a priority. Well, I have finally seen the light! My online shop www.shopkellygeer.com will be up and running Thanksgiving week! Wahooo!
What are your favorite materials?
Every Fall as a child, we would spend a week in the Smokey Mountains. Each year I would come home with a new sterling and turquoise ring and a pair of fringed suede Indian moccasins.
My love for sterling and turquoise has only grown. This year I began playing around with metalsmithing and silversmithing, and I’m doing a happy dance just thinking about offering a collection of sterling silver and natural stones early in 2021.
As a creative, I am always trying new things while continuing to create old favorites.
If people want to purchase your jewelry for the holidays, where can they find you?
The holiday season will look different this year. Smaller shows close to home and a new online shop www.shopkellygeer.com. It will be a less hectic season for me, and I plan to enjoy every second of it!
I wish you a Holiday filled with joy and peace!
You can find more of Kelly’s beautiful jewelry below: