Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda King.
Melinda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had an interest in all mediums of art from a young age. As a Visual Arts Major at UNT I continued to try all the different courses and did well but never excelled at one in particular.
I actually found my way to jewelry making after graduation. I would see beaded jewelry pieces that I liked but didn’t love so I began deconstructing pieces to remake them and purchasing different beads and tools.
This was a fantastic outlet for me because I could explore different facets within jewelry making to satisfy my ever-present desire to learn something new.
I have found that I love wire wrapping gemstones. This enables me to create every piece as a unique, one of a kind item which I have become known for. I also create every piece with the ability to diffuse essential oils. I love this because it is not obvious and it is a fantastic piece of jewelry whether or not you decide to use it as a diffuser or not.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In no way was the road always smooth.
I struggled with self-doubt and having confidence in my abilities.
If I went to a show or set up and didn’t sell a good amount of pieces, the self-doubt would creep in and I would question myself and if my pieces were good enough to display.
I also experienced others who “borrowed” my ideas and designs, sometimes subtly and other times blatantly. I wrestled on how to deal with these situations since it is in my nature to be non-confrontational.
I think the advice I can give someone else is to have faith. Faith in yourself and your ability. Your self worth is not directly linked to the number of items you sell or how many new pieces you have in your line. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and your talents.
Please tell us about Texas Girl Treasures.
About six years ago, one of my customers mentioned to me that it would be nice to have a piece of jewelry that she could use her essential oils on. There were pieces out there that were made by big businesses but she wanted something handmade and unique. This sparked an interest in me because I as well used essential oils so I took the idea and got to work. After much research and experimentation, I started out by making a few pieces and adding them to my display. The interest was so great that I started making diffuser jewelry exclusively. Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that could diffuse essential oils for 8-10 hours at a time. I also work solely with gemstones so my pieces can be appreciated by everyone whether or not they use essential oils on their jewelry.
The one of a kind nature of my work coupled with the diffusing aspect has been very beneficial to set me apart from the rest.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Being able to run my own business without being told what to do or how to do it is a dream come true for me. I see so many women starting their own companies for this reason or because of an idea they had went overlooked in Corporate America. I meet so many people that love the fact that I am a wife/mom/business owner. When I tell my customers that I create every piece by myself they are usually amazed asking me, “How do you find the time?”. My answer to the question now is, “Because I am a woman.” As a woman, I think it is normal for us to wear many different hats and tackle everything as it comes along.
My belief is that everyone should follow their dreams and their heart to do what they love. Appreciate talent and ditch the labels.
Pricing:
- 18” gemstone diffuser necklace – $30-$55
- 36” diffuser necklace – $32-$60
- Diffuser bracelet – $18-$45
- Diffuser Earrings – $15-$30
Contact Info:
- Address: Aubrey, TX 76227
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/texasgirltreasures
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/texasgirltreasures
Image Credit:
Melinda King
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
