Today we’d like to introduce you to Leann Burns.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Leann. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was a self taught silversmith until about 3 years ago when I ended up taking a class at the Dallas Craft Guild to fill in some of the gaps of my knowledge. It was here that, I learned how to add gold details to my designs which is what I love to do most. Just a touch of gold brings a unique and multi layered design element to my work. Sterling silver is also a magical metal that can be shaped and formed into anything. I am always amazed by the materials I work with.
I hope that my designs reflect my love of the natural world and also show a high level of craftsmanship. I work diligently to add new skills to my repertoire and to continue to perfect the skills I already have. You can expect to wear my jewelry for a lifetime if taken care of properly.
I am dedicated to sharing my appreciation of the world’s natural beauty. I select stones and design jewelry to inspire, amaze and invigorate others in their artistic endeavors and everyday lives. I hope that you can find a piece of jewelry to love.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Something, I have come to understand is that life is not linear. It is full of curves and setbacks but, you just have to enjoy the process.
I have a full time job that I keep because making it full time in the jewelry trade or in any of the arts is incredibly difficult. I would suggest to young people never to give up on your dreams, but always have a plan B that you enjoy. If your plan B is just about paying bills and you can’t find any satisfaction in it you will probably be miserable. If you can have a plan B that brings you joy and also work hard and hustle to get that A dream going, then you will live a very fulfilling life.
In addition to my full time job and my jewelry design, I also have an online Etsy shop that sells beads and components for crafty people that want to design their own beaded jewelry. All this together, allows me to live a good life and do the things I love.
We’d love to hear more about Love Actually Jewelry.
All of my jewelry starts with a natural gemstone that Mother Nature has provided. I never get tired of the endless colors and patterns in gemstones. I hand pick all of my stones and each piece is custom designed and made with the gemstone as the center point. I often use flowers and nature motifs in my designs because I find myself inspired with these endless motifs. My jewelry is an expression of my love and passion for the natural world. I love to mix metals and I rarely make things small and dainty. If you come to LAJ it’s for the bold stones, the bold patterns and the love of the natural world.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
The most important piece of advice I can give to a young woman just starting her career is, not to ignore the business side of the business. Keeping track of the spending and the profit is boring, not creative and often disheartening. It is the most vital part of your business. If you aren’t making any money and it’s just all creativity all the time, it won’t be sustainable. You have to eat and you have to pay bills. This is so hard for me still to this day. I love to create, draw, brainstorm and make. I hate to look at profit margins and think about pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loveactuallyjewelry.com
- Phone: 469-878-6695
- Email: leannjburns@gmail.com
- Instagram: @loveactuallyjewelry
- Facebook: Love Actually Jewelry
Image Credit:
Shawn Burns of Fish and Lion Photography
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