Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Fessenden.
Deborah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my local business, Apples & Oranges Jewelry and Apothecary, on April 27th, 2024 after vending at my first farmer’s market in Pilot Point. Before becoming an official business owner, I foraged and pressed my own flowers for years, creating an array of artwork and later jewelry, with organic materials found on walks with my sweet dog, Dutch. In the very beginning, I created pressed flower wall art, framing each detailed piece on a colorful background. I became curious about using my pressed flowers for jewelry making since I love botanical art! I slowly taught myself how to make jewelry – from developing my own resin technique to learning how to wire wrap pieces for extra durability. I am in love with each necklace, bracelet, and pair of pressed flower earrings that I create – they are truly one-of-a-kind and represent the beauty of diversity all around us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
With profound growth comes growing pains. Each journey teaches us new lessons and presents challenges as well. At the very beginning, I had little knowledge of managing a business, including how to build a website, finding the best local markets to attract my niche audience, and how to price my handmade jewelry. Over time, I have learned to embrace change and go with the flow; expanding into the unknown has been daunting yet so rewarding to learn the ins and outs of managing a business and more. I have enjoyed learning new things, and I am looking forward to expand my business in the future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a foraged flower artist, I create one-of-a-kind pressed flower jewelry made with sustainable materials and foraged flowers I collect and press by hand. Each piece is uniquely crafted with flowers and fauna and preserved with UV resin for long-lasting beauty. I do not use any artificial dyes or mica powder to make the colors pop, all the color you see in my pressed flower earrings and necklace charms comes from the flowers themselves. I am incredibly grateful for the evolution of my art and my audacity to share my creations with the world. I have been an artist all my life, the younger version of myself would be so proud of how far I’ve come!
How do you think about luck?
Good luck plays a huge role in my life and business. I believe in divine alignment, redirection, and motivation that assists us in accomplishing our goals. When one door closes, three doors open; we must allow ourselves to go with the flow and live authentically even when it’s uncomfortable. I feel guided in my mission to spread awareness and speak truth about marginalized groups by emphasizing the beauty of diversity, equity, and inclusion through my art. I earned my Ph.D. in sociology and this is by far my favorite method of teaching. Acknowledging the lived realities of Black and Brown people is necessary to deconstruct the immense harm caused (and harm that is still perpetuated) by white supremacy. I will continue to advocate for equitable change in the U.S. and abroad.
Pricing:
- Earrings: $39-89
- Bracelets: $35-39
- Necklaces: $45-55
- Real Mushroom Keychains: $49-59
Contact Info:
- Website: https://applesandorangesflowerjewelry.com/
- Instagram: @apples777oranges
- Facebook: @apples777oranges
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-fessenden-ph-d-217b329a/
- Youtube: @DeborahSaysWhatever
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/apples-and-oranges-jewelry-and-apothecary-denton
