Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Fessenden.
Hi Deborah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my local business, Apples & Oranges Jewelry and Apothecary, in April 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. I create each piece with reclaimed beads found at thrift stores instead of buying new materials to practice sustainable art, reduce waste, and care for our Earth, adding to the intrigue and complexity of each item. Over the years, I have mastered the art of creating quality, one-of-a-kind pressed flower jewelry to inspire self-love, care for others, and respect for the planet. My mission is to help others feel beautiful and appreciative of their own unique qualities. Like flowers, no two petals are the same – we must celebrate the diversity of life and who we truly are inside, no matter what’s trending! Alongside my unique flower jewelry, I create plant-based beauty care products in my apothecary which include soap, body butter, lip balm, body spray, and natural makeup remover! I use minimal, quality ingredients to make nourishing products for all skin types, especially sensitive skin!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve made steady progress since the beginning, although the business owning journey does require persistence, patience, and continuous strategizing to see long-term results. I’ve made amazing friends along the way who have helped guide me in finding market venues, business supplies, and helpful resources. This year, I attended a small business workshop at Texas Wesleyan University which was very educational. Since then, I’ve felt encouraged to continue learning the ins and outs of business ownership. I strive to be 1% better each day. As long as you’re learning and making educated moves with a business strategy in place, you cannot fail! Stay positive and believe in yourself and your abilities.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In addition to jewelry making, I am a scholar of refugee studies and immigration. I earned my Ph.D. in sociology in July 2023. I am incredibly vocal about all issues that impact marginalized groups in the U.S. and abroad. Whenever possible, I incorporate aspects of my research into artwork. For example, I have a “Jewelry For a Cause” section on my website in which each item upon purchase will be sent to the customer, and all funds will be donated to help with a variety of social causes. My intention is to decolonize artwork by speaking truth to power, with the goal of spreading awareness of marginalized populations who are impacted by genocide, discrimination, and systemic racism. As a sociologist who chose not to bow to the academic institution’s decision to dismantle DEI initiatives across the nation, I continue to educate others about our shared humanity and encourage empathy, understanding, and curiosity for learning uncomfortable facts.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Calling all refugees, immigrants, activists, scholars, and the like – if you would like to be interviewed for a podcast I’m thinking of forming about immigrant lives and experiences in the U.S., please email me or contact me on IG. My intention is to create a space for others to share their personal experiences with immigration and the system at large, especially during this trying time. Let’s form a community and get to know each other!
Pricing:
- Earrings: $40-$80
- Bracelets: $40-$55
- Necklaces: $50-60
- Apothecary: $5-25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://applesandorangesflowerjewelry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apples777oranges/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Apples777Oranges/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-fessenden-ph-d-217b329a
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/apples-and-oranges-jewelry-and-apothecary-denton
