Today we’d like to introduce you to Frances Webb.
Hi Frances, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up in Seattle, Washington I discovered a city of crystals underneath the stairs to my parents corner lot home. To the left of the stairs there was access to white crystal underneath the stairs, I would say this is where my love for crystals began. It was as if the crystals were calling me they were sparkling, I would go into my make believe world playing around those crystals. Over the years time spent in my imaginary world diminished until 2016.
In 2016 I invited Dr. Alim El-Bey and his wife to lecture on the devine feminine. At the lecture Khadijah El-Bey sold some her handmade copper jewelry she created. Later on Khadijah asked me if I ever through about creating copper jewelry. Although I worked in the copper mines in Tucson, Arizona I never thought about creating jewelry with copper. Khadijah said I should consider she then showed me how to create some basic pieces of course I was hooked to where I have created my business Purplelis Jewelry. Here I am 10 years later still creating copper jewelry.
There has been time where I would be creating jewelry during the Charlie hour; wee hours in the morning. As I exhibited my pieces more opportunities propelled me to learn more about crystals eventually I started incorporating crystals in my creations. I would describe my pieces as wearable healing art emphasizing opposing myths against women’s images especially black woman and their images of beauty.
Some of her signature collection include: I Luv My Hair 9 Ether; emphasizing the value of kinky hair textures. Pretty & Pink emphasizing the power in femininity and HerStory emphasizing the gifts from Mother Earth and Mother Earth’s connection to women. I relish moments when a customer share sees the beauty within inspired by my jewelry art..
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I’ve enjoyed my journey. I applied to exhibit for a Christian market last year I was denied because I sold nipple jewelry on my website. The woman over exhibitor selection saw my nipple jewelry from a sexual point of views whereas, I see nipple jewelry as beautifying. I was reminded when I first started selling nipple jewelry more women have shown joy over a Christian low vibrational mindset which is more important.
When I first started out, I wanted everybody to like my jewelry, I wanted everybody to buy my pieces. I had to learn that everybody isn’t going to buy my art nor will everybody like my art once I set a price on a the price is the price. This concept was challenging for me overtime, I learned pricing equates to time, material and value by lowering price I devalued my time spent on the art in question.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My career before Purplelis Jewelry, I was a design engineer I designed interior completions for business and commercial planes. It was a very regimented-regulated environment. I am so happy and free to be a creative in my own space. When I think of my career before Purplelis Jewelry it was very square now I’m very round I can be creative. I’m sure when you say Purplelis Jewelry people think of copper, she’s the copper jewelry lady. Some of my signature pieces are
I Luv My Hair 9 Ether; emphasizing beauty of wearing our naturally kinky textured hair. Our hair is 9 ether naturally wants to stand up. Another signature line is Pretty & Pink; there is something special about femininity when you are standing on your square and pretty simultaneously. Often then not black women aren’t considered soft and feminine but we are like every other woman we too are soft and feminine.
I am most proud of making women feel beautiful by adding a piece of jewelry art to compliment a moment, just to see a women smile is awesome. Women are usually ask to give so much of their selfs we are often overlooked so to witness a women smile is priceless.
What set me apart from others creatives is my creativity, my life experience I see my art as sharing my life story thur far. I’m sharing my upbringing from southern ADOS; American Descendants of Slavery parents, the way society receives and the myths placed against FBA; Foundational Black American women, the beauty of being a single mother all culminates my life story. I have chosen to share through my art jewelry.
What makes you happy?
My children and my grandchildren make me smile since we have been through some lows in life to so to see them smile makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purplelisjewelry.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/purplelisjewelry
