We had the good fortune of connecting with Gracie Aguirre and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Gracie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was that I wasn’t finding much jewelry in the style I was wanting that I actually liked. While scrolling through one of my social media apps one day, a video came up of someone making their own jewelry. I figured, since I have a bunch of crystals and stones I have been collecting since I was young, I should give it a try and make my own necklaces. I began wearing the pendants I was making to where I work and all the girls I work with, as well as customers, were asking me to buy them or if I had a website. It is because of their encouragement that Graceful Designs was born.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Outside of crystals, I am also passionate about coffee and have a career as a barista! I started in Fort Collins and Loveland at the locally owned DazBog coffee stores where I worked for 8 months before moving to Littleton. When I moved to Littleton I took up a job at one of the busiest Starbucks in the region. I worked there for two years before moving to Lone Tree where I now work at the Nordstrom Ebar inside of Park Meadows Mall. I became a barista four years ago because it seemed like an easy job to make good enough money while I got through college, but I stayed a barista because it fulfills some of my artistic drive through latte art and because of the connections I get to make everyday with the individuals that come through to see us. It is because of the passion and knowledge I have for the coffee industry that I recently accepted a position as Assistant Manager at the Ebar despite having only been with the company for 10 months. It is because of the lessons I have been learning this past year that I decided to take the leap into jewelry making because I know I can accomplish anything I set my heart and mind to.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For food I would absolutely recommend/take this person to Toast for breakfast out in Littleton, and for dinner I would recommend Edo Higan, John Holly’s,Taste of Vietnam or Ted’s Montana Grill! For coffee I would always reccomend the Ebar, but for tea I would recommend In-Tea which is in Littleton. As far as hangouts go, I would recommend Park Meadows Mall, the Denver Botanics Garden, the art museums in downtown, a walk through one of the beautiful parks nearby, or a bike ride down Willow Creek Trail. I am a big fan of all things spooky, so I would also reccomend Cheeseman Park, the haunted cemetery out in Cañon City, or one of the ghost tours through downtown!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my coworkers at the Park Meadows Ebar for their enthusiastic encouragement and excitement every time I bring in a new piece; to my partner for supporting my move away from traditional employment; to my mom for always encouraging my creative and artistic side; and to my dad for giving me my first crystal (which I still have) and creating within me a love for nature, beauty, energy, and the metaphysical world.
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/gracefuldesigns/home
Instagram: __graceful_designs__