Meet Carolyn Huresky | Jewelry and Shadow Box Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolyn Huresky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolyn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The desire to start my own business really began after having my first child over fourteen years ago. I realized I wanted to have a flexible schedule, so I could see the important milestones and be able to spend more time with my children. The thought of asking “permission” to leave work for a school function made me cringe. That’s what kicked off the years-long brainstorming session of what I could do. I became somewhat of a serial entrepreneur with lots of failed attempts. I came up with an athletic bag line, created a dog leash and collar-in-one, and made various crafts. All of these items sold here and there, but nothing really caught on. Meanwhile, I held a few different jobs throughout the years. One of the offices I worked in turned out to have a pretty toxic environment. That fueled my wish of being my own boss even more.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have two main areas of art I focus on. The first is my jewelry. I recall seeing a Pinterest pin on how to make simple polymer clay earrings, and I loved the aesthetic of the jewelry pictured – modern, clean, and simple. I created a few earrings from that post, then created more, and then more. YouTube is an amazing free resource, and I found a few teachers there that had some great tips. I realized I was using the wrong kind of clay, baking it too long, using the wrong glue, etc. I regret not watching more tutorials before I got started, but I’m grateful I have learned these things along the way.

My other focus is on shadow boxes. My daughter asked to purchase a Cricut craft machine one summer to make stickers. I decided to go for it as we live in a place with cold, long winters and figured it would help keep us busy and entertained. Well, she made a few stickers, got bored, and I took it over. I joined a few Facebook groups for Cricut owners and someone in one of the groups posted a picture of their illuminated shadow box. I was quickly intrigued and watched a few videos on how to make these. While the shadow boxes people were posting online were beautiful, my thoughts were they looked a little cheesy. I decided to combine my love of outdoor sports and the mountains with my newfound craft. I began creating shadow boxes with scenes around Crested Butte, CO featuring local mountains and landmarks. I also began making colored shadow boxes. I feel the level of detail surpasses a lot of the designs you see online. Because of that, I do have to charge for the extensive amount of time it takes to make each box. In order to get my art to people at a lower price point, I’ve also created prints and greeting cards from my boxes. I’m realizing it’s important to have a range of price points to attract more customers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is so much to do in Crested Butte, CO for being such a tiny town! However, I guess it’s what’s outside of town that is the main draw for visitors. Crested Butte is surrounded by hundreds of miles of public lands. Depending on the season, there is always something adventurous to do.

If someone was to visit during the summer, I would tell them to first go for a hike anywhere in the area. You’ll most likely see hoards of wildflowers with majestic mountains in the background. It’s really quite special. If you are into mountain biking, there are miles and miles of singletrack to explore. I would suggest going to The Secret Stash for a cool vibe and great pizza or visiting The Last Steep for a casual American meal. You can usually catch a free, outdoor concert Mondays in town and Wednesdays at the ski resort base area. Check the local schedule for an indoor concert at our new Center for the Arts, the Public House, or the Eldo. Make sure to catch a morning sunrise or evening sunset for some beautiful colors.

The main attraction in the winter is, of course, skiing! Take some laps at Crested Butte Ski Resort or head to the amazing backcountry if that’s your thing. We have wonderful nordic ski trails, and you can rent skis and get a pass for the groomed trails at the Crested Butte Nordic Center. Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are other options. Bundle up and head out for a night on the town in this winter wonderland.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think I get my crafty creativity from my mother. Unfortunately, she passed away from breast cancer when I was eleven years old, so while I did get to spend some formative years with her, I missed out on what she could have taught me throughout the rest of my life. I always remember her doing some sort of crafty house decor whether it was embroidering pillows and Christmas stockings or designing a gigantic canopy over her bed.

I’m also very fortunate in that the past couple of years my husband’s real estate career has been solid and able to provide for our family. I was able to quit the job I didn’t enjoy and spent time helping out with his marketing. This allowed time for me to pursue other interests which eventually led me to design jewelry and shadow boxes.

Website: daydreamsandjoy.com

Instagram: @daydreamsandjoy

Facebook: @DaydreamsAndJoy