Meet Erin Trumble: Jewelry Designer & Lapidary Artist

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

Hi Erin, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Oh man! This question feels so relevant at this very moment in time as I’ve just finished wrapping up the end of my holiday rush orders. So here’s the dirty truth about being a jewelry designer. It’s dirty work. It’s really hard work. My hands are cracked, bleeding, cut, burned, and almost always dirty (even when they are clean). Keeping a pretty manicure, nope, not this girl. So even though the end result is always some beautiful piece of jewelry or a polished up knife, the process to get there is gritty and messy. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being a jewelry designer and lapidary artist is like a dream come true. I live for creating things with my hands and this method of building things from metal and stone has really lit my heart on fire. A bulk of my business this year has been creating custom made pocket knives, chef knives and belt buckles. I’m really loving working on these designs directly with my customers. The process starts with choosing and cutting the perfect stones. Then working through the design process with each client to ensure that they are getting something truly unique and special to them. I love seeing the reactions as they receive photos of the progress, watching it go from a pile of metal and rough rocks into a beautifully polished piece of functional art. Spending this time connecting to people is really what my success is all about. One thing I’ve really learned this year though is that I have to set boundaries when it comes to exactly how much I can take on. I have a deep rooted history of being a people pleaser and I’ve come to the realization that I can’t carry that into my business. This has translated into only taking on a limited number of custom orders this holiday season, and knowing that it’s ok for me to tell people “I’d love to create that amazing thing for you, but I can’t right this very second!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, what I would actually give for my best friend to be here for a week! SO here’s the plan… we’d have to spend the first morning snuggled up in our sweat pants, catching up in front of a fire, with a cup full of coffee from Ampersand Coffee Roasters, right here in my little cabin. We’d spend the majority of the day with a breath taking hike somewhere up here in the Indian Peaks wilderness, followed up with pizza’s from Crosscut in Nederland. The next day we’d spend some time down in the city. I’d take her to all my favorite spots in the RINO arts district. Breakfast and coffee at Crema Coffee House, because I can’t pass up those sweet potato waffles. Shopping at all my favorite shops like The Conifer Shop, Judith & Joe, and Meraki Moon Boutique. Then lunch at the Preservery and ice cream from The Denver Central Market. While she was in town we would also have to visit the Denver Museum of Modern Art, grab some delicious vegan faire from City O’City, and some thrifting and shopping along South Broadway. Before she left we would have to spend another morning hiking one of the many stunning trails in Golden Gate State Park and then we’d spend the rest of the day wandering around Golden, grabbing a bite at Tributary Food Hall, and hanging out by the creek. This sounds like the best week ever! Can someone please make this happen. Haha

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel like I could write and entire article on the people who have supported me, raised me up, mentored me, paved the way, shared my posts, liked, commented, purchased pieces, ect. But I’ll narrow it down. First and foremost, my husband, who has always supported my growth into this amazing business and has been my #1 cheerleader. My mentor, Kim Henkel, who has always seen the potential for more inside of me and constantly encourages me to push the boundaries. And finally all the women who have taken the time to teach me their craft so that I could further develop mine.

Website: www.independentmountainjewelryco.com
Instagram: @independentmountainjewelryco

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Ashley Tiedgen Photography