We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Graham and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mary, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“Life Is The Sum Of Your Choices” – Albert Camus
I think that this quote is one that has resinated with me for a really long time. It often can be applied in many aspects of my daily life without even realizing it. I oddly even find myself saying things like
“Make Good Choices” to my teenage children. I think this quote says a lot without saying a lot.
I was raised in a hardworking, lower middle class family. I was taught from a really young age that anything worth having in life, isn’t just handed to you- you have to work for it. With that being said, I was also taught that many of the choices that we make, really and truly define who we are in life and guide you in a certain direction. I know that sounds very profound. But, in a way I think the choices that we make in life, can determine- within reason- our own destiny.
Often times those who make poor/bad choices often end up living a hard life, and on the other hand if someone makes good/right choices will end up living a good life.
This doesn’t go without saying that all things in life are within our control, and there are things that we cannot change nor control regardless of perspective or fortitude.
I have a huge appreciation for this particular quote, and try really hard to live in a way that holds true to it’s meaning in a positive way. I also think that it can be applied to so many things in my life, including my small jewelry business.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always had a love and appreciation for different art mediums, but found jewelry to be something that I could create on my own time and at my own pace.
I have always felt like a bit of a free spirit when it came to my creativity and desire to create new and interesting jewelry designs. I often went to estate sales and thrift shops to find unique and vintage pieces to use in my one of a kind creations. My desire to create pieces that no one else had was often times at the root of my creativity. But, I also wanted to create fun and affordable jewelry that everyone could wear. That detail was always very important to me. What is the point of creating a beautiful piece of jewelry, if it’s too expensive for the normal person to purchase it? Making my jewelry affordable has always been really important to me.
I learned along the way to price my pieces so that they are affordable, yet I am also taking into account the incredible time and effort that it takes to create them. That has been one of my biggest challenges.
I want people to know that I put ‘Heart & Soul’ into creating my jewelry. Hence, the name SoulCreations. And, I love what I do and feel fortunate to be able to use my creativity in a way that is appreciated by many who purchase jewelry from me. I will continue to create unique jewelry pieces, as long as I am able to and enjoy doing it!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado is full of amazing and fun places to visit. It’s difficult to know where to begin. Depending on the time of year that someone is visiting, you could really spend time in a lot of different places in this area. My favorite places to take people are: Garden Of The Gods, Cog Railway on Pikes Peak, Denver Botanic Gardens, Red Rocks for a concert, or Coors Field for a baseball game. And, there are also so many fun restaurants and Comedy Works in the DTC area. As well as attending a concert at Fiddler’s Green.
If I really wanted to them to get a feel for a true Colorado experience, I would take them to Estes Park and through Rocky Mountain National Park. Breathtaking views of our beautiful state!
The possibilities are endless…
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 think it truly takes a village. And, when it comes to support and encouragement, I have been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends who are my biggest cheerleaders and supporters of my handmade jewelry and female owned small business.
I have been very inspired by many artisans in my area, especially Carrie Shaw, the owner of Original Hardware in Littleton. She is an incredibly smart female business owner, who has amazing commitment when it comes to running a successful business, as well as a desire to create beautiful jewelry pieces.
When it comes to the SoulCreations Jewelry website, I definitely could not have created the website without the brains and brilliance (and a lot of patience) of my good friend, Stacy. She saved my sanity! Truly.
At the onset of Covid, I was trying to figure out a way to present my jewelry in a way that was easy to access and safe for people to shop. Voila!…online shopping via the website.
I didn’t know the first thing about creating a website, and she was a web designer, at the time and was instrumental in giving me the confidence that it took to put it all together. Her knowledge and know-how of design formats and set up really made it much less scary for me to create and design the current website.
Website: https://soulcreationsjewelry.com/
Instagram: @soulcreations_jewelry
Facebook: @SoulCreationsJewelry1