Meet Selena Castro | Jeweler & Resin Artist

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

Hi Selena, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At Palettes and Petals, $1 from every pair sold is donated to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. If a business can give back, then it should. That is how I’ve felt from the moment I decided I wanted to start my own. I make earrings, and it’s fun, but at the end of the day I want the work I do to make an impact, I want to use my art for the greater good. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, or Lou Gehrigs Disease, is not incurable, it is under funded. I know first hand what an ugly and unforgiving disease it is as I lost my dad to it in 2019. I wish for no one to ever have to understand the pain that comes with witnessing a loved one suffer from ALS, and it is why I donate to research for a cure.

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.
Starting your own business is hard, and I have had to wear multiple hats, well actually ALL the hats, to get to where I am now. I am the designer, the maker, the photographer, the website manager, the packing and shipping person, and the social media content creator! Eventually I would love a partner in crime, but for now I’m happy learning everything I can doing this on my own. More than anything, I’m proud of myself for what I’ve been able to do in less than a year, and how much I’ve been able to give back. Unlike mass produced jewelry, each piece of mine is made with intention.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Here’s the thing, I’m a major homebody! My full time job has me interacting with hundreds of people daily, so I don’t get out as much as I’d like (of course the pandemic doesn’t help). Favorite place to get takeout hands down throughout the pandemic has been Miyako Ra-men on S. Broadway. The food is amazing every single time, and their sushi is some of the best I’ve had here in Denver. Other than that, I’d probably take visitors outside to the trails and the mountains, because we all know Colorado has some of the best views!

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 feel fortunate that I can not answer this question with one specific person. Encouragement and support have come from many. Looking back at my first earring launch, and I am still blown away by all the orders and support I got from friends, family, and acquaintances. I also sometimes cringe at the thought because the quality of my work back then was subpar to what I make now. At the time, I was just excited about what I was doing and was stoked to have people share in my excitement. My mom and boyfriend deserve a little extra credit. My mom is my biggest fan, and always has been. No matter what I’ve gotten my hands dirty with, she is the first to like and share a post about it. My boyfriend could easily laugh or not care about what I do outside of my full time job, but he doesn’t. He supports my hustle and occasionally is able to provide business insight that I don’t have. The biggest recognition of course goes to my dad. He is my inspiration. I miss him every single day. Taking care of him I discovered a strength and depth of love I didn’t know I had in me. After you’ve cared for a loved one with a terminal illness, and lose them, you become fearless. Things that mattered before don’t anymore, and when you realize you have one precious life, you go for what makes you happy. Chasing my creative dreams and pouring my heart into doing something bigger than myself is all thanks to my dad.

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