Please start by telling us a little about yourself and your studio.

My name is Jennifer Jernigan, I am from Mooresville North Carolina and I specialize in making one of a kind charm bracelets. I also create other jewelry such as single strand bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

What role does your family play in your art?

They play a huge part in making my jewelry by giving me ideas or just by giving me their objective opinion about my creations. Their willingness to give me criticism really makes it a lot easier for me to make sure what I create comes out just right!

Where do you live and what is it like?

I live in Mooresville, NC, where I have lived all of my life. I love it here, it is big enough that you can get whatever you want or need and small enough that you still run into people you know everywhere you go. We are about 30 minutes away from Charlotte so everything is within reach whenever you need it.

Where did you learn your medium?

I was working in retail and I was having a hard time dealing with constant irate customers so I was looking for an artistic way to relax at the end of the day. I researched a lot of different creative things I could do with my hands and found jewelry to be an excellent way to do it. I taught myself the basics and ended up with a lot of jewelry that I wore myself. I got so many compliments on the pieces I created that I decided to take it to the next level.

What are your goals with your ArtFire studio?

I hope to one day be selling at least 4 items a day and growing a customer base that keeps returning for more items due to the well crafted items and wonderful service.

How did you come to selling online?

I started with craft shows and it just seemed that online was the next logical step to reach many more potential friends, customers and critics.

How did you come to find a home on ArtFire?

My husband and I have a home-based tree care business and one of our customers mentioned that she only buys handmade and I asked her where she shopped and she stated “Art Fire is the only one I trust for handmade items” and so here I am!

What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?

Don’t give up! It takes awhile to build trust, friends and inventory. You will see your profits grow over time.

Why do you think that buying and selling handmade products benefits society?

I believe that handmade items are more carefully made than things that are massed produced. Mass produced items will more than likely have to be replaced more often than those items which have been handmade slowly and carefully which in turn saves the consumer money.

Also, buying handmade is simply supporting the “little guy” in his/her pursuit of owning their own little piece of the American Dream! The more we support small business, the more small businesses will be able to sustain themselves.

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