Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Kelley-Troutt.
Hi Gina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Art has always been a central part of my life. When I was little, I was always doing something with my hands: drawing, sewing, baking. If it had anything to do with the Arts, I was all about it. I was involved in Band, Drama Club, and the Art Club. In high school, I really started falling in love with portrait drawing and abstract watercolor painting. I went on to study Fine Art Education at Cumberland University and teach Middle & High School Art here in Middle Tennessee.
In 2020, I started experimenting with making jewelry, which lit a new fire of creativity in me. I opened my online shop Jewel Hippie to sell what I made at the time: wire-wrapped crystal necklaces and a few simple hammered earrings. I really never thought it would be anything more than a hobby, maybe a few little sales here and there.
In the Spring of 2023, I realized I needed a career change. Teaching left me completely burnt out and feeling like I was out of options. I had one of those crazy moments where it feels like the universe is speaking straight to you, and I decided then and there that I would go all in with my jewelry shop and see where it took me. It’s been two and a half years now of being a full-time jewelry-maker and entrepreneur, and the transformation I’ve seen in myself and my business is absolutely crazy to me.
At the beginning of 2024, I started incorporating recycled metal from vintage cookie and tea tins into my designs, and that’s been the craziest development of my art. I just absolutely love the antique patterns and designs in these old tin boxes, and they make the most beautiful pieces of jewelry. I wanted to honor the life these artifacts had in the past while still transforming them into something new. I took that idea and ran with it, and now people know me as the “Tin Girl,” which in a weird way, I’m kinda proud of. I’ve never felt more aligned with where I’m supposed to be at this point in my life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wish I could say that it’s been a smooth journey to get to this point, but like most artists and small businesses, I’ve had my fair share of challenges. Some of them are pretty obvious: learning how to run a business, navigating creative blocks, dealing with the financial strain of being a full-time handmade business, trying (and mostly failing) to find a good work/life balance.
For me, though, the biggest obstacle was overcoming my own self-limiting beliefs. In the beginning, I think I had so much to learn about being a full-time artist and business owner that it felt overwhelming. I would notice things like my product photos didn’t look as good as someone else’s, or my craft fair booth not feeling as put together as another artist’s. At first I took all of these things as proof that I wasn’t doing a good job with my business.
But over time, I realized those things weren’t failures. They were opportunities for me to grow. Instead of spiraling into comparison, I started asking myself: How can I make my photos better? How can I make my display more inviting? How can I create jewelry and designs that are even more unique?
Once I stopped letting those insecurities and comparisons weigh me down and started treating them like challenges for me to solve, everything changed. Changing my mindset allowed me to see the potential in my shop and in myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the heart of it all, my work is rooted in handcrafted jewelry, especially pieces made from upcycled vintage tins, which is what I’ve become best known for. I also work with beautiful gemstones and hammered metal like copper, sterling silver, and 12K yellow gold-fill. I have a few featured collections in my shop: the Upcycled Vintage Tin Collection with earrings, necklaces, and fishing lures; our Hammered Wrap Ring Collection; and the Beaded Gemstone Collection with bracelets, chokers, and rings.
What I think makes my work different is how every piece of repurposed tin is drawn, cut, sanded, and finished entirely by hand. People ask me pretty often if I use presses or big machinery, but honestly, it doesn’t inspire me. I really love working with my hands and connecting to each piece from start to finish, and there’s something really special and grounding about that process for me as an artist and maker. I love being a part of the process and am constantly experimenting to find new ways to create what I love.
My aesthetic is a vintage, whimsical, romantic, and bohemian vibe. I’m inspired by the beauty of the earth, the energy and warmth of the sun, and finding something special in the small, overlooked things. The tins I use range in style, but I have a soft spot for vintage English floral tins. I’ve always been a flower kind of girl, and something about those classic florals just brings so much joy for me. I try to choose tins that I can use fully, wasting as little as possible and honoring the life each artifact had before me. I think I’ve started to see the tins as tiny paintings I get to reimagine through jewelry, and I think that passion for design and genuine love for what I do comes through in every piece I make.
What I’m most proud of is how deeply my work has resonated with my customers and community. I love watching people’s reactions when they realize the patterns in my jewelry are recycled metal, which brings a spark of nostalgia and appreciation for the past that I don’t think we get too often. When someone wears my jewelry, I hope they feel a sense of connection: to themselves, to makers and artists, to history, and to the idea that past, present, and future are intertwined. Being part of the Nashville creative scene means I get to meet so many people face-to-face, and hearing their stories is my favorite part of what I do. I’m a talker and chronic oversharer, so when someone pauses at my table because something in my work speaks to them, it means the world to me. I’m so humbled and grateful for all the love people have given my little shop.
Any big plans?
As far as the future goes, I’m really optimistic! I’ll continue to explore new designs and find ways to combine repurposed tin with gemstones and hammered metal. I also would love to expand my collections to include things like Vintage Tin Bracelets and Rings, and maybe some smaller gift items like bookmarks. I’m also really excited to start looking into a few wholesale opportunities and connecting with new shops and communities in the near future.
The main thing I’m looking forward to is continuing to grow and create work that I’m passionate about while staying open to opportunities and growth that feel authentic and meant for me and my creative small business. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
Pricing:
- Vintage Tin Earrings: $22+
- Vintage Tin Necklaces: $48+
- Hammered Wrap Rings: $35+
- Beaded Gemstone Bracelets: $20+
- Beaded Gemstone Chokers: $38+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jewelhippie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewel.hippie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejewelhippie
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JewelHippie
