Conversations with Hannah Glover

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Glover.

Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2005, I graduated college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I focused on sculpture, ceramics, and watercolor painting. My intention for college was to love every minute of obtaining a degree, which is why I chose to major in fine arts. However, I was aware that most people with a BFA don’t end up working a full-time job in that field, because let’s face it – it’s very hard to “make it” as a professional artist.

As expected, after college, I wound up in a job that was not artistic. In fact, it was the opposite of artistic. I worked in contractor military education for 12 years, which always makes me laugh because that field was so opposite of how my brain naturally works. The job paid the bills and taught me valuable lessons along the way, but I was very unfulfilled with the work. I always had side projects going to fulfill creative needs – flea market booths, wedding coordinating and floral design, flipping houses, etc.

Then in 2011, I discovered jewelry making. I lived in North Little Rock, Arkansas at the time. There was a wonderful bead store right down the street from me. I began to visit and learn jewelry basics, and right away, I started selling earrings at local craft shows. I met another lady doing the same thing. We quickly became friends and paired up our jewelry efforts.

Along the way, my focus began to shift from finished jewelry to jewelry components as I fell in love with unique jewelry findings – the charms, pendants, parts and pieces used to make jewelry. I had somewhat of a hard time finding quality components at prices that would still allow me to sell my finished jewelry. So I switched my focus to jewelry supplies, and that’s how Carson’s Cove was born.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Along the way, many of my efforts to start an artistic business were certainly not financially successful. Particularly in the field of jewelry-making, my first partnership did not work out. We sank a lot of money into the inventory, as well as tools and marketing. In the end, the jewelry didn’t gain traction with enough retail venues to sustain the business.

So I found myself in a place where I needed to recover a lot of the investments I had made. I was still working for a military contracting company full-time, but I was determined to continue forging a path that would lead me to one day earn a living working for myself. I started Carson’s Cove with a $400 investment into customized jewelry supplies. I opened an Etsy store, and I began listing the pieces. Over the first few weeks, I began seeing my first sales!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I design and manufacture artisan jewelry components for jewelry designers. Jewelry components, or “jewelry findings,” consist of everything from charms, pendants, hoops, wire, jump rings, hoops, clasps, beads, chain, etc. My customers range from those who are just learning to attach a charm to a necklace to those who have been beading, weaving, soldering, and creating complex pieces of jewelry for years. I’m thankful for everyone. I believe everyone has the ability to be creative.

I began Carson’s Cove by purchasing raw pewter and brass pieces from a supplier. I would then have those pieces plated in various colors and offer them to my customers. However, now I personally design most of the pieces I offer. I use a combination of metal carving, metalsmithing, and metal clay to create original models. When I’m satisfied with the model, I hand it off to mold-makers who make a mold and then cast it in multiples. Afterwards, I plate my pieces in different finishes: antique gold, antique silver, and rustic brown.

The companies I work with to manufacture my products are American, family-owned companies that have been working their craft for decades. I have visited them many times, and I have great relationships with them. It’s one of the magical aspects that makes Carson’s Cove so successful. I love that I’m able to offer high-quality, American-made jewelry findings.

My absolute favorite aspect of running this business is making the original models. I can spend hours and hours carving and creating one piece. There’s so much love and creative focus that goes into designing one component. My benchwork is my happy place.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Passion! My passion for creative success keeps me going. Running a growing business is not for those who don’t absolutely love it. In fact, Carson’s Cove has grown much bigger than I ever anticipated or even wanted. I originally planned a small store that would allow me to quit my day job. However, I have now had an employee for a year, and I’m continuing to grow. I’m moving out of my home studio into a rented office for package fulfillment. I run Carson’s Cove because I LOVE to create. The more I sell, the more pieces I can create and offer.

Pricing:

• Most of my components range from $3 – $6.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/carsonscove
• Instagram: @carsonscove
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carsonscove/