Today we’d like to introduce you to Serenity Bolton.
Hi Serenity, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Silverware Soul really started with two things: a desire to finish something I had started much later in life, and a need to find a creative way to help make it happen.
I didn’t even start my college education until I was in my mid-40s, and earning my Master’s degree was incredibly important to me. I wanted to find a way to help pay for it, but I didn’t want to have just another side hustle. I wanted to build something that allowed me to be creative and, in some small way, bring beautiful things into the world that people could enjoy.
That’s where Silverware Soul came from!
I discovered that vintage and repurposed silverware could be transformed into jewelry, art, and little pieces of functional whimsy. I fell in love with the idea that something that had been forgotten in the back of a drawer or tucked away in a closet, or something that had been an heirloom sitting unused could be given a completely new life.
There’s something really meaningful about that to me, because in a lot of ways, I was doing the same thing with myself. I was taking a part of my life that I had put on hold, picking it back up, and giving myself a chance to become something new.
I don’t think Silverware Soul would be where it is today without a little luck and a whole lot of heart. But I also think sometimes you just have to be willing to give yourself permission to start something new…even if you’re starting later than you thought you would.
Silverware Soul is proof that things don’t have to be new to have value, and it’s never too late to give something (or yourself) a shiny, new life that looks different than it used to.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? No! But honestly, it hasn’t been terrible either. I’ve learned to look at the struggles as learning opportunities, and there have definitely been plenty of those.
I was never a “work with your hands” kind of gal. Give me a spa day over a shop day any time! So starting Silverware Soul meant learning an entirely new set of skills. I’ve had a lot of learning curves along the way – from figuring out how to work with metal and use tools I had never touched before to learning how to actually make the things I imagined in my head. I’ve picked up some new skills, learned from plenty of mistakes, and even collected a few injuries along the way.
Thankfully, I’ve had two incredible teachers and cheerleaders in my corner: my husband, Greg, and my Dad. They have encouraged me, helped me troubleshoot, and patiently tried to teach me how to use all kinds of tools. Bless them both for trying to teach me how to solder!
Another challenge, and one of the most exciting parts, has been finding my way into the local vendor community here in Middle Tennessee. Putting myself out there, meeting people, asking questions, and trying to get my foot in the door was honestly a little terrifying at first. But it’s also been so much fun. I’ve met some incredibly talented, generous, and creative people along the way, and I’ve learned so much from being around them.
So no, it hasn’t been perfectly smooth, but I wouldn’t want it to be. Every mistake, new skill, awkward introduction, and
even the occasional injury, has helped me grow.
I will always be grateful for the people who believed in me…sometimes before I even fully believed in myself. They encouraged me, supported me, shared my work, bought my creations, and cheered me on, and are a huge part of the reason I get to be here, doing what I love today. They aren’t just part of the journey. They’re part of my story.
Overall, this experience has been such a blessing! I’ve learned that I’m capable of things I never would have imagined a few years ago, and I’m genuinely excited to see where Silverware Soul goes next.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
By day, I work in Training and Development for a Nashville-based healthcare company, and I absolutely love what I do! I love teaching, helping people learn, and finding creative ways to make information make sense. Creativity has always been a big part of who I am; Silverware Soul has just given me the opportunity to expand that part of myself in a whole new way.
Then, after the corporate gig clocks out (or sometimes in the wee hours of the morning when I can’t sleep) I put on my Silverware Soul hat and work a little different kind of magic.
I take vintage, antique, and repurposed silverware and turn it into something completely new and unexpected. Spoons or forks become rings, necklaces, ornaments, wind chimes, garden art, and all kinds of quirky little creatures and creations. I love looking at an old piece of silverware and seeing what it could become rather than what it was originally intended to be.
I’m also really proud of the fact that every piece has a story. Sometimes it’s the story of the silverware itself: a vintage pattern, an old heirloom, or something that had been forgotten in a drawer for years. Sometimes it’s the story of the person who buys it and the reason that particular piece spoke to them.
But more than anything, I’m proud that I actually did this. I had an idea, I gave myself permission to try something completely outside my comfort zone, and I turned it into something real. Silverware Soul is a creative outlet, a business, and a little reminder that there is almost always a second life waiting for something if you’re willing to look at it differently.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are lots of ways to support Silverware Soul, and honestly, I’m grateful for all of them.
Of course, people can find me at local vendor markets and events around Middle Tennessee. I love meeting people in person because there’s nothing better than watching someone discover a piece that makes them smile.
I’m also always open to collaborations! I’d love to work with other small businesses, artists, makers, boutiques, event organizers, and organizations to create something unique. I’m especially interested in projects where we can combine our talents and come up with something neither of us would have created on our own.
And if you have a drawer full of old silverware that you don’t know what to do with -please don’t throw it away! I love giving forgotten silverware a second life. Vintage pieces, mismatched pieces, family heirlooms, pieces from Grandma’s kitchen…sometimes the most interesting things start with something that someone else no longer wants.
Even if you don’t buy anything, following Silverware Soul, sharing my work, telling a friend about me, or inviting me to participate in a local event is an incredible way to support a small business.
At the end of the day, Silverware Soul is still a one-woman creative adventure, and every sale, collaboration, referral, and piece of encouragement helps me keep creating. I’m always excited to meet people who want to be part of the next chapter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverwaresoul/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572629500865
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@silverware.soul?_r=1&_t=ZP-99cVgvo1AGV
