Daily Inspiration: Meet Madeleine Greeson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeleine Greeson.  

Hi Madeleine, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Let’s be honest here–I have always been a bit of a weirdo. I was the kid who scoured libraries and book shops for historical Viking text and got my hands on as many ‘Olde World Magic’ books as humanly possible. 

I used to research Egyptology, the Renaissance, and colonial America to try and absorb as much of our {human} history as possible. I’ve had an addiction to the past and how it is preserved since a very young age. I guess you could say I thought I belonged with the artists, philosophers, and makers of centuries past and not with current society and their obsession with the internet, screens, and scrolling. 

In addition to my craving for knowledge, I was equally obsessed with fossils and gemstones. Growing up in Oklahoma and Texas I was surrounded by huge, forested areas and sprawling nature preserves full of interesting specimens waiting to be unearthed. I was fascinated by the ancient shapes and natural beauty of each piece, and would more often than not bring back my bounty to showcase around my family home (Sorry, mom). 

From there, I began utilizing my found objects in my art. Wire wrapping rocks and gemstones, beading, and jewelry design quickly became a favorite hobby and throughout my teen and young adult years, remained just that. I used my creation time as a way to unwind from a busy day and to help cope with my stress and anxiety from work, school, relationships, etc. It wasn’t until my mid-20’s that I really started honing in on my craft, and spent more time in my home studio than focusing on my full-time job. A few months later I was asked to be a part of a shop in Steamboat Springs, CO that emphasized local, handmade art. To my surprise, almost all of my pieces sold out! It was in that moment that I realized I didn’t just have a hobby on my hands, but a full-time, creative career. Thus, Paragon & Bone was born. 

By incorporating my love of the old and ancient into my art, I am able to share more than just a piece of jewelry with my customers–I am able to give them a story, a meaning, and a connection to something otherworldly. I utilize the metaphysical properties of stones and different metals to create something unique, handmade, and one-of-a-kind. I take what I have learned from my research in history and lore and in turn, am able to create pieces that are reminiscent of a more ancient and prolific time. Through my process, I hope to instill an intrigue and passion in those that wish to gain a deeper knowledge of metalwork, jewelry design, and the ancient techniques that allowed them to be. 

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?
If I were to say that I even remotely knew what I was doing in the beginning (and even sometimes still!), I would be flat-out lying to the readers. Like so many other full-time artists and makers, I never thought this type of work could be a true profession, and I didn’t treat it as such for many years. It was always ‘just a hobby for me, even when I would sell out at farmer’s markets or get a new wholesale order. Looking back, some of my biggest struggles were dealing with trusting my own intuition and knowing when to stop, how to layout a proper business strategy, and evading the ever-prevalent Imposter Syndrome. 

When I first started making, I was overflowing with creativity. I was finally able to put my artistic brain to good use while creating something functional AND sellable. But while the thrill of having a viable outlet for creativity remained, the stress and weight of maintaining an exciting company with handmade products felt almost unbearable. The constant need to churn out new pieces while also engaging in social media posts, videos, and website updates made me feel utterly exhausted. I was consumed every day, week, and month to push myself harder than ever, to get new designs out faster, and to do it all with a strong and positive online presence. And guess what! I failed. Time and time again. I never told myself, ‘Woah, there. Slow down, you’re new! Everything comes with patience and time.’ I had a ‘rush’ mentality and watched myself crash and burn countless times. After many months of this routine, I started to realize it was not my creativity that was failing, but my lack of trust in myself, my mismanagement of time, and lack proper planning. 

The hardest part about running a handmade business isn’t the creation of products; it’s allowing yourself the grace to rest, reset, and have a schedule that fits your needs as a person, not just a business owner. One of my biggest regrets as a full-time maker was not having proper time management and allowing myself to stop when I was tired. It’s okay to take a break! It’s okay to eat lunch! It’s okay to take naps! The beauty of being a small business owner is that you get to decide your day’s schedule (and not some executive in a high-rise who doesn’t care about the little guy). Allow yourself to plan your ideal day, including when to rest, when to eat, and when to play. 

My next big hurdle was getting over Imposture Syndrome. When I first started, I spent hours, I spent days, browsing, following, and obsessing over other artists, makers, and small business owners’ online content. HOW did they get their Instagram following so big? WHY didn’t my website look as good as theirs? WHERE did they get all of this information to build such an amazing community and business? I was filled to the brim with envy. These makers were the real deal, and I was just some low-level wannabe. It took me a long time (and it’s still something I struggle with today) to realize that what makes the maker-community so amazing are our differences–our creative process, our products, our followings, and our brand is what makes us unique! Each person or company starts out on a different level. Some pay the money upfront for an amazing website, perfectly designed to their every whim. Some have help along the way, immediately know how to create a perfect business plan, and some are just naturally gifted at social media, design, etc. For the record, I was none of these people. I had to take my time, plan slowly, and fail a few times to realize what worked and didn’t work for my business. Did I have the money for a business coach? Nope. Did I understand how to use SEO and analytics to help my customers find me? Absolutely not! I did however have a strong sense of who I was as a business owner, who I wanted my audience to be, and what kind of products I wanted to sell. It’s okay if you have more or if you have less in the beginning. We all start out differently! What’s important is that you remind yourself of that and allow room for mistakes and growth. You’ll get there–just give it time. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a small, creative business owner and maker who specializes in handmade bone & gemstone jewelry and home goods. I am best known for my unique designs created with different types of gemstones and animal bones such as rattlesnake vertebrae, coyote teeth, and more. I combine ancient mythology with a twist of magic into every piece I create, and I believe this is what draws people to my work. I think what sets Paragon & Bone apart from others is the emphasis I put on the creation of a piece. Designing is not only about drawing out an idea, cutting and shaping the wire, and picking out the best-looking stones to pair with it. Each collection I create is connected to a feeling, a time of the season/year, or a meaningful, old-world celebration. As I stated earlier, my love for design came from both a mix of history and nature, and this connection is felt throughout all of my pieces. 

Pricing:

• Earrings: $50-$100
• Necklaces: $45-$100
• Home Goods: $15-$100
• Custom Pieces: $300-$600

Contact Info:

• Email: madeleine@paragonandbone.com
• Website: www.paragonandbone.com
• Instagram: @paragonandbone
• Facebook: Paragon & Bone

Image Credits
Adrift Adream Photography