Life & Work with Jennifer Newton of Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Newton.

Hi Jennifer , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was kind of at a crossroad in life-hating the work I was doing and it was taking me away from my kids (or I was shlepping them all over Los Angeles-we used to live there-which was exhausting and not fun for any of us). I randomly went into a bead store with my daughter and it was instant joy overload. I loved making jewelry as a kid (my great grandfather was a jeweler lol so maybe it is in my blood) being in there absolutely tapped me into pure joy. The owner happened to be there and suggested I do a “moms night out”-I brought the moms, wine and dinner-we picked out stones we wanted to use and they taught us how to make it. I could not have been more excited. I planned it right away. I was totally focused all night-not eating, drinking or socializing-I’m sure I was great company;/! But at the end of the night, I had completed 2 projects and helped my friends complete theirs. All my friends were like- oh this looks like something you would buy at Fred Segal ( I mean what a compliment). My son was in elementary school and my daughter had just begun pre-school. So everyday that I could- I went back to that store-taking every class they had, learning all that I could. I made a pair of earrings for a friend as a “push gift”- she wore them out to a party we were both at and a woman commented on them-my friend said…well this is the artist-the woman owned a store and wanted to carry them. I had NO idea what I was doing-or really how to do it- but I knew it felt right- I could be home with the kids-work when they were in school or after bed-be there for drop off and pick up and be the room mom. One store lead to 14 rather quickly in LA. It honestly took off much faster than I imagined. I still feel like I am constantly learning and growing with it-that is the beauty of create things-they are ever evolving. But those early days, I was soaking everything in-learning all that I could-taking as many classes as possible while growing and starting my business. I am a firm believer in that-when you are meant to be doing something-the Universe conspires to help you. That was over 16 years ago. Lol-sometimes I do still feel like I am fumbling my way through-especially with gold and silver (specifically gold) soaring to wild prices and tariffs-but I still love doing it-I love creating-going on treasure hunts for gems (I go to the Tucson gem show and Denver gem show every year) and making them into something wearable-every single piece makes me excited and I love meeting the people who buy them.

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?
I mean would I even be a small business owner if it was all smooth sailing?! Some of my stores that I sell to buy outright-some are on consignment. I had a store that I did consignment with shut down (with no warning) and she had sold lots of my jewelry (it was right after the Holidays) and she never paid me-things like that luckily are rare but man do they hurt!
Gold prices are wild-I have decided on pieces that I made when gold was lower-not to raise those prices-some designers are (and I get that) but new pieces I make the price is way different than a piece that was made years ago (right now even six months ago makes a difference).
It has been hard recently-gemstone dealers that I have worked with for a decade or more as really hurting-they keep texting and emailing about buying stones-but right now I am not buying tons of stones (years ago- I would buy if I loved the stone-even if I didnt make something out of it for years-now I am going through what I have already bought to use that first-the price of gold being what it is has absolutely made me be more selective about how much I make and work on right now-which is tough with the Holidays being around the corner. So the trickle down is hard-I want to support these other vendors-to buy their stones-but need people to buy the jewelry so I can create more. So that has been tricky.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love the creation process-which starts when I find the stone-sometimes I know right away what it will be-others I have to sit with it (sometimes for years)-thinking of designs keeps me up at night lol-but like in a good excited way. Depending on what it is-it could be drawn out and or put into CAD or sometimes I just start and see what happens (no plan except what is living in my mind)- I love all the processes.
But from the moment I am choosing stones-to the moment it leaves me-I put love into each step-and I do believe it can be felt in the jewelry. I mean metals are conduits of energy-so it makes sense that if love was put into them-they retain it.
I also do custom pieces-whether it is recreating a piece you already have to something you would wear everyday (like an heirloom piece that might otherwise stay in a jewelry box unworn) or creating an engagement ring- I really have fun with co-creating with you and seeing the customers face when we nail it and make their vision come to life-this is so so so fun.
I also believe in the properties of gemstones. I always say-they will not change your life-because only you have the power to do that-but gemstones can help us anchor in what we are working on. For example-you want more abundance in your life-so you might want to wear citrine or black garnet-now wearing those will not all of a sudden make you abundant-but wearing them can get you in the flow of abundance-remind you to stay in that frequency-focusing on abundance vs focusing on the lack of it (which would create more lack of it)-so every time you look in the mirror and see that stone, or touch it or feel it on you-it anchors in abundance and keeps your thoughts and feelings on that which you want to draw in. I love that about gemstones! They are there to help us create what we want in life.
I love seeing my pieces “out in the wild” I like to say-meaning out and about and seeing someone wearing something I made (thats not a friend or family member-dont get me wrong, love that also-but hits differently when you see a stranger wearing your pieces)-fills me with so much joy.
For every piece that I sell-I donate a piece of jewelry to Chrysalis (in Los Angeles)-they help women get back into the job market-I have a permanent display set up in their “store” with jewelry so that before they have a job interview-they get to go into the store-find a suit and jewelry (and shoes and purses-they are amazing for so many reasons at Chrysalis) so that they feel empowered and ready by picking out what makes them feel beautiful.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I do my best to live by Yhprum’s Law- “Everything That Can Work, Will Work” (the opposite of Murphys law) . Of course-there are days that I am like a Salmon going against the stream and in those days-what shows up matches my energy and focus. I also do believe in what Seneca said “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”- so luck to me is this plus your focused energy. But it might show up as “luck” or being in the right place/right time- like the very first store I got into-a woman who owned a store just happened to be at that party-with me standing right there. I feel very lucky-I have had a business for over 16 years-doing something that I love.

Pricing:

• *I have not raised prices on website on pieces I made before gold prices went through roof-what I paid at the time is what you pay:)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leelagracejewelry.com/
• Instagram: @leelagracejewelry
• Facebook: Leela Grace Jewelry