Meet Diane Thornton

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Diane Thornton.

Hi Diane, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved jewelry. When I was a little girl, my favorite thing was rummaging through my mother’s or grandmother’s jewelry boxes and trying everything on – sometimes all at once!

In high school and college, I always had an armful of silver bracelets I had collected over the years in Santa Fe, NM. I would add some big 80s-style earrings and a vintage necklace. It was no wonder that my mom called me a Christmas Tree! I moved to Durango, CO, in the mid-90s to race mountain bikes – and, yes, I figured out how to wear jewelry doing that, too! After retiring from racing, we started our family, and I was looking for a creative outlet.

My friend Julia invited me to a beading class at our local shop, Beads and Beyond, and I was hooked! I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed making beautiful things that I could wear every day. I started to sell to family and friends, and with their encouragement, I decided to start a business. I moved to a shared studio space and am now making and selling at The ArtRoom Collective in Durango.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I guess in the grand scheme, I’ve been pretty lucky that it’s been smooth.

When I was still working at home, our newly adopted dog had separation anxiety and somehow opened my seed bead drawer and chewed through several containers of beads. They were scattered all over the house. I don’t think he ate any, luckily. I learned that you can stretch a stocking over the nozzle of the vacuum and salvage the beads off the floor, so it wasn’t a huge loss.

Now, my main struggles are running the business and marketing. I love to create, but it’s hard for me to stay consistent with email newsletters and social media.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make artisan beaded and wire-wrapped jewelry for women who love to accessorize no matter what the day brings.

My one-of-a-kind pieces reflect a love of nature and being outdoors. Many of my necklaces feature pendants made with stones I’ve found on the trails here in Durango. I love to use them in their raw state, but I’ve also tumbled and polished them with beautiful results.

I’m very proud of my progression in my craft and my willingness to try new techniques. This past year, I’ve been delving into metal stamping, which has been quite an adventure!

Do you have any advice for those just starting?
I would say don’t be afraid! Have faith in your talent and your ability to make this leap.

Lean on your friends and family for support and get good advice from fellow business owners. I wish I had done that earlier, but I’m finally working with good people to help me set up my business the right way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dktjewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diane_k_thornton/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dktdesignsjewelry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-thornton-0a78081b/