Meet Trailblazer Robin Lyons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Lyons.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Robin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always loved to create and began making jewelry about 15 years ago. It started as a hobby and slowly turned into a tiny business when friends, family, and friends of friends started buying pieces. I had always dreamt of starting a legitimate business, but never had the time to dedicate to it. Over the years, I made jewelry here and there, but it took a backseat to graduate school, working full-time, and ultimately moving cross-country from New Jersey to Colorado.

Of course, I found Boulder to be very inspiring, and I started to really admire handcrafted jewelry in beautiful little boutiques on Pearl Street. I always said to myself, “I could make that!” I realized that the only difference between those artists and myself was that they took the chance, and I hadn’t. My husband said to me one night (after patiently waiting while I stared at jewelry for a half hour), “You should really start making jewelry again, babe.” That was all I needed! I signed myself up for a free wire-wrapping class at a local bead store, and got to work!

I set things in motion to launch an Etsy shop, but things took a turn when I suddenly became extremely sick. I became disabled for several months, unable to use both of my arms. It was devastating for so many reasons, not the least of which being that I had to abandon my dream right when it was about to become a reality. My condition forced me to leave my full-time position as a mental health counselor, and I spent the next two years unemployed. During that time, my condition slowly began to improve, and I gradually regained the use of my arms. It was a long road to becoming functional again, but I got there!

Though things were better, I wasn’t ‘normal’ by any means, and still could not return to work. That was when I took advantage of my abundance of free time and got to work on my jewelry line. I’ll never forget the feeling the very first time I attempted to make a necklace. I wouldn’t have thought I could do it yet, but it was a close friend’s birthday, and I was determined to make her something. I surprised myself with how well it all came together and was thrilled that my arms could handle the job!

From then on, I worked steadily on creating enough pieces to launch my shop. It was so exciting to come up with new designs during the day, and wait for my husband to come home and gush over them! Finally, in the spring of 2017, I was ready. A business was born: Green Feather Jewelry (named after our sweet little parrot, aka my best friend). And aside from realizing a lifelong dream, my business represents to me that I found a way to turn personal tragedy into something beautiful.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not! Starting a business has been much more emotional and difficult than I ever expected. I remember being shaken up by how incredibly vulnerable I felt the moment I opened my shop. I suddenly realized all of my insecurities about whether it would all be good enough, whether people would like my work, how to create a strong social media presence, how to sell myself… the list was endless!

My professional background has been primarily in the social sciences, so it has been a challenge to merge my creative/expressive self with my entrepreneur self. Business skills do not come as naturally to me, so there has been a huge learning curve for sure.

Of course, I still have struggles but have learned a lot about having patience with myself as I learn, grow, and find my place. I continue to work on not comparing myself to others who are more advanced or more successful than I am. It helps to remember that I don’t know everything about those people and their lives and that social media is only showing the highlight reel. They likely struggle and have weaknesses just like I do. I also try to primarily focus on how inspiring others’ success can be. Seeing another small business shine shows me that that is possible!

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My work is primarily minimalist jewelry made with raw minerals and high quality metals including Sterling Silver, 14K Gold Fill, and 14K Rose Gold Fill. While I also work with and appreciate the obvious beauty of polished/faceted gemstones, I define my style by the work I do with stones in their natural state. To me, they are so pure and unique in their beautiful imperfection, and it is so special to admire these fascinating creations as they came from the earth. I tend to be a perfectionist in other areas of my life, so allowing room for imperfection in my art is actually quite a breath of fresh air!

I pride myself in providing excellent customer service. Being such a small business, I have the ability to devote time and attention to making sure my customers are happy with my work and creating connections with them. This is where my skills and background in working with people really come into play. I absolutely love collaborating with customers to design their perfect piece. We’ll often exchange messages and photos until we have landed on exactly the right design for that person or their loved one. It feels so personal and meaningful, and I am always so honored to be the one they’ve chosen.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’d say just to find opportunities to connect with people as much as possible! During my first year, I spent a lot of time visiting stores and boutiques around Colorado to network and promote my work. I’ve also attended networking events to connect to other entrepreneurs and artists, which has always been helpful and inspiring. My favorite events have been markets and Art Walk events where I sell my jewelry in person. Through these events, I have met so many lovely people and made wonderful new friends (all badass female artists) who have inspired and supported me so much along the way. I’ve also formed some virtual friendships with other jewelers through social media. We keep track of each other’s work, encourage, support, and promote each other. While a business can feel so competitive at times, I believe it is essential that we champion each other and celebrate one another’s achievements, rather than feel threatened by them. Finding people who will do that with you is invaluable!

Contact Info:

• Website: greenfeatherjewelry.etsy.com
• Email: greenfeatherjewelry@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/greenfeatherjewelry
• Facebook: facebook.com/greenfeatherjewelry
• Twitter: twitter.com/greenfeathergal

Image Credit:
All photos were taken by me or my husband!

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.