Meet Victoria “Tori” Tong

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Tong.

Victoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My creativity sparked at a very early age, especially being raised by my grandmother. I remember having this strong, innate desire to explore, create, and discover. Her house was always a haven for self-expression- from silly wallpaper hats to art projects, and play pretending.

My relationship with my parents was and still is a challenging but incredibly rewarding endeavor. Because of my childhood, I ended up developing many self-worth related issues as a young adult. As I began working intentionally on my own personal healing, I discovered a deep need to also help others. Being an empath, I found it hard to become any type of therapist and turned to jewelry as a way to help heal others in a way that was more self-directed. This is how Tori Tong Handmade was born.

Great, 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?
Not by any means. As the saying goes, “I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my sh*t!” Being an artist or creator of any kind requires a sense of vulnerability and ability to overcome failure. If there is one solid piece of advice I could give to anyone, it would be, “Keep going.” As cliché as it sounds.

Personally, my struggles involved taking on too many projects, agreeing to less than I was worth, and comparing my progress to everyone else’s. I recommend picking three things and seeing them through to their completion before starting something else. It’s incredibly easy to get excited and then set unrealistic expectations of yourself to complete them all. Always make sure you are charging enough to really cover your costs and time. If you have a hard time making sales at first, be patient. Never lower your prices to please others, your customer base will find you and honor your time and prices. And lastly, chill. Good things take time, and you can’t rip a seed out of the soil the next day after you plant it, expecting a harvest. Everyone can post a highlight reel of their success, no one regularly posts their failures.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
As mentioned prior, I wanted an opportunity to inspire intentional, self-directed healing. I was very drawn to gemstones and their healing properties. I have always used them with the understanding that there is no real proof of the energy in the stone, but if anything at all, it evokes a “placebo” effect. By wearing the piece of jewelry everyday, it keeps you on track with where your mind is and brings you back to the present moment. I work in a wide variety of areas, including grief, self-worth, eating disorders, and many other challenging stages.

I find a lot of joy in creating custom pieces as well. I don’t like the term, what sets me “apart” but rather what brings my company closer and in more support of others and myself at the same time. I think the inspired and intentional jewelry wave has helped so many individuals in need, and I appreciate that others are doing something similar but adding their own unique style to it. One thing I do strive for is quality. I only use authentic stones and higher-grade materials to ensure you can enjoy your piece well into the future. Among making gemstone jewelry, I am also a painter, photographer, and graphic designer!

I like to paint pretty much anything! Right now, I am currently working on a painting of musician, Anderson Paak (as pictured below). I enjoy all types of photography and specialize in portraits and product photos. I love digital design and can create logos for business and build websites. Examples of my work can be found via the links at the bottom of this interview.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Most importantly, people want to feel seen and heard. I feel like as a society, we are so quick to judge others, and place blame. One thing this business has shown me is that we are all just trying to find our way, and desperately seek love and validation. Tori Tong Handmade will meet you where you are, and the pace of your healing experience is entirely your own. I also credit my resiliency to my success. I have been down on the floor crying, to on my feet celebrating my wins. Don’t forget to enjoy the pathway to your success, and take proper time out to care for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.toritong.com
• Phone: 303-523-6327
• Email: toritonghandmade@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toritonghandmade/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toritonghandmade

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