Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Frank.
Kristi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I launched Salt Grass Jewelry in 2016, but my journey as an abstract artist began long before that. I was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM. The southwest is a very hypnotic and kind of unusual place which has left a rather significant mark on me. When I was growing up I spent most afternoons exploring the natural world. I quickly fell in love with obscure rock formations or the silhouettes of distant horizons. This early inspiration and curiosity for the forms and textures of my surrounding pushed me towards the world of art. So, after a few false starts and moving around the country, I found my way to art school in San Francisco in my early 20’s.
While in school I studied sculpture and small metals. Following graduation, I moved to New York City where I began working as a full-time metalsmith for a number of female-run independent companies. The women I met and worked alongside during that time became my mentors and my family. They showed me how jewelry production worked, how to make ethical decisions in business and how to support and bolster the females around you. It was this confidence they instilled in me that made me want to launch my own company.
In 2016 I moved to Portland, ME, and began Salt Grass. My husband and I had been drawn to Maine for some time and felt it was a great place to plant roots and take chances. Today, I feel especially supported by the Portland and Boston areas. My work has evolved to express my love for the northeast and my deep New Mexican roots. The combo is very satisfying to me and gives my work a distinct style which I’m excited to continue to explore and push.
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?
Someone once told me that discomfort was the key to growth. So, I think I’ve had a lot of growth over the last year! The road has been so fun and so challenging and so unexpected. It’s a wild ride but I can’t image what else I would do.
As a somewhat enthusiastic person, I struggle with setting healthy goals for my business and myself. I want to do everything, always and now! I’m willing to work 10 hour days but I pay a price physically and mentally for such long hours. Finding balance has been essential to my development. Luckily, I have some grounding folks in my corner.
Of course, I also struggle with the lack of benefits I have as a self-employed individual. I think any entrepreneur will gladly vent about the multitude of hats we must wear and the feeling of being on a deserted island at times. It’s surely not for everyone but I think that’s part of the compulsion that drives small business owners. We like to learn to thrive in unknown territory. Asking for help is also key! This might sound obvious to most, but it was a recent revelation of mine which has doubled my productivity.
S A L T G R A S S | jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Salt Grass Jewelry is an eco-conscious company creating modern adornment and objects. I use abstract forms, texture and distinctive silhouettes. My eco-conscious approach refers to the care and choices that I make like using recycled metals, conflict-free diamonds, natural stones and low or non-toxic chemicals in the studio.
Mining for metals is not only toxic but also harmful to local wildlife, so using post-consumer metals and green refineries is one way I try to counteract this trend.
I specialize in bespoke pieces for both everyday wear and those special occasions like weddings and anniversaries. I’m always happy to work with heirloom stones, diamonds or found objects to create truly unique pieces. I am also well known for my opal rings and my contemporary twist on nature-inspired jewelry. All of my artwork is hand fabricated in my Portland, ME studio.
It is a real honor to be a female entrepreneur designing jewelry. I have the opportunity to create adornment which empowers the wearer. I find more empowerment and balance with androgyny and so I try to create with that ethos. It can be subtle but I believe the harmony between masculine and feminine shapes, forms, and textures are what sets Salt Grass apart.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am very proud of the collaborative work I have done both with individual clients who request engagement rings or with small businesses like Amie located here in Portland, ME.
Working with others to design artwork can be challenging but offers the greatest opportunity for growth and unique vision. It also builds a sense of community which in the age of technology and big box stores in surly shrinking.
Pricing:
- Nambe Raw Opal Ring in silver – $110
- Clipse Earrings in brass – $65
- Husk Bar Necklace in brass – $71
Contact Info:
- Website: www.saltgrassjewelry.com
- Email: saltgrassjewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: @saltgrassjewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saltgrassjewelry
Image Credit:
Meredith Brockington, Rachel Sperry, West Side Graphics
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