Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Moran.
Elise, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I found a love of making things at a very early age, and so, arts & crafts were always a favorite part of the curriculum in my schooling since kindergarten. Growing up as an “Army brat”, my imagination was stoked and nourished by extensive travel across the USA and parts of Europe.
As a student at RISD, I had the opportunity to try out and enjoy many different disciplines such as glassblowing, ceramics, woodworking, but found that working in metal suited me best. I love the treasure-aspect of metal, its luster and durability. In 1990 I received a BFA in “jewelry & light metals”.
After RISD, I worked for a couple of Providence-based jewelry designers and learned about the business of making jewelry. It wasn’t long before I did my first wholesale craft show and transitioned to working for myself. I relocated and co-owned a store in downtown Portsmouth from 1993 to 2004 that featured my jewelry designs along with a small selection of other designers and artists.
I currently have a great studio space in the Button Factory in Portsmouth away from the downtown area. I continue to exhibit at wholesale and retail fine craft shows.
Has it been a smooth road?
One of the biggest struggles along the way has been the jury process to get into shows. It is never certain whether I’ll get into a show or not from year to year. There is so much jewelry out there and the competition can be tough. The uncertainty can be difficult for running a business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the EAM Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
EAM Studio a small jewelry business, in fact, at this point in time I’m the sole employee. I’m the designer, book-keeper, photographer and web-designer (I need to be a social media director but am not quite there yet).
My passion has been and continues to be designing and making jewelry. My jewelry pieces are primarily nature-inspired and hand-crafted in sterling silver and gold. I’m known for well-detailed, delicate designs.
I’m proud to have been in business for 27 years and like the fact that when one buys a piece from me they are getting something that is solely designed and crafted by me. In a way, I feel like I offer a sort of “small-batch’ kind of “artisanal” jewelry collection.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It seems like there are a few new-ish tools that are changing the process of jewelry making. CAD, computer aided design and 3D printing has been taking over much large-scale commercial design. Offering very detailed and other-wise time-consuming design in metal/stones for a fraction of the time (and therefore money) to produce.
Also, laser-welding has offered the small and large-scale makers to design in different ways that would be impossible with traditional soldering methods.
Additionally, perhaps predominately, the internet has changed the ways of wholesaling and retailing, as well as everything else under the sun. I would guess that there will continue to be less craft shows and brick & mortar stores and more online venues. Though, for jewelry and other craft, I still think it’s important to see it in person and I would hope that the tradition of shows and stores continues.
Contact Info:
- Address: 855 Islington Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801 - Website: www.elisemoran.com
- Phone: 603-430-8955
- Email: eamjewelry@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Photo credit for 3rd image (of couch, green “floral” arrangement on coffee table with red curtain background) goes to “ArtSmart Productions”.
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