Life and Work with Kerrin Falk Forsyth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerrin Falk Forsyth.

Kerrin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was about 10 years old, I started selling my jewelry on the side of the road where I grew up (Madison, CT). I loved the kids and even women’s responses to my jewelry – it was so encouraging – and I also loved the extra cash! From there, I kept making jewelry and selling it to friends and family and even did my highschool senior project on jewelry from around the world. In college (University of Texas at Austin), I studied Art History and one summer I worked for Amy Leiner designs, an incredibly creative and wonderful jewelry artist based out of CT. Upon graduation, I was in the art world in Denver and still kept making jewelry and having little trunk shows as my “side thing.” Finally, I had the guts to go full time with it when we moved back to Austin, TX and now my studio is in my home in coastal Hingham, MA & I’m still LOVING doing trunk shows and selling online and to boutiques! I prefer selling my jewelry in person because I appreciate a chance to explain the materials and story behind the jewelry.

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?
It has been wonderful but also rocky! The self-doubt is always there and the fluctuations of “wow, I suck” and “wow, I am awesome and I love this so much!” have been comical in a way. I am just so so so beyond grateful to have such a supportive family, friends, and community around me. My advice for any other women/young women: just do it. Keep going. Things fall apart, people can be weird, you might reach breaking points of wanting to throw in the towel… but seriously, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” could not be more true!!! I apply that theory to my workouts AND my business!

Please tell us about FALK jewelry designs.
I put love and passion into each piece I make. I used to never make the same piece twice, but that’s not a smart business move especially when a certain piece is popular! It’s hard to be an artist and also have a smart “business brain.” I’m still working on that part… half the time I just want to give away everything that I make because I’m so happy that someone is drawn to it. I love it when my pieces go to a “good home.”

I am most proud of the fact that I am relatively self-taught, aside from a class I took at RISD, a couple of years ago on the lost wax and casting technique. What sets me apart is the fact that each piece truly is unique. No one else in the world will carve something out of wax the same exact way I do… no one else will have my first-born’s baby shoelace tied into that same bow and cast the same exact way. I also love to recycle old vintage jewelry pieces by cleaning them up and electroplating them. And one more passion: the healing powers of stones, and using rough-cut precious stones in my work (because right now, the perfect diamonds are a) not quite my style, and b) too expensive for me! someday!).

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Ooooomph. My goodness. Honestly, in my industry of jewelry making/design, there are not many barriers (that I have encountered, YET). There are SO many incredible female jewelry designers and makers who are just like me and keep plugging away despite having a house and family to run. I love connecting with these women. The constant question is: “how do you have time for all of this? you don’t even have a nanny and you’re about to have a 3rd baby! and no house cleaner?!” Well, I guess there you go…the constant battle that ALL women with a family face…maybe those are my “barriers” but I try my very hardest to prioritize. Family (including myself, gotta do that!!), friends, business, dumb house stuff. Ha!

Speaking of women… one project I’m pretty excited about is my “boob necklace.” It’s been about 9 months in the making, and they are almost done! I’ve been trying to perfect a boob necklace & give proceeds toward breast cancer research. Stay tuned, please!

Pricing:

• *necklaces, earrings, and bracelets range from $35-$300 depending on stone, etc
• *on average most pieces are around $100

Contact Info:

• Website: www.falkjewelrydesigns.com
• Phone: 781-733-3980
• Email: kerrinfalk@gmail.com
• Instagram: @falkjewelrydesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/falkjewelrydesigns/

Image Credit:
Alyssa Fortin photography

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