Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Rasulova.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started creating floral jewelry to preserve my constantly growing collection of botanical finds. Just like so many artists and designers derive their inspiration from nature, I became inspired by the beauty of the plants I was gathering, most of which for me is their color, shapes, and combination. The only downside was that they didn’t last long. Flower preservation by itself is an ancient art, that probably started with occasional insects and plant falling into the natural tree amber and becoming fossilized. I’m merely continuing this inherited technique, but with more purposeful human touch. During long cold and dreary Bostonian winters, this is my dreamy floral escape somewhere beautiful and peaceful. In the Spring/Summer, I’m outside gathering new collections. I try to bottle up the filing of that long-awaited Spring and beauty of a blooming meadow. I want to recreate a walk in the woods or beach, a trip to the garden or your favorite nature spot. Mother nature heals and makes everything feel like it’s going to be alright.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s never easy to start with an abstract idea and then work your way to a tangible object. I struggled and still do. But I believe our struggles determine our successes. Back in 2012, I started with a small table in the corner of my bedroom and a newborn on hands. That simultaneous nurturing of small business and small human was the hardest task for me. But so many other moms do it, so I knew I could too. I worked whenever possible, usually during naps and long nights. It was never from 9 to 5, but more like 24/7. I was incredibly grateful for a great feedback and all orders that kept me busy. I was able to stay at home with my daughter and support our little family. Eventually, I arranged a daycare for her and devoted myself to making jewelry. My advice for mothers who start their own business – become comfortable with multitasking and changing direction. There’ll be times when you will give your business more attention, than your kids and vice versa. It’s OK. Ultimately, it’s about creating a job that fits in with your lifestyle and pleases your soul. Find a healthy balance that works, making, most importantly, YOURSELF a priority. For all the rest – be prepared to struggle. If you want the successful result, you have to want the “cost” of it too. People who are comfortable with the stresses and uncertainty of the artist lifestyle are ultimately the ones who make it.
We’d love to hear more about Eight Acorns.
I create jewelry featuring real natural pieces preserved in synthetic resin. It’s quite difficult viscous material that I started working with back in 2008 and absolutely fell in love with. My pieces looked like frozen in time little terrariums. With time I self-taught and perfected my casting technique, developing a style and aesthetics I have today. I’m proud to be one of the first artists that have created the floral trend. I’m obsessed with the quality of my products and meticulously still make every piece by hand. It’s important for me to produce good long-lasting quality pieces that can be enjoyed for years of wearing without losing its original beauty. It’s the biggest challenge with fragile flowers. I absolutely love developing my branding, packaging, website and, especially, the product. Not so much marketing aspect of it all, but selling on Etsy has helped to boost the visibility and had provided steady traffic for years. I’m proud to have reached 5.5K sales there even though it’s been a bumpy ride. I’m forever grateful to the platform for making my little artistic dream come true. Now to spread the wings and fly even further.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I love listening to Radiolab, Creative Pep Talk or Ted Radio Hour while working. Big fan of Paul Jarvis and his philosophy on staying small as a business. Etsy and Shopify forums are pretty great resources of information for anything online business related. I also suggest SCORE for small business workshops and counseling in the Boston area.
Contact Info:
- Website: eightacorns.com
- Email: eightacorns@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eightacorns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eightacornsjewelry/
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