It’s been a while since I’ve introduced myself so with the start of the new year what better time. If you’re just finding us - welcome! My name is Kelsey. I’m the owner and creator behind Acorn & Artisan. My business hasn’t always looked like it does today… In fact, when I started creating it was 100% different. In 2019 after having the dreaded IVF talk with our reproductive endocrinologist, and coming to the decision that we were going to go through the process of IVF to try to have a baby, my sister told me I needed a hobby. At the time, I chose painting as a way to get my mind off of the what if’s of my situation and dubbed my business Farmhouse Fluid Art.
Fast forward a bit and by fall of 2019 I was pregnant with my little one, Eila. For most of my pregnancy, the business sat idle as I focused on creating a space to welcome our new addition and adjusted to live during COVID.
During the summer of 2020, I was ready to begin making art again. Making art for me has and always will be an integral part of my life. The use of a creative outlet is by far one of my favorite ways to provide myself with time for self-care. It was during this summer that my mom told me about her dream. In her dream I had gifted her a necklace that she wore out to eat with my father and their friends. Apparently in the dream she received compliments on the piece, and when she awoke she told me I needed to make jewelry. I’m not always a superstitious person, but I do believe that sometimes our dreams are more than just random nonsense our brain is trying to make sense of so who was I to judge this idea?
I began making jewelry in the fall of 2020 transferring my resin work skills to jewelry design. Over the first year I also dabbled in polymer clay pieces as I strived to find my voice as a designer. By Spring of 2021, the name Farmhouse Fluid Art no longer fit. With the shift, I renamed my business and started fresh as Acorn & Artisan - a nod to my little one who’s name means Oak Tree.
By 2022 the idea of working with metal had wormed its way into my head and mentally I shifted from laughing at the idea as an impossible task to being determined to try. For the next 6 months I tinkered, failed, and then finally released my first collection of gold-filled and sterling silver pieces in May 2022. Around this time I also opted to update our branding to reflect who I am / who I want Acorn & Artisan to be and we shifted from our original logo of a bunny and moon to the moon with moon phases below. The latter representing both my personal growth over the last few years and my unyielding desire to build a business that is constantly moving forward and evolving.
These days, my business is filled with jewelry that I make in my home studio, t-shirts that I channel my academic background and sense of humor into, and sun catchers. Regardless of if you’re just joining my journey or have been here right along, I’m so glad you’re here and hope you’ll continue to support my dreams as Acorn & Artisan sees what 2023 has in store.