Konnee Rexroat

Where do you live?

Middletown, Ohio

What inspires you as a designer-artist?

The people and things around me. I also watch for what I see is popular fashion wise, like zebra print.

What medium do you work with mostly?

I actually want to know as much as I can about making jewelry, but recently I have mostly used Freshwater Pearls and Sterling Silver. I have made necklaces with silk and also with Sterling Links.

Why did you become enchanted with this style of jewelry-making?

It's the most recent technique I've learned so I am perfecting it. I once heard, "An amateur does something until they get it right, but a Professional does it until nothing can go wrong." Every technique I have learned, I have stayed with it and reincorporated it to the point that nothing can go wrong before I move to add a new technique.

Where and How do you sell your jewelry?

I actually have three websites. My first is my etsy: www.etsy.com/Shop/StrawberryRoseGift, my second is on Squareup: https://squareup.com/market/Strawberry-Rose-Jewelry and my newest is my own domain name and I was so excited to have it it is: www.strawberryrosejewelry.com. I hope to maybe one day have my own little boutique.

What is the name of the piece you submitted with your success story?

Elegant Class

What inspired this design?

I had a friend of the family inquire about my pearl necklaces for her niece's wedding, which was in two days. She ultimately decided on something else, but it left me feeling down.

How did it come together?

After the friend decided to go another direction, it stung. I am very new to making jewelry still and I guess my designs didn't have enough wedding flare. I took out all the pearls and silver I had left and stared at it for about five minutes. It just came together. I saw it in my head and it came out perfect.