Spotlight is a series that features a past or current client of mine (or someone I’ve collaborated with in some capacity) as they share a bit of their story, talents, insights, and process with you. You might learn something from their journey, or you might just discover an amazing new business!

Elise Davis is the metalsmith behind the modernist, bold jewelry brand, Clster. Her inspiration comes from the Art Deco period's geometric shapes and repetition as well as modern minimalism. “I strive to create pieces that appeal to a variety of women: from those whose personal style is more delicate & petite to women who are bold & want to make a statement with their look.”

What drew you to the work you're doing now?

I have a BSA in Fashion Merchandising and have always had an affinity for creating with my hands. This eventually lead me to take courses in metalsmithing, at my local community college, in 2015. I am currently focused on my Fall 2019 jewelry line. In the last year, I have tried a variety of new styles and worked with new materials, to determine how I want to represent CLSTER. Hearing feedback, during my last show, I realized that I had less bold, statement jewelry than ever before. So this Fall line has been shaped by that feedback and my desire to create not only high-end, delicate pieces of work but to also stay true to my original pieces that are inspired by Art Deco architecture and make a statement by whoever rocks them. So, I'd say my current work has been shaped by a lot of trial and error, customer feedback and going back to my original design inspiration.

What do you like most about your work?

I love how quickly I am able to have a design idea, and incorporate it into a finished piece. On those special days, where inspiration flows freely, I feel so lucky to be doing what I do. Having a fully functioning studio, I can see a design element in a magazine or while walking around town; snap a photo or jot down a sketch and then go home AND MAKE IT. This also leads to my other favorite part of my work: having complete creative freedom. This can be scary at times because you have no defined direction in which to take your design style, or if your audience will like the pieces you spend hours and $$$ creating. But, when in the early years of owning a small business, you have to trust yourself and take several blind leaps, to establish what works and what doesn't.

What have been the biggest “a-ha” moments in your business journey so far?

Opportunities. This is a pretty subjective term, so my definition of an "opportunity" is when you attempt to solve a problem or present an idea and it isn't accepted in the way you had planned, or have the outcome you'd wanted. More concisely, an "opportunity" is an area that needs improvement.

For example, about one year ago, I was a vendor at my FIRST big “craft” show, in Seattle. I had just quit my part-time job and was fully focused on my trade. I thought I’d come home, having sold 80% of my inventory and have a new, solid customer following, that would lead me to successful sales for the rest of the year. But... the first day of the show I didn’t sell a single piece. I cried and felt defeated, naive and worthless. All of the other vendor spaces were so detailed and professional in their displays, mine made me feel foolish. But, I saw this as an "opportunity" for improvement. The previous day I'd observed the way other vendors spaces were set-up, took that knowledge and arrived at the show 2 hours early and revamped my space. That day, I sold nearly 10 pieces.

This wasn't the first or the last "opportunity" I have faced, but it ultimately made me realize that I am resilient. And resilience is the basis for a successful business (amongst other things). You can either let “opportunities” be all-consuming, or you can step back, focus on how to improve, and keep pushing yourself forward.

Any big goals on the horizon?

My goal is to have my Fall 2019 line completed and photographed by late-August! I am extremely excited for it's premier because I feel that it represents a culmination of the pieces and materials I have been trying out this last year. It will include three mini-lines within one. The first being a collection of bold, abstract brass pieces; Second, a collection of delicate gold fill pieces, adorned with semi-precious stones; and the third, a collection of brass and silver, architecturally inspired earrings and rings.

How do you overcome the hard stuff? What motivates you to keep going?

There is so much joy, but also so so many challenges when owning a small business! The "hard stuff" seems to never end. I have been freelancing for another jeweler, who has had a successful business for 10 years, and I have learned from her that it never gets easier. There are still daily challenges. But you just have to keep your focus and celebrate the small victories along the way. I have a handwritten note on my bathroom mirror that says "I didn't come this far, to only come this far". I read this every day because it is my truth. I have invested so much time, money, and myself into this business, that there is no going backward. When a problem arises, I have to make the best decision, based on my past experiences.

How do you manage your time when working for yourself? Do you have any routines or morning rituals that you swear by?

I keep a weekly and monthly calendar which includes daily/weekly goals & appointments. This helps me achieve a sense of balance. Being your own boss, you only have yourself to determine how many hours you will work daily, and how you will merge your personal life with your business. This is the balance I am referring to: personal vs. business. I am in constant combat with the guilt of not spending enough time working, or not spending enough time on myself. The solution I have come up with is to write out my daily, weekly, monthly goals, and then time block my days. In addition to setting these goals, I have a spreadsheet in which I record the actual time I worked and in what area of my job.

For example, I will record the daily hours spent in my studio, actually working on product, or the amount of time spent emailing stockists or analyzing my monthly sales. Then, at the end of the month, I record these numbers into another spreadsheet which analyzes how I spend my time each month. This amount of spreadsheets and planning was initially overwhelming for me, but once I was used to this routine, I was able to see how to best spend my time, and which months were my most profitable. So, I would recommend not only time blocking for your business and personal life, but to also recording how you actually spend your time daily/weekly/monthly, because it will give you direction on what works best for your business! *In additional to all of this planning, always make time for exercise and spending time with the people that make you laugh.

What do you hope to be known for in the long run?

I have been lucky enough to have several strong, female mentors, throughout my career. So my current goal is to establish CLSTER as a brand that represents these strong women and makes those who wear my pieces feel bold and empowered.

My long-term goal for CLSTER is to expand beyond a jewelry brand, to a physical space that female creatives can work alongside one another, offering encouragement and sharing their own business experiences. I have been inspired by creative workspaces, or platforms such as Girl Boss, The Wing and Create & Cultivate, and would like CLSTER to be a local representation of those establishments.