Where it all began
I started my career in jewelry making when I was in my teens working with simple leather cords and charms and adding on beads and findings to accentuate my focal charm piece. It was a fad back then and I thought how cool it would be to be able to make a unique piece. "I would be the envy of my friends" I thought to myself. So using simple technique and accruing a bit of knowled
ge on how the store pieces were made, I started to make some of my own personal, handmade unique pieces. Since high school, I have always had a talent for for art. I have dabbled anywhere from drawing, painting, sketching, flower arranging, decorating, and light DIY projects around my home. It seems I always gravitated to anything that was visually stunning, attractive or eye catching. I later learned that not only was I very visually artistic person, I also learned that I was a visual learner. It seems it was always a struggle trying to learn something new when I had to read a book or set of instructions. But when shown what to do, it seems I learned very quickly. I moved to Las Vegas in 2011 and in 2014, I met and befriended a very intelligent business consultant, named Marc Spencer. He was innovative, business savvy, conscientious, client focused and he really understood retail and today's markets. In getting to know him in working with his clients, it didn't take long for me to learn that he was really excellent in his field. He excelled in public relations, recognizing company potential, finding hidden opportunities, selecting which markets to enter, reinventing struggling products, differentiating its offerings, and helping his clients win in new and adjacent markets. I met one of his clients who made custom jewelry. She had 2 types of stores. One store was for ready made ready to wear pieces, and she had an enormous inventory for DIY jewelry store which I thought was an amazing concept! That store did not do so well. I think it was because unless you were a "beader" or have already been making jewelry, the majority of people were overwhelmed with what and how to create finished products. Obviously, my creative brain on the other hand was going crazy on the potential of making ready made wearable jewelry. I felt like a kid in a new playground with a new toy. Through meeting that client, and working with Marc, I was exposed to the market, learned its potential and it's possibilities. In the process I also learned a few more techinques in developing my knowledge of making ready-made pieces of custom jewelry. Marc and I started getting compliments on the pieces we were wearing so Marc encouraged me to sell my work on Facebook. I was surprised but was able to sell a few pieces! Currently I am still taking orders directly from my personal page. After a few more orders received, it was him that finally pushed me to expand my market and provided me with the resources to start selling my pieces by starting a company with myShopify.com. I decided to name my company Bedexzzled as a play on the word "bedazzled." Thought it was a bit creative using my name "Dexter" in the company. I even made an email address. It is [email protected]. Where I am now. With this new found confidence and resource to start my business in selling handmade custom jewelry, I am starting small and try the market to see just how my creations will appeal to the public. Meanwhile I am continuing to learn, build and extend my visions on stringing jewelry and build my business to its utmost potential. Not only to provide versatility for my new company but also to feed my passion for creativity. Where I am plan go from here
Because I have a passion for creating art in all avenues, I plan to continue to learn, gain experience, expand my knowledge, and fine tune my skills in creating custom made jewelry. I plan not only to innovate on making unique and original designs on strung jewelry, but I also plan to extend that innovation to making jewelry using leather cords and wire wrapping to the extent that no one has seen before. The possibilities are endless and I am excited to take on the journey and face its challenges. I am hopeful that my endeavors will develop to something really unique and end on a path that will make a mark on this earth during my lifetime.
