Amelia Rose has never been a ‘hobby’ to me.

It’s been a symbol of empowerment

It’s been my way back home

It’s been the thing that feeds my soul (and my family).

...but never just a hobby.

At first, though, that’s what people constantly referred to it as. That, or “your little jewelry thing.” But from the very first moment I dreamt up this business, I knew it would go way beyond that. I refer to that time in my life as my “is this it?” moment—that crossroad where you either decide to go for it or you don’t.

For me, the same voice that said GO FOR IT, was the same voice that down the road said DON’T STOP.

And I wouldn’t change a thing. The beginnings were humble, of course. I was working in law at the time—overworked to the bone, stressed beyond belief. I would sit at my desk during my lunch hour, ordering jewelry supplies and learning new techniques, bit by bit—with every skill opening new doors to new designs. Then, one afternoon, I found myself incorporating the name Amelia Rose (my first name + my mom’s middle) for the business and I knew I was done for (in the very best way.) By the time I decided to leave my legal career behind, almost everyone in my life told me it was a bad idea; that lawyers don’t just quit law and start jewelry companies.

I’m so glad I didn’t listen to them.

Then came the real drudge work. In the beginning I would literally go door-to-door asking boutiques to carry my line; meekly following up every month or so to ask if there were any sales. In the meantime, I would take private design lessons, hold trunk shows; try to land wholesale accounts. At this point, I was making every single piece myself; with two missions in mind: 1) to make stunning, fresh pieces that women can wear from day to night, and 2) to find a way to give back.

And then something wild happened: Amelia Rose was featured by Tory Johnson on Good Morning America. That turned out to be the tipping point that overnight turned my started-from-scratch-dream into a legitimate, thriving business.

I was always afraid I had let them down by pursuing something creative. But Amelia Rose taught me something priceless: if you believe in something, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says.