Today’s featured mom is Traci of Midori Jewelry.
This Hawaiian mama has a penchant for marrying the soft and the hard, the slick and the textured all in one harmonious piece of special jewelry.
She’s been practicing her craft since 1996.
H: Tell me about how you got started.
T: I’ve taken some classes, but practically everything I’ve learned — from art clay silver to soldering to shaping the right ear wires — is, for the most part, self-taught.
H: Describe your craft
T: I like to create jewelry in every shade of the style spectrum. Sometimes I stick to the basics, while at other times, I create a special piece for a particular woman in mind. But mostly, I enjoy creating to my own style — classic pieces with a modern feel — styles that can last the seasons and even the years. I’ve already had jewelry become heirloom pieces, being passed from Grandmother to Granddaughter. I like to take classic jewelry necessities, like the pearl necklace or hoop earrings, and give them a modern twist. I love working with large gauge wire in sterling and fine silver or gold, to create my own pendants, hoops, clasps, and links. Sometimes I will texturize the metals, sometimes it gets a dark oxidation or a rainbow patina, sometimes it gets a satin finish from fine sandpaper. Creating my own focal pieces helps give Midori Jewelry a more distinct look that is unique to me as a designer. But all metal finishes must add to the gemstone and/or pearl components. The metal must complement its partner(s) (most likely a luminous pearl or twinkling gemstone or a combination or the two) and the they must work together to achieve a harmonious, balanced look.
H: Are you finding success?
T: After I dropped out of law school to have my son Cade, I pondered what direction I wanted to take my life. I returned to my love of making jewelry. The notion of succeeding or failing at something completely on my own is appealing to me. But more than anything, I am able to make mortgage payments in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, fund pre-school, buy great local produce and cook it, spend one day per week alone w/ my 3-yr old, and have most weekends free to have fun with my family — all because I have my own business. I am able to help support my family by doing something I love, and still have time to enjoy time with them. I think that is the definition of success.
H: Were you creative before you had children?
T: Having Cade made way for the inception of Midori Jewlery. Without him, I would be in a very different place right now. But I have been making jewelry for a long time, since way before he was born. But when life threw me a curveball, I went back to that love of creating.
H: Have your methods changed?
T: I am becoming more engaged in the process of making jewelry. I have started making my own links, clasp, pendants, and ear wires. Eventually, I would like to become totally free of pre-fabricated jewelry components. I want to make everything from scratch. But some customers care about that, and some do not. I have a healthy mix of both for now, that allows me some freedom to create from scratch, while still supporting ethnic metalsmiths from around the world. I love the metal components that you can get in Turkey, Israel, Indonesia, Mexico, and Thailand. Every country and culture within a country has their own aesthetic. It is quite remarkable.
H: How do you find time to stay creative?
T: Caffeine. I am enjoying the one day I get a week to spend w/ Cade all by myself. We call it Mommy Mondays. He is in pre-school 3x a week, so I have ample time to get work done. I do have to work one night a week, and many weekends doing shows.
H: Do your kids show any creative spirit?
T: Like most children, he is really into coloring and drawing. But he is much more into music and sports than art.
H: What have you learned after having your kids (in relation to your art)?
T: Your own business, like your child has a life all its own. It will go out of control sometimes, it will stumble into pit falls, it will hit stages of depression, it will do things you don’t want it to. But there are many steps you can take to make sure you still have a firm hold on the reins when these things happen.
I’d like to extend 20% off to Maternal Spark readers with the code “sparkmama” for all web sales from now to Sept 30th at www.midorijewelry.com. Please email me traci@midorijewelry.com with any questions.
Thanks so much for joining me at Maternal Spark Traci! I’ve enjoyed getting to know you 
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I’m not really big on jewelry, but many of her items are simple and subtle and something I would wear.
Great interview!