A Meeting Place for All Home Office Women

Hi all, it’s the weekends again! I just like to share an inspiring work-at-home story of two sisters, who have a fabulous online store where they unleash their creative and artistic talents. Enjoy their home office story and don’t forget to check out the lovely creations at the online store! Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

How did this home office begin for you?

For me, it was my sister Jill, the talented artist, who called one fateful morning to tell me that she had just created something extraordinary…the pearl pendant which later came to be called simply the Motherhood necklace. Immensely popular with our friends and family, we knew that this simple design was just the beginning of our journey. Jill had been making jewelry for years, and I had no experience. She taught me everything I know, and we became partners in 2005. With the creation of the Motherhood necklace, the seed was planted that eventually blossomed into our company, Blue Poppy Handcrafted Jewelry. Many pearls later, we collaborated on subsequent designs, the Sisterhood and Friendship necklaces, which joined the Motherhood in a trio which complement each other. From there, we fed on one another’s energy to create our current collection.

What are the perks and challenges of working from home?

A wonderful perk of working at home is that you can do it in your pajamas! Just roll out of bed, throw the hair into a ponytail and step into the studio! Also, you don’t have to go out to lunch! Saving money eating at home is great. Nothing compares to being your own boss. I love being partners with my sister, and it has deepened our relationship. And we get to talk on the phone many times a day.

Of course, working at home has allowed us to be home with our sons, Jill’s Jaden and my Cameron, which is so important to us. I personally enjoy it when Cameron watches me at work in the studio, because he can see that I have a passion and knows what I do when I am at work.

Some challenges that come with having a home based business are that sometimes it’s hard to keep clear boundaries between work and home. Very often, Jill and I find ourselves working long hours in the studio because we are both artists and love to create. We are at work at all hours of the day and night. It’s a challenge trying to strike a balance between being CEO of the business and the household. When you work at home, there are many interruptions: children need nurturing, pets need care, dishes need washing, laundry needs folding, phones need answering. And, you never leave the house.

Tell us more about your business.

Jill and I are both stay at home moms, and after watching our most important creations grow, we were inspired to create a line of jewelry with significance for all the women in our lives. Each handcrafted piece is unique; no two are exactly alike. The materials we work with include sterling silver, Indian rosewood, and freshwater pearl. We also incorporate a range of natural spices such as cayenne, ginger, clove, wasabi, and curry as well as many others which provide beautiful natural pigments.

What is your advice for anyone who likes to work from home?

Set a regular schedule. Block out a time that is devoted to work, and try to stick to it. It is so easy when you work from home to be lazy and haphazard with your schedule. Set clear boundaries. Know when you are going to work on the business, and when you are going to get household chores accomplished.
Be organized! It is important to keep your work area clean and orderly, and makes your life a lot less stressful. It’s helpful to have a separate space, such as a spare bedroom, or studio, for work.

What do you get most out of this business?

It is a wonderful feeling to create something that is meaningful to someone else. We love that people enjoy what we make. Our jewelry has come from our hearts and minds, and each design is personal. When someone makes a connection with our art and it becomes a personal expression for them…that is when we feel the most satisfaction.
We thrive on the positive feedback we receive from customers, and upon hearing their stories.
Building a successful business from the ground up and being able to contribute financially to our family is extremely empowering.
One thing we love about our job is that we get to send presents to strangers! For us, one of the most enjoyable parts of the day is gift wrapping each order. It is time consuming, but fun. Presentation is an important factor, so we take the time to make each one beautiful. Jill and I are mad about pretty packaging and pretty paper!