Moose Spotlight: Creating Classic Western Style Jewelry
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
- Braylee Heisler of @bucking.buffalo.turquoise
MEET THE ARTIST
@bucking.buffalo.turquoise on Instagram
THE JOURNEY TO CREATING JEWELRY
Braylee Heisler is the jewelry artist behind @bucking.buffalo.turquoise on Instagram. She's from Claremore, Oklahoma, and has been creating jewelry for almost 2 years now. Her creations can be seen on Instagram @bucking.buffalo.turquoise 💚
For Braylee, it all started with turquoise. She shared, "My great grandmother gave me my first pieces of turquoise and I instantly fell in love with it." Braylee has always had a creative spirit and once she found out how it was made and the process behind it, she knew she had to start!
When she was just getting started, she had been creating jewelry for about 4 months before she ever put a piece up for sale. Braylee explained wanting her pieces to be as good of quality as possible for her skill level at the time. She said, "I still see some of my old pieces that aren’t up to my standards now and it makes me uncomfortable. I think this helps me now hold my pieces to a high quality standard."
The very first piece she sold is through Facebook! Braylee simply posted pictures of some of her creations and someone quickly wanted one 🫶🏼
Curious as to what is the significance of Braylee's brand name, Braylee elaborated, "The Bucking Buffalo Silver Co. was a little different and maybe hard to say quickly, but I love it. I grew up in Pawnee, Oklahoma which is home to a beautiful Buffalo ranch. They really set a theme around my home town and I knew I’d love my business to have those roots. I’ve also always been so amazed at the animals and how beautiful they are!"
Let's take a look at some of her oh-so-beautiful creations!
Handmade Jewelry by Braylee Heisler of @bucking.buffalo.turquoise on Instagram
ARTIST'S DESIGN STYLE
Braylee can't remember the very first time she had that AHA! moment when creating, but she said when it happens, she can’t do anything else until she starts the design or at least have it drawn in detail. ✨
THE DESIGN PROCESS
"I am a very visual and hands on person so I work best when I have the stones I want to use on hand already. I think of what I want to do, what do my customers want, and what’s something different I can do," Braylee explained. She lays out all her stones, making random designs with them until she finds one she likes. Then, she'll draw it out and begin!
Asked to describe her own design style, Braylee said she's a country girl through and through and love western jewelry and fashion. "It is definitely the classic western style with a twist of modern and a little edge," she added.
Here are a few more breathtaking beauties by Braylee!
Turquoise Jewlelry by Braylee Heisler of @bucking.buffalo.turquoise on Instagram
JEWELRY DESIGN TIPS, TRICKS, AND HANDY TECHNIQUES
What's one design tip you one to share with your fellow artists?
"Don’t let anyone stop you from making something you love and are passionate for! So many people bash others for “copying” when a slightly similar piece is created and it’s hard to want to continue when you have pure intentions. We are influenced by so many of the same things and are far more like minded than we realize."
One piece of technical advice on creating.
"Never stop learning! Keep looking for things you can do better or differently."
Any words of encouragement or tips to those who are starting out in the world of jewelry-making?
"Be kind to everyone, be an honest and fair maker, don’t do it for the money, but for the love of the craft, and do NOT compare yourself to others! Comparison is the thief of joy."
Lastly, Braylee's message to the universe:
Follow Braylee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bucking.buffalo.turquoise/
Check out her website: https://thebuckingbuffalosilverco.com/
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