April 9th marks a milestone that feels both long-awaited and brand new. It’s been exactly 100 days since we left our jobs to build something of our own: Olive & Hazel Fine Jewelry.
Our story started years ago, working side-by-side in a local jewelry studio. Over six and a half years, our roles naturally relied on one another, a constant back-and-forth that revealed just how well we balanced each other. Beyond the technical skills and industry knowledge, we built a partnership rooted in mutual respect and a friendship built on trust.
While we are incredibly grateful for the environment where we met and honed our craft, we eventually reached a point where we wanted to put our own names behind the work. We realized that the drive to see our own designs come to life, and to maintain personal, direct relationships with our customers, was a calling we couldn't ignore.
Redefining the Workday: Building a Studio from Home
The biggest shift, alongside trading a consistent paycheck for the unknown, has been breaking the comfort of a familiar 9-5 routine. There is a sense of security in a set schedule, but that has now been replaced by the responsibility of pushing our own vision forward. Honestly, that’s been the scariest part…. being your own motivator and deciding exactly what every day will look like.
Since we are no longer under the same roof, we’ve had to find new ways to stay aligned. Our mornings almost always start with a phone call, a daily checkpoint that gives us space to brainstorm new ideas before narrowing in on the specifics that we need to complete for the day.
Beyond the schedule, we’ve spent these first 100 days building our new reality. Parts of our homes have been reimagined, from the studio where the jewelry is made to the spaces where we handle our own photography and video. Even without a traditional storefront, the quality of our work remains the priority.
The Foundation: Wearing Every Hat
Starting a business means doing a lot more than just designing and making jewelry. It’s a mountain of small and big things, from the legalities of registering an LLC and securing our domain name to building our own corner of the internet with our new website.
We’ve always known what it takes to keep a business running, but now those responsibilities are ours alone. It’s a constant balancing act, learning how to be tech support one hour and designers the next. It’s a steep learning curve, but every administrative task feels like a brick in the foundation of something we believe in.
The Partnership
Although we have worked side-by-side for years, the last few months have really shown us how our different skill sets keep the wheels turning. At the core, we want to be a brand our clients trust, creating one-of-a-kind fine jewelry that honors all of life’s moments.
The Designer: Heather is the one you’ll usually hear from first. She’s the creative lead, from focusing on the designs of our jewelry to our visual flow and presentation. She works closely with our custom clients to make sure their ideas come to life. Beyond the design, she manages the "story" side of things, from marketing and communication to everything you see on our social media.
The Jeweler: Natasha is the hands behind the jewelry. She’s the one at the bench turning raw castings into finished pieces and carefully setting every stone. When she’s not at the bench, she switches gears to handle the logistics of the business from gemstone and material sourcing to managing the math and margins that keep the studio running.
100 Days of "Yes"
For a long time, we wondered if we were "ready." We eventually realized that being ready isn't a destination; it’s just the moment the fear of regret finally outweighs the fear of the unknown.
These first 100 days have been a whirlwind. We’ve traded the security of a paycheck for the thrill of building something from the ground up, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We are so excited to work directly with you on pieces that feel like "us", and more importantly, feel like you.