Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Capriglione.
Vanessa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I first began dabbling in jewelry construction back in high school. I won two first place prizes in our high school’s annual art show for my Jewelry Construction and Advanced Jewelry Construction classes. It wasn’t until I graduated from Temple University and moved to Miami Beach that I realized how much I truly missed creating jewelry.
I found myself gravitating toward the handmade jewelry stands throughout the Miami art scene and thought to myself, “I used to do this. I miss this. I want to do this again.” From there, I started investing in myself. I spent a lot of time and money collecting supplies, browsing stores, venues, events and surfing the web for deals on crystals, wires, cords, chains, tools, etc.
It took time for me to be comfortable getting back into my groove, and furthermore, selling my jewelry. I knew I was happy with the end results when I first started but I had to think about if the piece would hold up over time if the cord would bleed when wet if the wire would shift. After about six months of experimentation, I finally got my line down pat and focused on crystal, wire-wrap necklaces. My new friends in Miami helped me find venues and pop up events to sell my jewelry at and I really owe the start of Lioness Dreamland to them and their support!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The initial start of Lioness Dreamland took longer than I initially thought.
I spent a lot of time and money (more than I’d anticipated) collecting supplies, browsing stores, venues, events and surfing the web for deals on crystals, wires, cords, chains, tools, etc. When I first started, I had to think about if the piece would hold up over time if the cord would bleed when wet, if the wire would shift. These are all things I had to go through and alter. There were many pieces that were already completed that had a faulty wire on or a cord that bled. Money and time were lost but I was dedicated to my jewelry and was determined to create a quality product that would last. After about six months of experimentation, I finally got my line down pat and focused on crystal, wire-wrap necklaces.
Please tell us about Lioness Dreamland.
Lioness Dreamland is a jewelry line that specializes in crystal necklaces that are usually wire-wrapped. I always found that the swirls and color contrast in the wire really elevate the crystal and can help it to truly pop.
I enjoy being called “the jewelry girl” or “the crystal girl” when I go to certain events throughout Miami. It always puts a smile on my face. As a jeweler, I’m most proud of how far Lioness Dreamland has come. I think it really hit me how legitimate selling my jewelry was and had the potential to be once I received my double-sided business cards in the mail after a year and a half of creating Lioness Dreamland.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have bought supplies in smaller quantities when I first started. I could have saved a lot of money, but it’s all about the experience and growth of the company. Without the faults, I may not have realized how much I put into Lioness Dreamland and I may not appreciate it as much. I think it’s important for creators to have some setbacks and downfalls so they can rise up stronger.
Pricing:
- My jewelry ranges between $25-$50 at this point depending on how intricate my creations become. I think it’s important to have jewelry that everyone can afford. I understand that some pieces of jewelry should be more expensive and priced accordingly, but I don’t want someone to look at a piece, fall in love and then find out they can’t afford it. I’ve had that happen to me in the past and it’s a big let down.
Contact Info:
- Email: VanessaLCapriglione@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lionessdreamland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionessDreamland/
Image Credit:
The close up image of the hanging necklaces with the blue and green crystals in the middle – “Eric Smith” or “Eric Smith Photography”
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