Headingley mom starts jewelry business

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This article was published 18/02/2015 (3943 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There isn’t really anything dainty about using a hammer but one Headingley jewelry maker makes handling one look delicate as she uses the tool to create dainty necklace charms.

Lisa Krishka makes necklaces and other forms of jewelry for her online business, Craft Girl Designs. The personalized pieces are created in her Headingley home while her toddler naps.

“I just like making something I know someone will cherish forever. It’s keepsake jewelry,” Krishka said. “It’s nice to make something so unique and personal.”

Krishka launched her business two years ago but her love of crafts began when she was a child.

“Since I was a little girl I spent my hard-earned allowance on crafts,” she said.

When Krishka had her daughter two years ago, she saw personalized mommy necklaces with birthstone charms and wanted one for herself. Instead of buying one, she bought the supplies to make it herself.

“I spent the money on all the tools, even though it would’ve been much cheaper to just buy one,” she said with a laugh.

People noticed her necklace and began asking her to make them. Her crafting hobby turned into a small home business, as she sells her wares on Etsy, an online store where crafters can sell their projects.

Over the year of her maternity leave she grew her company.

“I was really lucky she was a really good baby. I was used to being really busy at work and I needed something to do. Crafts took up some of my time,” she said.

Krishka makes the jewelry in her kitchen. The pieces are personalized so people can get names and dates stamped on the charms. Krishka stamps each letter into place with a hammer and has a mini-assembly line ready to finish off the jewelry. Each necklace takes Krishka about an hour and a half to create.

Krishka says birthstone charms are popular gifts for grandmas and moms. She says people also buy them for bridesmaids and grads. Cancer survivors often get necklaces with ribbon charms.

The necklaces cost from $50 to $75 and can be found locally at Headingley Foods or through Krishka’s online store at etsy.com/shop/CraftGirlDesigns?page=1.

Amber McGuckin is a community correspondent for Headingley.