By Mark Squibb | Nov. 19, 2020
After about a decade creating and selling metal jewelry, a Tors Cove artist has announced she will be opening her own mini-shop and studio.
Jaclyn Humphries of Hillside Fine Crafts creates handmade jewelry using metals such as copper, enamel and sterling silver.
“All the components are made by hand, using hand tools to manipulate the metal and shape it, and a kiln to fire the enamel onto the metal,” she explained.
Humphries began by making jewellery out of fabric, having studied Textile & Apparel Design at College of the North Atlantic. Looking for a more challenging experience, she enrolled in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
Because regular craft shows have been cancelled, along with wholesale orders from clients, Humphries said that having a storefront, which she anticipates to open in April, means both more independence as an artist, and more clientele.
She recently received $25,260 in funding from the provincial government to assist with development of an e-commerce website, marketing materials, signage and a social media campaign.
“I was just completely ecstatic. This is going to change how many people can actually see my business. I do wholesale too, so now I can present a professional presence online to wholesalers, and also to retailers,” said Humphries. ‘‘This marketing grant will really help propel me and get me into different provinces, and across the world eventually.”
Hillside Fine Crafts was one of eight businesses to receive funding from the program, which doled out a total of $216,000. The funding comes at a time when many crafters, Humphries included, have faced an economic blow due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as craft shows have had to be cancelled, and are only now able to open once again under provincial guidelines.
But, Humphries said, the pandemic has also been a time when local people have shown their support for local craftspeople and artisans even more than usual.
“There’s been a lot of local support for small business since COVID. It’s almost like people have gained more appreciation for things that are local and handmade,” said Humphries, who said that at one point many years ago she was hesitant to start her own business, but has since found success in a niche market she has carved for herself.
“I resisted starting my own business for many years. Now that I’m actually doing it, I see that it can be successful,” she said.
