Life and Work with Cherryl Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherryl Anderson.

Cherryl, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
“Find a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” A quote that I’ve held near and dear to my heart from one of my college professors but it only took me 35 years to take the plunge and find my calling. In my previous life I worked in hospitality for over 10 years and in 2013 I became a stay at home mom after we learned that our oldest was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. After our third was born in 2015 I was itching to do something more and that something more had to do with my love for fashion.

I’ve always loved fashion especially accessories. The only problem was my metal sensitivity limited what I could wear. So, what started out as a hobby to make jewelry for myself turned into Ayla Jane Designs, named after two of our girls. I officially opened in the summer of 2016 with the help and support of my amazing husband, family and friends who believed in me.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey hasn’t been smooth sailing. It’s been more like a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Trying to juggle it all as a full time stay at home mom in 2016 with three kids under 6 and our youngest who didn’t sleep much her first year made for interesting nights. The only time I finally sat down to create was when everyone was asleep. I guess you can say I’m a night owl. There’s something therapeutic about working in a quiet space, and for me working at night is when I get my creative juice flowing.

Less than year after I opened up shop we found out we were relocating to Arizona for my husband’s job. I was filled with mixed emotions as most of my business was local in Texas but I was also excited at new beginnings. We found the perfect home in Cave Creek with a casita which is where I have my studio set up. I’ve had to do things a little differently having to start over. In the past year I’ve started working with boutiques and being able to be more present in social media has help Ayla Jane Designs
grow.

My advice for someone starting out. Put yourself out there, you’ll never know until you try. Stay organized and focused and know that there may be bumps along the way but that’s life. Most importantly, create with passion, be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback.

Please tell us about Ayla Jane Designs.
I’m just a mom who loves her accessories and I’d love to share it with you! I specialize in leather bracelets and lightweight earrings made for sensitive ears in mind. I love working with leather because it’s so versatile and you can dress it up or down. On any given day live in leather studs when I’m running around with my kids. Some of my favorite custom orders include helping brides accessorize for their big day and making bow ties for ring bearers. But one of the things I truly love most is that a portion of my sales is donated to a special cause.

When I began drawing up my business plan, one of my goals was to give back. Journey Learning Center (www.journeylearning.org) is a preschool in Grapevine, Texas. They provide a multi-disciplinary treatment approach for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. JLC maximizes the development of each student’s communication, social, sensory-motor and academic skills within a single setting. The founder of JLF, Mary Villarreal, holds a special place in our heats – she was our son’s occupational therapist for four years when we lived in Texas. In fact, deciding on what organization to benefit from Ayla Jane Designs was the easiest decision I’ve had to make. For each pair purchased, $1 is donated to Journey Learning Center.

Who have you been inspired by?
My mom is definitely my source of inspiration. Growing up she worked two jobs yet she managed to always be there for us. My mother is the most selfless woman I know. If I turn out to be half the woman she is, I consider myself blessed.

Pricing:

• $15-$35
• $1 is donated to www.journeylearning.org for each pair purchased

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aylajanedesigns.com
• Email: aylajanedesigns@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/aylajanedesigns
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/aylajanedesigns
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/AylaJaneDesigns

Image Credit:
Jess Legaspi Photography
Vizionary Visuals Photography

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.