Life & Work with Diana Ferguson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Ferguson.

Hi Diana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I credit my “creative gene” to my birth mom, a fiber artist who, before she passed away, owned a boutique on the island of Mykonos, Greece. Growing up with my “tribe” of stepmom and four sisters in the west suburbs of Chicago, I remember being the ‘different one.’

I always felt I was meant to do something creative and loved fashion, music, and pop culture. However, my endeavors in this arena were limited to creating collages from favorite Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar photos. This turned into a life-long hobby; I still have scrapbooks tucked away, many of which contain some of the most iconic fashion photos from the 1980s, 1990s and the aughts.

With a BA in Art, and after years in the corporate world, I began to feel a pull to fulfill my creative destiny (actually, it was a pretty insistent “chirp, chirp, chirp”). I began making more and more jewelry and then started selling it at juried fine art fairs. When that was going well, I took on the task of weening myself from my paycheck job, which I accomplished in 2008, right before the “Big Recession.” The timing was not good, but somehow I made it through and the business continues to grow and strengthen.

I feel fortunate to do what I love and appreciate every single one of my customers so very much. I’m also proud of my strength, determination, and curiosity. Without them, I would never have been able to succeed in this small business endeavor of mine.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Who among us is a stranger to obstacles and challenges? The two that stand out for me are COVID-19 (of course) and the Great Recession that began in 2008 and ended… whenever. From these, I learned:

Don’t Let Pre-Conceived Ideas About Materials Dictate Your Creative Process. Being required to use what you have on hand or can afford may trip your creativity wires in ways you never imagined! I never would have discovered how to work in mixed media, and to appreciate color, if prices for gold and silver hadn’t gone through the roof during the recession.

Play Small Ball When You Have To. If you find the “big things” you were doing no longer work for your personal economy, or if current circumstances preclude doing them (e.g., traveling long distances to art shows or having them all canceled), try something different. During the Great Recession, I found that local art shows and events introduced me to really appreciative patrons who were interested in my journey, invested in it, and are with me to this day. Although smaller local shows led to smaller returns on the face of it, I was left with larger profits after considering expenses.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket. A number of small income streams can provide just as much revenue as the one big river (that is apt to flood).

Develop Some “Go To” Coaching Resources. It’s easy to feel down when things don’t go quite as planned. For that reason, I like to surround myself with positive, proactive websites, podcasts and blogs. I enjoy ArtBizSuccess.com with Alyson B Stanfield and the HalsteadBead.com blog.

You May Not Get What You Want, But You Can Almost Always Get What You Need. Ubiquitous Rolling Stones tune aside, a good friend shared this wisdom with me several years ago and I have found it to be unequivocally true. The trick seems to be in faith and focus. In whatever way you bring those to bear in your life, a laser beam approach is recommended. Don’t forget to ask for help if you need it. And realize there are many helpful resources available; sometimes you just have to do a research deep dive to find them.

Finally. Believe In and Share Your Dreams. Put yourself out there. You may find you have more supporters than you ever realized!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m best known for my Petals to the Metal earrings, but more recently have been most focused on my Adorn Bead Stitched collection.

Petals to the Metal are lightweight earrings that showcase fun, feminine shapes created using an involved, multi-step mixed media process. Distinctive shapes and saturated color fuse everyday comfort with fresh, whimsical statements.

Adorn Bead Stitched is a fusion of traditional Peyote and Brick stitch with contemporary architectural and geometric interpretations. This collection brings together engaging color and irresistible texture to create luxurious wearable art. It’s my signature mix of everyday wearability and bold style – equal parts art and fashion, comfort and statement.

I’m proud to have had my jewelry featured in the Lark publications, “Showcase 500 Art Necklaces” and “1000 Beads.” It’s also been fun appearing in the AZ Foothills Magazine Style Files and the Phoenix Magazine Holiday Gift Guide. My favorite lifestyle blog collaboration has been with Jess Jannenga of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,

Then there was the time the promoter for Eric Clapton’s 2008 Crossroads Guitar Festival reached out to see if I would be willing to make my sterling silver “Crossroads” chainmaille pendant for the performer “thank you” gift bags. Of course, I would! I learned I don’t have much patience for making multiples of the same item but it was fun to know my jewelry landed in the hands of Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, BB King and ZZ Top.

What were you like growing up?
A creative introvert, bottled up in a nerdy little package.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dianafergusonjewelrystudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianafergusonja/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianaFergusonJA
• Other: https://celebrateart.com/store/diana-ferguson/

Image Credits
Diana Ferguson