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Meet Kimberly Kiefer of Beautifully Broken in Ahwatukee

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Kiefer.

Kimberly, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2013, I went to a women’s expo in Phoenix and met a woman who made beautiful belts and buckles using beads and jewelry. I was so intrigued by them and it stayed with me long after and I began thinking about how to make my own. I find, with me, things percolate and then the perfect creative solution comes to me in some beautiful way.

So, one day, on my daily run, I noticed some glass on the side of the road. And, I could see exactly how I would use it. I bought a buckle blank (flat metal piece 2” x 3”) and embellished it with the glass and added a portion of my grandmother’s necklace. I loved the look and feel of it. The antique and meaningful jewelry piece against the broken glass spoke to me, and I made a few more. Soon after, I found an entire auto windshield on the side of Pecos Rd. I’ll never forget. It was like it jumped out at me! I made more buckles and loved how they turned out.

At the very same time, a good friend gifted me with a session with a life coach. I was trying to figure out a new direction, a reinvention for my life as I was going through a divorce at the time. My three small children were looking to me to hold it together and press on. I knew I had to figure out another stream of income alongside my 9 to 5 office job because money was tight. And, I felt confident I could do it because I had experience in previous business endeavors many years before — painting and embellishing custom children’s rocking chairs and making hand-made jewelry.

So, this particular hobby was coming into fruition and could become a business as well. I just knew it. When I introduced the buckles to my friends over dinner one evening, the reaction was enthusiastic. Everyone chimed in with ideas for marketing and tossed around possible names. Someone said, “What about ‘Beautifully Broken’?” And, at that very moment, the server dropped a wine glass that shattered next to the table. It was a divine moment and the name felt right.

I’ve been a maker my whole life because of the inspiration from my grandmother. She was known for her beautiful handiwork. Her sewing machine sat smack dab in the front room just as you walked into her home. She made doll clothes with great designs. She made our clothes too. She cooked. She gardened. She was always creating something and she had a flair with everything she did. So, it’s appropriate that the first thing I made with my current business was the buckle with a touch of my Mema Bershie on it.

I was always making things for family members — baskets, jewelry, flower arrangements from grapevines, paper angels, so many things. I always have ideas swimming around in my head that I want to create. These ideas wake me up at night… literally! It’s the only thing that wakes me up and gets me going. I’m always excited to get started and I only wish there were more hours in the day.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Well, not exactly. Most of my sales come from the art fairs I attend in various places in Arizona (and surrounding areas). I set up a booth to showcase my wares. Sometimes, it can feel really hard to keep on going when it seems like I’m putting in a whole lot of effort and seeing little results on occasion. I can remember some art shows where I questioned what I was doing. It was cold, my teeth were chattering, it was late on a Thursday night and I had to work the next day at my day job… or the time when a storm came, a torrential downpour, it’s Super Bowl weekend, it rained almost the entire weekend. Much of my handiwork was ruined and I was soaking wet. Not fun. Also, I have to continually load and unload my car for each fair. Some mornings come so early after working a full week at my day job. It’s all labor-intensive and the days are hot.

However, manual labor is not new to me and I was rarely allowed to sit around very much growing up. I often mowed our lawn and did regular chores. No sleeping in on a Saturday morning at our house! And, I once had a job with the local Parks and Recs department in Auburn, Indiana, where I grew up. I spent days picking up trash and trimming vines with big shears only to end up with the worst case of poison ivy and poison oak. I was so deformed the next day. Lol! In essence, all of this prepped me for always getting up and going. I don’t like to waste time.

Another thing, I have come across copy cats. It’s not possible to copyright an idea but I wish more people were mindful and respectful that this is my business and livelihood. It would be so much better if they came up with their own ideas and produced those instead.

But, I would say the very biggest challenge has been missing out on family time and the moments I could be spending with my kids on those weekends I am working at an art fair. In the beginning, I felt very guilty. My kids had to pick up the slack at home. But now, I see years later that all of this has helped them mature and has shaped them into the independent people they are now all while I was growing my passion, my business. I feel a real connection to other single moms who are always trying hard to balance family and work. It’s the universal conundrum for us.

You just have to love what you are doing to keep on! For me, the one-on-one exchange with my customers is the absolute best part and it keeps me aligned with my ultimate motivation for making my artwork. It’s so important to me that each piece is unique and holds special meaning for the recipient. This is my personal goal with each work of art.

Please tell us about your business.
I’ve had more people tell me very intimate stories about why they are buying my pieces… mostly when buying the angel wings, trees, and crosses. Each one touches my heart deeply. And their stories are all different and all beautiful. Many people have shared their struggles of losing a loved one, oftentimes a young child, and it makes me know I am helping them heal and spreading the love. I know I was made to do this. I know it’s my purpose. I know it from the core of my being. We are all broken… and we are all beautifully broken. We can take the shatters and make something from it.

My custom pieces are mostly for people wanting to give something special to someone else. Such an act of kindness and I am happy to co-create. For example, recently someone’s child had two transplants. I am in the process of making a tree with the dates of the transplants. They were choked up telling me their story and I felt so honored to help with this sacred task.

I often leave an art fair and find myself overflowing with joy. I say out loud, “Thank you, God!” My customers’ stories are so intimate and making these pieces fulfills the need I have to create beautiful and meaningful things for people.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to keep at it. Ideas are always evolving. I will think of something that I think is the “best seller”… but then find out it’s not. But then I watch what people ARE connecting with and I expand on those ideas. I never want to stay stagnant and I believe that constant change is good. I plan on continuing to evolve and change with the product demand and what speaks to people.

Also, one’s mindset is so important. In my entire six years of business, while working alone, I have been listening to inspirational videos and podcasts of substance and authenticity. I will continue this process. I love listening to successful and motivational stories. As long as you are living your life’s passion you will get to where you want to be… and beyond. This is not work for me. This is pure joy and anyone living their life purpose knows this. Beautiful things give people joy. And, I have pure bliss just creating these things that bring happiness. I love getting these ideas and seeing them through to fruition.

That’s why I persist. Every year my business has grown from the year before. It’s often exhausting days but I still love what I do. I love meeting other artists, makers, and craftspersons at the shows. We learn from each other. It’s a community of people who want to help each other succeed. And then, sometimes people at the art fairs stop and tell me their stories. They are timid about their creativity and want to sell things themselves but are afraid of putting themselves out there. This is exactly what happened to me and I want to pass it on to encourage others to embrace their passions and go for what makes them feel alive — to get over the fears and see what transpires.

But, I think one of the main lessons I’ve learned that I will continue to follow is when one’s intention is “I gotta sell” versus “I am in service to others,” it just doesn’t work. Sometimes, I went into a situation all wrong, with the wrong intentions. But, when my heart aligned with my creative passion, coupled with the opportunity to help others, some wonderful things transpired. And that’s been my greatest joy and success.

I plan on continuing to create and letting the ideas flow into new products. I have some larger furniture pieces in mind, which I may showcase at art fairs or directly to interior designers. I love doing art shows. I will continue to participate in shows in Arizona and California and I am planning to expand into other states over the next few years, as time and circumstances allow. Also, I sell wholesale, as well as online (Etsy.com and Amazon.com/handmade). So, finding more avenues to reach others and bring joy to them will always be what drives me.

Pricing:

  • Prices for trees vary from $50 to $650 depending on size (12″ up to 48″ custom pieces)

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