Today we’d like to introduce you to Tootsie Bell.
Hi Tootsie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I got started in the business of silversmithing while I was still attending Memphis College of Art in 1986. I was a sculpture major with a focus in woodworking but needed a job to help me through school. I ran into a friend one night on Beale Street who said the jewelry store where he work needed a silversmith. I really didn’t think I could do it. I had zero experience. I went in that next Monday, did a few repairs and they hired me on the spot. I worked there for nine years, teaching myself and developing a reputation. After 9 years there, I was at a crossroads and decided the best for me to grow was to jump out on my own. I’ve been working and growing ever since.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road but I have been blessed. I learned early on that if you show up, work hard, be kind, do good work and have integrity, the rest will fall into place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Most of the work I do has fallen under a broad umbrella of metalsmithing. Predominately silver. Repairing and restoring antique pieces for heirlooms, museums and homes is a large percentage of my work but equally so is the jewelry I make and the commissions I fulfill.
There’s a couple of things that I think set me apart. One is, very few people know the ins and outs of restoring antiques silver. Items can be destroyed in an instance if you don’t understand the make up of the piece you’re working on, and there are only a handful of us left in the country. The other is my brand or style of jewelry. I work a lot with turquoise and other precious and semi precious gemstones and like to use a lot of symbolism and imagery. It’s important to me that my jewelry brings beauty and meaning to the wearer.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think the most important lessons I learned along the way is what I mentioned earlier. They’ve all come out of hardships, obstacles…hitting walls. You have to be able to pivot. To reimagine, to reinvent. Your self, your work, your approach, your ideals. It’s all on a continuum.
The bottom line is show up and don’t give up. Do hard things. Be professional. Be kind. Have integrity. If you commit to that everyday, the world will provide.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tootsiebell.com
- Instagram: Tootsiebell
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tootsiebellsilversmith
