INTERVIEW - Jewelry Designer "Jodi Zulueta" Is In The Spotlight...

Standish913.com has been blessed to do an interview with....

"Jodi Zulueta"!

Jodi & I met at the Supernatural Convention in Kansas City, MO. Jodi has been designing jewelry since her childhood and started professionally over 20 years ago. Jodi's favorite method is wire wrapping. Jodi sells her work at conventions, teaches jewelry workshops, and sells online @ WireWrapture.com

Here's our official interview...

What is your name?

My name is Jodi Zulueta

Where are you from? Your age?

I'm originally from New Jersey but have been living in Tennessee for over 8 years now. I'm turning 52 at the end of the year.

What do you do?

I'm a jewelry designer that specializes in wire wrapping. I sell online at WireWrapture.com as well as in person at conventions. I also teach jewelry making workshops at conventions.

Tell us a little about your company/brand -

I have two brands: Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ and Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ I started out with Eldwenne's Fantasy over 20 years ago and I established Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ earlier this year.

Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ is all about fandom. I'm inspired by so many movies/TV shows and I express my love for them through my wire wrapped jewelry. Some of the fandoms that have inspired me include Star Wars, Dragon Ball, Ghosts, and Supernatural for starters.

Various cast members of our favorite television shows including Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, Castlevania, The Mandalorian, Star Trek: Discovery and musicians such as Kathy Valentine from The Go Gos own Eldwenne's Fantasy designs.

Last year I entered 3 designs into a jewelry making contest. One of my designs won the Silver Medal Award (second place) out of literally thousands of entries. My other two designs were finalists. This experience caused me to think about doing more sophisticated artisan pieces and use my creativity to express my mental health journey. I want my work to be relatable to others with similar experiences. And Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ was born.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I am continuing to grow and expand my business and just launched today my jewelry making supplies available for purchase in my shop.

My goal within the next five years is to grow Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ (Which includes my Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ line) to the extent that I will be able to open a storefront. That's a dream I share with one of my best friends who does fandom crochet pieces, Lilluvvies ™️. I would like to stop traveling to conventions because it takes me away from home for days at a time. Having the storefront will allow me to still have the in person experiences that I currently enjoy with my convention customers.

I also see myself as helping other artists in a mentorship or workshop setting with respect to starting their own businesses.

Who are some of your mentors?

My mentors include my best friends and my family. Carrie and Michael (owners of RiviWeb.com) helped me elevate Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ with a total rebranding, and to launch my new brand Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted ™️ Their company built me the beautiful website I have now. This allowed me to take a huge leap and move away from Etsy and stand on my own.

Carrie, Michael, Elisha, Stephanie, Jen and Rebecca all continue to inspire me and to provide me with their honest and direct thoughts. They also give very honest, direct constructive criticism (aka kicking my ass) when I need it. Which is often.

My family includes my husband Merrill, my four children David, Jaden, Phoenix, Raven and my Dad.

My husband, Merrill is so incredibly supportive of my career and I often run my designs to him for his opinion. And he's always right!

My friends and family are always been there to guide me and to be my cheerleaders. Because I have such a large support system, it allows me ease in making business decisions because I get so many different perspectives to consider instead of just my own.

When I'm struggling, they help me through those hard times to believe in the work I do and to recognize its worth.

What are you currently working on?

I'm expanding my products to include providing jewelry making supplies such as beads, tools, findings, etc., and jewelry making kits with tutorials included.

Additionally I'm developing a line of themed boxed sets of semi precious stones. For example, if someone is looking for stones for protection, they will receive a box with several stones that target protection. They'll be able to choose between raw stones or tumbled polished stones (I just started tumbling my own stones).

They'll receive a guide that explains the contents and the properties of each stone.

I'm also in the process of developing birthstone designs.

In your eyes, what is your biggest accomplishment to this day?

I think my biggest accomplishment would be coming in as the Silver Medalwinner for Mountain Gems Jewelry Design Contest.


That accomplishment taught me to always aim high. It showed me that my work, which was judged by professionals, had artistic value. It pushed me creatively and as a result, I now have a brand just for those designs.

During COVID, we all faced struggles, what was one of your main struggles?

Before COVID, my business model was 80% income from conventions and 20% online sales.

When COVID shut all of the shows down, I had to change that model to 100% online and at a steady flow of revenue.

Within two-three months, which was way faster than I expected, I was able to attain that.

Where can fans find your work?

At WireWrapture.com - my two brands Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ and Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ are there and exclusively. Additionally I'll be vending at all of the US Supernatural conventions hosted by Creation Entertainment.

Anything you'd like to include?

I used to believe that I would never be able to make my art a full time business. And then it happened.

Don't let your fears and doubts discourage you from making your dreams come true.

What are your social links?

On Instagram: @WireWrapture and @eldwenne

On Twitter: @Wire_Wrapture and @eldwenne

------

A Wire Wrapture Artistically Twisted™️ design example:

It's called The Negotiation and was a finalist in the Fire Mountain Gems Jewelry Design Contest



An Eldwenne's Fantasy™️ design: This set is called "Angel Evolution" and is inspired by the tv show Supernatural


----

Thanks so much for your time!!!

If you'd like an interview w/ Standish, please email: