Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Brooke.
Hi Allie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Making jewelry is actually a very new skill in my bank.
I have chronic health issues and find myself getting very sick every summer. After blacking out twice in one week at work, I decided to take a leave of absence. At the beginning of my leave, I thought it would be fun to try a new skill. Because having hobbies is my hobby.
I made one earring for myself. Then another 20 in the same week. It was the most fun I’d ever had doing a hobby. You get to design, test, and make beautiful pieces of art. It became very addictive very quickly. I gave some to my mom for her birthday, and she loved them. Seeing someone truly light up from the work I had done is an indescribable feeling. So I made a few pairs for my friends. They all loved their earrings. I completely fell in love with being able to make something beautiful that other people want.
I’ve tried selling other crafts in the past. I draw, paint, do graphic design, and do photography. Trying to sell or even give those items away felt forced.
Now, as an independent artist, I get to use all of those skills to build my business into something that can bring other people joy.
My first art markets as a jewelry seller will be Aug 2026 with Art Garden KC. I even have a few booked for Sept and Oct all over the KC area. I’m so excited to share my artwork and inspire others to do the same.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Before jewelry, when I tried to be a professional photographer, I felt like a voice shouting into a void. It was very isolating. It was something I started out of desperation after losing my job. I just jumped into it without any planning or idea of how to be a business. It spectacularly failed.
For three years afterwards, I was wandering in a dark space. I wasn’t sure if there could even be a future as an artist for me. I would hide my personality, further isolate myself, and run from anything that brought me joy. It was a very difficult time.
It couldn’t be more different with jewelry. It has really brought people around me who want to celebrate art. There’s so much joy in connecting with other people. The way ahead seems very bright and open. I knew being an artist was something that would happen, so I saved funds, networked, and studied. It’s elating to see all of that effort paying off.
That being said, there is so much to learn with jewelry making. It’s an endless well of knowledge for many different techniques. I am excited to learn these things, but teaching myself as I go. Not every piece turns out well. Some designs end up getting scrapped altogether. It’s still fun, though.
The never-ending struggle is my chronic pain and illness. There are days when I cannot get out of bed at all. I’ve had to learn how to use the good days and find things that are manageable on the bad days. It has been an exercise in trusting myself, being fully honest about how I feel, and being gentle with myself mentally and physically.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
During the day, I’m an all-around retail specialist. At almost every job I’ve had in the past ten years, I’ve found myself in a leadership role.
Currently, I work at HomeGoods as a key holder. I mainly lead the truck team with unloading items onto shelves while making sure the store looks as good as possible.
My favorite retail position was as a custom framer. I did that for two years and would go back to it in a heartbeat. There’s nothing quite so fun as getting to design something and then bring it to life.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Definitely taking risks is necessary. Just because something feels scary doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
I’ve had a complicated relationship with risk-taking. As a young adult, I let the confidence of youth rule my life. I said yes to any opportunity that came my way. That led to living a wonderfully full life with unique experiences and many friendships.
After 30, I lost a lot of that brazen can-do attitude and hid in a shell of self-doubt.
In mid-2025, I took a good, hard look at my life and said, “This is not what I want. I need to change.” I began seeking out ways to live colorfully and happily. I allowed experiences to happen that I would have shut down. I embraced change. I sought out the things I wanted. It all felt very terrifying, but I found that whether I failed or succeeded, I was happier for trying.
Taking a risk doesn’t have to mean doing something big or grand like starting a business or jumping out of an airplane. It’s simply betting on yourself. In the big decisions or the quiet ones we pass every day, we are worth the best outcome.
Pricing:
- Earrings range $5 – $10
- Keychains $15
- Mystery Bag $8
- Bead Soup $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ko-fi.com/awjewelry
- Instagram: @alexandriawhitney_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OrnamentalHuman
