About BrooklynThread

Hi, I'm Joanna, author of Lifestyle Bohemia and owner/designer of BrooklynThread, an independent jewelry collection. I would describe BrooklynThread as a collision of bohemian chic and urban style, achieved by combining metal, glass and stone with leather, linen and thread. Each piece is designed and hand-crafted in Brooklyn, N.Y. BrooklynThread designs can be purchased on the BrooklynThread website, Etsy shop and at various boutiques around the world.

I was recently interviewed by the lovely Jessica of WaySide Violet:

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Joanna, but my friends and family call me Jo. I am a 20-something native Brooklyn girl and self-taught jewelry designer. I worked in the legal field for years before making a career shift. I am now lucky enough to make jewelry full time which I sell on my website, Etsy shop and to small boutiques.

Q. How did you begin making jewelry?

I’ve always loved crafting and making things with my hands. I’ve been especially drawn to jewelry and accessories. My Etsy shop started as a hobby in March of 2009. I had a lot of design ideas in my head and once I started making the pieces, I couldn’t stop. After receiving many kind comments and positive feedback from customers, I decided to take it more seriously. I then developed my website. Most people around me have corporate jobs so I never thought I could make a living while living creatively.

Q. Your shop is so pretty! What is your creative process like?

I love combining colors and textures to create something unexpected. This may sound strange, but I often wake up with new ideas and designs in my head. Sometimes a new idea results from daydreaming. In a few instances, my designs resulted from a mistake. I often feel like I’ll never have enough time to make all of the jewelry I imagine.

Q. What’s a normal day in your life like?

I work from my home studio in Brooklyn. While I would love to spend all day creating jewelry, a large portion of my day is spent maintaining my website, communicating with customers, photographing my designs, packaging orders, blogging and networking. There’s always something left to do, but it’s a labor of love. It’s special to have something that’s all your own.

Q. What inspires you most of all?

Vintage findings, interior design trends, printed textiles, urban culture, bohemian culture, old Brooklyn architecture, the 60’s and 70’s. The idea of someone in a far away place wearing one of my designs is most inspiring.