Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Corbin-Davis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in the Northwest suburbs of Houston. I graduated from Scarborough High School. I am married to a wonderful man, who is a war Veteran and who has been super supportive. I have 3 children, and a cute little poodle mix named ‘CASHMERE”. We reside in the Northwest part of Houston, in what is now called Highland Heights.
I started creating jewelry about 25 years ago. I used to sell my Jewelry from my car, and the name of my business at that time was Accessories a la Carte. My medium of choice was polymer clay, beads, and crystals. I took a hiatus after getting married and having children.
Years later after a friend commissioned me to design some pieces for her, my creative juices started to flow again. I dusted off my tools and began to create again. I found a local bead shop, while out in the field working as a Realtor. Soon after, every time I closed on a house, I would go to the bead shop to buy beads. I became a Jewelry instructor with that Bead Shop and found a technique that I fell in love with call “Kumihimo”.
Kumihimo, which translates to gathered threads in Japanese, is a traditional Japanese braiding technique consisting of braiding strands of silk to create intricately colored cords. The cords are strong but slender and have a multitude of uses. Samurai once used kumihimo as laces for their armor.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. As an artist and a one “woman” show, I am responsible for creating, editing, promoting, marketing, and advertising. The only one thing that I have truly mastered is Creativity.
Artists just want to create, we would love to leave all the other stuff up to someone else. However, as the saying goes, “Starving Artists”….. and you can finish the rest.
The Jewelry Instructor – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Once I found my niche, I changed my Business name to, THE JEWELRY INSTRUCTOR, started creating my own original patterns and submitting them to beading magazines which publish internationally. Although I have become known for my nontraditional “Kumihimo Outside of the Box” techniques, I teach all sorts of Jewelry techniques.
I teach Senior citizens, special needs children, and anyone else that wants to learn. I create and teach from my home or I travel to teach. Last year I taught a Bead shop in Springfield, Massachusetts. My patterns are sold to people all over the world via my ETSY shop. I also started the Texas Kumihimo Retreat, that is now going into its 4th year. Locals, as well as visitors from other parts of the country, have come to the Texas Retreat, where we all share and learn together.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is not always about Wealth or money. Success to me is when I dream of a certain piece of Jewelry, and I successfully bring it into existence. Success is also the sense of Peace, and satisfaction that you get when you can share what you do with others. Success, for me, is watching the JOY on the faces of those that I teach a technique to, knowing that they too will be addicted to “Creativity”!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thejewelryinstructor.com
- Phone: 713 397-7748
- Email: info@thejewelryinstructor.com
- Facebook: The Jewelry Instructor
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
