Farmers Market a dream come true for jewelry maker
Tracey Morelli has her dream job.
The vibrant 42-year-old Calgarian crafts her own jewelry and displays it at large festivals and markets around the region. Twice a month she displays her unique reclaimed-wire bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and pendants at Airdrie’s Farmers Market.
“This is my full-time job,” said Morelli while marketing her product at the July 11 market. “I started working with wire and said to myself, ‘I don’t want to do anything else, I’ve found what I want to do.’”
With her unique merchandising and one-of-a-kind pieces, Morelli’s booth is one of the most popular at the market. Patrons flock to the booth to get a closer look at the primarily solid brass and copper-wire pieces, twisted and turned to look like daisies, butterflies and other shapes.
“It’s lovely and unique,” said Airdrie resident Stephanie Toombs of Morelli’s pieces. “Anything handmade makes me happy.”
Along with the wire, Morelli’s jewelry features vintage buttons, keys and pocket watches, as well as hand-dyed silk, beads and other collectibles.
Morelli gets most of her jewelry-making materials from online suppliers who collect them from estate sales and other sources.
Morelli’s creativity hails back many years and is part of her family’s heritage.
“When I was a kid I made my own jewelry,” she said. “When I was in high school I sewed my own clothes. We are a pretty handy family.”
With time on her hands and the support of her husband, Morelli rediscovered her childhood love of fashioning jewelry. It quickly became a passion.
Morelli started up Corabella, the company she named after her grandmother Cornelia, who is now in her mid-90s.
“She was awestruck,” said Morelli.
Crafting, sourcing, merchandizing and selling her own creations offers everything Morelli was looking for in her dream job.
“I get to do all the different areas of the business and that is really rewarding,” she said.
Morelli spends about two days each week creating her products, which she says are inspired from a number of sources, including the work of other jewelry makers. Whatever the inspiration, Morelli endeavours to put her own personal stamp on every piece she creates.
The rest of the time is spent attending shows, pricing and updating her popular website, www.mycorabella.com
More than anything, Morelli said she feels blessed to have discovered her dream job, one that allows both her creativity and business sense to flourish.
Morelli visits Airdrie’s Farmers Market, located in the Airdrie Legion parking lot, every other Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Comments
The Airdrie City View welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to delete comments deemed inappropriate. We reserve the right to close the comments thread for stories that are deemed especially sensitive. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher.
blog comments powered by Disqus