We had the good fortune of connecting with Tootsie Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tootsie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was 1995, I had been working at a jewelry store since 1986, and was tired of the men that I worked with, that had been there a fewer years than me, getting raises to increase their pay because they were men. I would often hear the reason, “but he has a wife” etc. I was fed up and knew deserved better.
I left work on a Friday and over the weekend made the decision that it was time for me to do something for myself. So Monday morning I called my boss and told him I was at a crossroads and expressed my grievances. After that I called everyone I knew in the business that I had done work for while working at the store and every single phone call was in affirming “yes! I will absolutely send you my business.”
In addition,I was also well aware that I was making sacrifices when it came to my creativity and my spiritual growth. I knew that if I began on my own, I would have the time and freedom to explore making and selling my own jewelry and with that change, I would be able to reconnect with my creativity and my spirituality.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Though I have been very fortunate with the success of my business, there certainly have been a lot of challenges. Right out of the gate, a very costly burglary before our insurance was in place … painful phone calls to inform the customers I had just met. It is very difficult to build your customer base when starting out, and to have something like this happen could have shut me down right away. So early on, I learned to show up and not give up. I learned to prioritize my goals, work as hard and as long as it took to do the very best work, and to operate with the upmost integrity and kindness. This has proven invaluable, particularly when it comes to my restoration, work and personal commissions. When designing for others, I’m very personable while learning about the individuals likes and dislikes and their hopes for their piece, always with an heirloom in mind. When creating my personal jewelry designs, I think a lot about what the piece will resonate with the wearer.. Whether that is the material used, as metal conducts energy and gemstones have healing properties, or images and symbols, representing virtues, and desires, I put a lot of care into creating work that is meaningful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, let’s see, the qualities that I see and love the most in Memphis are art music, fun and community. We have amazing museums here in town, the Brooks Museum, the Metals Musem, Stax, Civil Rights… many many places to hear some of the best live music, DKDC, Lafayette’s, Beale Street, Railgarten.. and lots of places to get really good food… Tsunami, Belle Meade Social, Bounty, the Beauty Shop, Payne’s BBQ just to name a few. There are so many. We would visit Crosstown, one of the best places in Memphis in my opinion. I would take them on a tour all of the amazing Paint Memphis murals around town and visit all the cool Memphis shops like Five in One Social Club, Maggie’s Pharm, Cooper-Young Gift Shop. That’s just to scratch the surface.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
What is it Snoop Dog says…”I wanna thank me.” No, in all seriousness, while true, who I’d like to recognize is the art community I grew up in since moving here right out of high school, the guidance I received and friendships I formed through Memphis College of Art. Whether it be the instructors, friends, or peers in our art community, there was, and still remains a great deal of inspiration to push myself, and do my best.

Website: www.tootsiebell.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tootsiebell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tootsiebellsilversmith?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tootsiebell_?_t=8jUyGZ8Dx6J&_r=1

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