Kathy wraps up her interview with us today, don’t miss her recommendations for women in small business at the end of the post, resources like Pink, be sure to check it out…

What kinds of clients or people do you want to work/collaborate with?
I want to expand the number of museum shops that carry my work because that has been a great outlet for my jewelry on a regular basis. I also really enjoy doing some art fairs because I love the feeling when someone really falls in love with my jewelry… I feel the enthusiasm all over again of rediscovering a design and seeing how good it looks on someone. These shows also open up doing custom work with brides, fashion designers, and people who find interesting things when they travel that they want made into jewelry. I like the balance between store accounts and the connection I get at shows with the end consumer. For new directions I’d like to find some new collaborations, whether they be other artists or manufacturers. I’d like to pursue some design concepts where I’m not the primary maker. I’ve talked to Crate and Barrel in the past… it doesn’t have to be such a large company; I just want to work with someone who is bringing different skills to the table where we can feed off each other’s strengths.

What types are projects are you challenging yourself with these days?
I’m challenging myself to use some new materials. I’ve been sketching and developing new jewelry lines with rubber and ribbon that I’ve had in the sketch phase for way too long. I’ve started to take steps to get the ball rolling again. I’m also working on a bunch of one-of-a-kind pieces with the huge inventory of stones I have. I love stones and color, yet in general my work is about form and texture with not too many gems. Apparently this has not stopped me from buying gems over the years. I’m not ready to create a cohesive body of work per se… I’m just letting the stones speak to me and I’m making pieces as time allows. This work is particularly exciting to existing customers because it feels very fresh and new, yet wire still plays a strong roll in the designs so they have that characteristic “Kathy Frey” style.

Because my blog is about design and marketing, what companies or brands do you look up to in your industry? Why?
Wow, this is a tough one, yet I know that artists and art jewelry are branded. I don’t feel like I’m part of “jewelry” as a huge industry (a la Tiffany) yet I do admire what Alex Sepkus and Patricia Locke have accomplished, although I personally don’t want my work to become so manufactured. From that perspective, I really look up to Saundra Messinger for her beautiful designs and partnerships. My favorite artist story arch is Angela Adams… from high-end rug designer to handbags and home goods…. I’ve loved her work in all its iterations and would absolutely love to find a path that includes lifestyle design and captures more aspects of my personality.

What is your single best piece of advice for women starting out in their own business path?
Don’t doubt yourself and your own gut instinct. All the advisors and consultants in the world can point to a direction or tell you what to do, but if it doesn’t feel right or doesn’t feel like you, don’t do it. You are the expert of you and your business. Don’t let go of that control.

Are there any websites you would suggest as resources for women in business?
I spent many years trying to find great business resources. I haven’t found a lot online – hopefully future interviews will have some great links for me! After subscribing to many magazines (like Entrepreneur, Inc., and Pink) I found that with my unusual art business which covers manufacturing, wholesale, and retail, that it was best for me to stick with The Crafts Report, which is very specialized for artists like myself. Many of their writers have great business advice as well, like Bruce Baker, who talks a lot about sales and display at shows. Additionally I read a lot of books, including several by Barbara Brabec. When I lived in Chicago I also took workshops at the Women’s Business Development Center, which was a great resource.

While searching for resources online, I signed up for many newsletters to see what kind of tips would come out. I quickly unsubscribed from all of them but one: http://www.artbizcoach.com/. Alyson Stanfield is a fabulous artist consultant. She has written a book, conducts many classes online and in person, and she has many free resources available through newsletters and her blog. Although she appeals mostly to artists, there’s a lot of great business advice in general.

Thank you for all the great insights Kathy, and I can’t wait to see what you do with the ribbon and rubber pieces, keep us updated!