With her financial security and career path swinging in the balance, Tess Morgan took a leap of faith - and landed with success.
Employed as a full-time police officer, Morgan decided she wanted to sell her handmade jewelry in order to earn income. Within six months, she was able to quit her full-time job.
"The business took off overnight. I took that leap, and it just went crazy," she said.
Though Morgan had previously lacked the confidence to sell, she desired a change. "I was stuck where I was, and I did not like it. I had to get out of it."
Despite some admonitions from friends and family, Morgan began producing jewelry for sale.
"It was stressful but fulfilling. Everyone said I had huge dreams. You always have people that say you can't do it. If you believe in something, you're going to go places," Morgan said.
Though Morgan appreciated more time at home with her two young daughters, managing an online business, The Tessy Tree, presented its own hurdles, she said.
"It took a long time to build my fan base. It's still growing. An online business is different than a storefront business. You don't have that foot traffic. If you don't market it, you don't sell," she said.
Morgan markets primarily using Facebook.
Despite the challenges of advertising and working independently, The Tessy Tree has proved fruitful for Morgan and her family, she said.
"If I didn't have it (her business) ... I don't know where we would be. It's allowed us just to give and get by. It has always worked out because I have always believed in it," she said.
With more than 5,000 pieces produced so far, Morgan sells much of her jewelry to customers overseas, especially in the United Kingdom, she said.
Now at a count of more than 3,700, the tree pendants were one of Morgan's first designs and formed the original basis of her jewelry-selling endeavors. It's also her top-selling piece, she said.
Each tree requires about a couple hours of labor, and Morgan does not measure or plan when she designs, which contributes to the individuality of each piece, she said.
"I never have a plan when I sit down and make something. No two are the same. Every piece is different."
Morgan's designs cost her customers $10 to $45, though consumers usually desire cheaper, mass-produced jewelry.
"With the economy the way it is now, people don't care about quality and handmade. They want it cheap, and they want it right now," she said.
In addition to the tree pendants, Morgan also fabricates a popular collection she christened God's Armor, she said.
For pieces in the God's Armor collection, Morgan adorns necklace or bracelet chains with Scripture-related beads or pendants, as well as Biblical symbols.
"No matter what your religion or belief is, those are inspirational. It inspires me as I make it," she said.
The scripture-related pieces as well as scripture itself has buoyed Morgan and her family during difficult times, she said.
"We've gone to a part where we just hit rock bottom. Because of faith, we overcame that."
Scripture often appears in Morgan's life at points when she craves hope and inspiration, she said.
"If I'm feeling down or thinking this isn't going to sell ... I always find a scripture, and I don't even go hunting for it. It just pops out at me somewhere. It's getting yourself into a positive mindset and knowing it's all going to work," she said.
Morgan said she believes others can also reap encouragement from her handmade jewelry.
"People suffer from anxiety and depression a lot these days. I like to make stuff where people can look down and read that so if you can look down and read something over and over, it can make you feel better," she said.
Though Morgan said she does not necessarily consider herself to be religious, she feels prompted to spread hope stemming from scripture to others.
"Now that I'm older, and I've started to understand the things I'm turning to. I've been through challenges. It's time for me to give back and spread that."
"A fun, creative outlet'
As computer programmers in the Office of Administration, friends Angie Neiman and Kristen Prather discovered an artistic hobby that eventually turned a profit: jewelry making.
"It's a fun, creative outlet that pays you back," Neiman said.
After an initial investment into equipment, which caused the pair to break even their first year, Prather and Neiman's jewelry making yielded a profit in their next two years.
Prather and Neiman operate a booth at several different festivals around Mid-Missouri, Prather said, including the California Harvest Festival, Oktoberfest, the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival and the Cole County Extension Fall Festival.
After several years of friendship and working together, Prather and Neiman began their collaboration.
"We both always liked doing creative things like scrapbooking, but it doesn't pay you back," Neiman said.
The two began crafting jewelry at home then bringing it into work in order to solicit feedback from each other and coworkers.
"We can talk each other into anything so we talked each other into this. We said: "What's the worst that can happen?'" Neiman said.
Though Prather and Neiman have been largely prosperous in their jewelry-making venture, they have encountered a few obstacles along the way.
Because the majority of the festivals they attend occur in early fall, weather can present a challenge. Strong winds can sometimes topple their display, and even the slightest drizzle can require the individual hand-drying of every piece of jewelry on display, Neiman said.
Prather and Neiman experienced difficulties with rain at the first festival they attended.
At the Camdenton Dogwood Festival in April 2011, bitter cold and drizzling rain plagued their outdoor booth, she said.
In spite of the lamentable weather conditions, Neiman and Prather retained a spirit of optimism: "We always said we made money because we found a dime on the ground," Neiman said.
According to Prather, "finding something new and different (to design)" can also present a sizable hurdle.
Despite the difficulty of always finding different designs, Neiman said their collection includes "not more than one of the same."
"They're made with love. They're all vastly different. We make sure we have a variety in order to appeal to a lot of people," she said.
With customers from 9-year-olds to 90-year-olds, Prather and Neiman attempt to "size things appropriately" and create "something anyone would like," Neiman said.
In order to attract a multitude of customers, Prather and Neiman sell all of their necklaces for $10.
"We wanted to keep it affordable so people don't have that guilt," Neiman said.
Customers avoiding any buyer's regret and purchasing a piece they like gives Prather and Neiman a sense of pride, they said.
"There is somebody for every piece. They look amazing on the people that love them," Neiman said.
Prather and Neiman said they discover design ideas in a variety of places.
"We look at jewelry wherever we go," Prather said.
"We try to stay with the trends or be ahead," Neiman said.
Though the designers follow trends, they avoid designs that may not be in vogue the next season.
"None is too complicated. It's fairly simple," Neiman said.
"It's classic. It won't go out of style next year," Prather said.
Most recently, Neiman and Prather have been modeling pieces based on the stylistic choices of the popular public television show Downton Abbey. Prather described that collection of jewelry as "turn-of-the-century-inspired," as it often includes "mixing pearls with beads."
"That stuff flies off the table," Neiman said.
In addition to the Downton Abbey-related collection, Neiman and Prather's other jewelry has also sold well.
"People recognize you at shows and start looking for you. They see what you've got that's new. People like what we make. That's a nice feeling," Neiman said.
Jewelry-making "snowballed'
Teaching girls to make jewelry for Mother's Day gifts catalyzed Nan McCasslan's jewelry-making endeavors.
McCasslan became interested in jewelry-making by, "...first trying to help kids, and then it snowballed," she said.
As a teacher, McCasslan began bringing her handmade jewelry to her elementary school, where other teachers would purchase it from her.
"People would buy from a box in the teacher's lounge," McCasslan said.
She originally started making jewelry with a friend in San Diego - and she was stuck on it, she said.
"We did a show together. Although our styles are different, it was fun to work together."
Together, McCasslan and her friend would go to gem shows where vendors from all over sell their gems and one can buy nearly any variety of stone, she said.
"It's a magnificent experience."
Of the many gems McCasslan views at the shows, freshwater pearls boast a timeless appeal, she said.
"They have a classic look to them," she said. "They still look good even when trends change."
Using her favorite selections of gems and beads, McCasslan may create a set pattern or a random design.
"There's no right or wrong way to put it together. You do what pleases you that day."