#Giveaway Making Spirits Bright with Origami Owl + Exclusive Interview with Founder Bella Weems!

Over the holidays, I like finding items that I can both give and wear, to help celebrate the holidays and get keep that festive mood going in my home! I think one way to accomplish this and even spread some of that holiday cheer is by finding items that can help personalize the holidays! As in past years, one line of jewelry that I will not only be wearing over the holidays, but also giving to others, will the the products from Origami Owl, and to help when it comes to the jewelry I will wear this holiday season, I was sent some very beautiful pieces from the Origami Owl line.

I like that I can go on and either order from one of the many consultants, or go on the Origami Owl site, and create those custom living locket pieces that are not only unique, but also special since I can choose the customization from the start to the finish when I order my lockets! From choosing the locket, either adding a plate or going without one, choosing the charms that can tell a story and bring the locket together in the their own unique way with, to picking out that perfect chain to put my locket on, bringing my creation together!

I can also go on the site, and find a consultant so I can host my own Origami Owl party with friends, which would make for a great holiday get together! Aside from the living lockets, there are other pieces that I can choose from, making the experience I get when I shop Origami Owl, unlike any other out there, and making the gifts I can create, special in their own unique ways!

Aside from the excitement I got by receiving some of the Origami Owl Christmas themed lockets, I was also given the chance to interview the founder of Origami Owl, Bella Weems!!! You can read the interview below:

As a mother to a daughter, who has big dreams, what would be your advice for young girls?

One of my passions is speaking to young girls and when I have the opportunity to do so I always tell them to do what they love!  You only have one life to live so make the most of it.  Also I encourage them to set goals and remind them that no dream is ever too small.  I tell them to surround themselves with people that believe in them and I always encourage them to pursue their dreams. My mom and I took a leap of faith and look where I ended up! If you have a dream, follow it and make it a reality and always try to find a way to pay it forward.

What was your inspiration behind the living lockets and charms?

I have always loved jewelry and discovered some pretty glass lockets, which have been around for centuries however I had the idea to personalize them by taking charms that represent your personal story, placing them inside the locket so the necklace could be worn for the world to see, this is me!  Our lockets are such a positive piece and conversation starter.  I notice when I ask someone to share with me what’s in their locket the same thing happens each time.  The person grabs their locket, holds it in their hand and a huge smile comes across their face as they start to share their story, now that’s happy!

Where did you come up with the name of, Origami Owl?

I have always loved origami. I had it hanging in my bedroom when I was younger.  When my mom and I were brainstorming names for the company I was thinking about the many things that I love.  Origami is beautiful and unique while Owls represent wisdom, strength and courage. When my mom, co-founder Chrissy Weems, and I put the name Origami Owl together we loved the way it sounded and what it represented, whimsy and wise. 

How did you decide on starting a jewelry company so unique, and at such a young age?

My dream was to buy a car when I turned sixteen.  I asked my parents to buy me the car, and they turned me down! They encouraged me to figure out a way to make this dream come true.  I tried babysitting  and saved up $350 dollars, but quickly realized that it would take me a very long time to get that car so my parents suggested starting my own business. When I was researching ideas I came across a young girl who had started a jewelry company using bottle caps.  I thought if she can do this so can I.  Needless to say I persevered! It started with house parties every weekend then upgraded to a mall kiosk, and I quickly realized that it ‘takes a village.’ Support is needed for something like this; you definitely can’t do it alone. I am thankful for my family, they believed in me.  I am happy to say my dream came true and I finally got my white Jeep, which I call Alice!

How does it make you feel, knowing that women everywhere have embraced your idea, and taken on their own Origami Owl Sales to generate income for their own families, in hand making it possible to stay home with their kids and help with the household finances? 

I am truly humbled and feel so blessed this idea was embraced by so many women.  The most rewarding decision was to use the Direct Sales model rather than sell in stores. We wanted other women to experience the same success we were experiencing.  I am passionate about paying it forward and this allowed us to do just that!!  The most common questions we would get were ‘How can I be a part of this?’ and ‘How can I do this myself?’ That’s when we decided to go the direct-sales route, allowing anyone to sign up and sell jewelry as an independent designer. We welcome and encourage women, men and even kids as young as 12 to become designers (with their parent’s permission) and gain entrepreneurial experience. Now we have over 68,000 independent designers selling Origami Owl custom jewelry across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico!. I am thankful my Origami Owl family keeps the business running beautifully day to day.  The company has grown so much from when we started and now that I have graduated High School I am at the office every day participating in an internship where I spend a few weeks in every department, I love it and have learned so much!

Well to help with those holiday gifts this year, the wonderful people from Origami Owl would like to give one of my amazing readers their own Origami Owl Locket!! 

Entry-Form

Product received, thank you to Origami Own and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.