Meet Shubhangi Pandey | Handcraft Jewelry Artisan

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

Hi Shubhangi, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have been keenly interested in art and craft since my childhood. In my early 20s, I was introduced with the art of quilling from one of my Aunts. That was the beginning and the interest only kept growing! I began to interest myself by quilling greeting cards and envelopes at first. Eventually, I started to develop liking towards quilling jewelry. I have been always interested in becoming a jewelry designer (Although I am a doctorate in biological sciences, that’s a different story!!). The thought was to design jewelry for myself, but my friends and family started to love my designs and motivated me to start a small business out of it. I got to practice the art only seldom, due to my Ph.D. studies. It was in a agony, I arose as the business owner. I met with an accident and was prescribed complete bed rest. I resumed my love and passion for quilling jewelry and I could design so many pieces that it became a good number just enough to host a craft exhibition back in India. The response was wonderful. In a two-day event, I ran out of the products on the first day and collected plenty of pre-orders. I never looked back since then.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Quilling is a form of paper art. It requires lot of time and patience to give shape to even the easiest of the designs. It is tiring sometimes, especially when you are doing it as a part-time but still expect to get the fullest from it. I was demotivated when people would criticize my work saying, “It’s made of paper, how long is it going to last!?”. Yes, that is one discouraging statement to make to craftsmen and artisans. I improved my designs and finished products to stand out in the market. It is very important to believe yourself and your art. You must have faith that you are unique. My constant efforts established me in this field of quilling where I came up with lots of unique and neat work. Now, I have started to form contacts with store owners and craft shows, where I can promote more of my work. I believe that my designs are unique and one of a kind. They are neatly presented and the jewelries are becoming more and more popular among every age group.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a fairly new Dallas resident! Frankly speaking, I need to explore more to hand out such tips. There are few places, though, where I can visit even daily. My favorite places are Dallas Arboretum and Cypress Waters. The beautiful landscapes, flowers and lakes are so relaxing! These are nice hangout places. A beer in hand, open garden and lake front in view form the perfect day out with my husband and my friends. I come from India and always look forward to having good mouth-watering Indian food. The search for a good restaurant is ongoing! Ask me the same question next year, I might come up with more options!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am always thankful to my father. He has been a constant support and a figure of inspiration for me. Then comes my mom! She has always stood by me side! However, her criticism has also helped me to grow. Lastly, my husband (who was my boyfriend when I started my small business) never failed to promote my work in his group of friends.

Website: www.etsy.com/shop/GehnabyShubhangi

Instagram: gehna_by_shubhangi