How Jewelry Helped Me Heal, Grow, and Empower Others
They say adversity makes you stronger. I say it makes you shine.
In 2012, I left everything behind in Venezuela—my home, my career, my parents, and the hardest of all, my youngest daughter. I arrived in New York with only $300 in my pocket and a suitcase full of uncertainty. I moved into my aunt’s home and started over from scratch.
I didn’t feel strong.
I didn’t feel empowered.
I felt broken.
What followed was one of the hardest chapters of my life. I moved constantly, I faced depression, and for a while, I lost myself. But one day, with the help of therapy, I was told something that changed everything:
“Use your hands. Keep your mind busy. Create something.”
So I Googled ideas. That’s when I found something called “Bisuterapia”— a therapeutic jewelry-making technique. It sparked something in me.
The First Wire, the First Spark
I was living in a small town called Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when I found a jewelry course… in Miami. I barely had money, but I figured it out—because deep down I knew I wasn’t just looking for a new skill. I was searching for healing.
That trip was the beginning of something beautiful.
Back home, I started creating small pieces and selling them to friends. I remember one moment clearly: my father visited from Venezuela and brought me supplies to support my new journey. The funny part? He brought me mostly Italian red leather—so much of it! I think I made 100 pieces out of that red leather. Gracias, papá.
Bazaars, Disappointment & a Wake-Up Call
Later, I moved to Florida and began selling in local craft markets. But it wasn’t easy. There were weekends I paid high booth fees and sold nothing. One event in particular changed everything.
It was packed—with over 150 women, most of us Venezuelan immigrants, all trying to survive by selling handmade jewelry. The event was a disaster. No sales. No traffic. No support. I got home that night and said, “¡Basta! This can’t continue.”
So I grabbed every business card I had collected that day and created a WhatsApp group. I named it:
“Creativas en Miami.”
I sent a message to all the women:
“If we unite, we can demand respect. Organizers need to treat us fairly and adjust their prices—or they’ll have no vendors.”
That night, I understood what empowerment really meant.
It wasn’t just about standing up for myself—it was about lifting us all up.
Jewelry Became My Medicine
From that moment, creating jewelry stopped being just an income.
It became my therapy.
My voice.
My mission.
I started connecting with women—customers, now friends—who shared their stories with me. They would say, “This necklace gave me confidence,” or “Your designs make me feel seen.”
So I chose my slogan:
Empowering by Jewelry.
Because that’s exactly what it did for me.
Today, I’m Living My Purpose
I went from one necklace… to three physical stores.
I went from broken… to building a life I love.
From depressed… to empowered.
From silence… to strength.
And today, I create every piece with the intention that you, too, will feel that strength when you wear it.
Wear Your Power. Heal with Your Style.
Jewelry isn’t just about how you look.
It’s about how you feel.
It’s a reminder that you’ve survived. You’ve grown. You’ve arrived.
And every time you wear one of my pieces, I want you to remember:
You are not alone. You are powerful. You are a queen.
“Porque todas brillamos a nuestra manera.”
Ready to Feel Empowered?
💫 Shop the Collection Here
💬 Or message me—I’d love to help you find a piece that feels más tú.
Con amor y fuerza,
Julie Saldivia
Founder, dreamer, immigrant, mujer poderosa.
