We did a little Q&A with JoAnna Feldewerth to find out about her new business, Refined Birmingham. JoAnna was a Bustle Bride and she and her husband were married July 21, 2018 (to see their wedding feature click here). We are so excited to share her beautiful, creative work.

How did you come up with the idea for Refined Birmingham?

The idea of Refined Birmingham started towards the end of last year. My goal was to have a small creative business that featured handmade art, home decor, accessories, stationery, apparel, and other crafts! I am someone who has a million creative ideas, so as soon as I get home from my full-time job, I spend time with my husband Andrew and our dog Remmy, and then start creating.

When did Refined Birmingham start and how did you choose the name?

I started making items for Refined Bham in November 2020, and officially launched my Etsy shop on January 1, 2021! Since then, I have sold out almost all of my terrazzo home decor pieces, I have launched mask chains, tea towels, phone cases, badge reels, napkin rings, makeup bags, and tees, and I have been working on at least 12 other items to launch over the six months - stay tuned for those! I can't wait to share them with everyone.

I chose the name "Refined" for two reasons... First, my hope and prayer is that the Lord continues to refine me as a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and business owner. He has taught me so much already, and I am confident that He will continue to shape me and use me for His good. The second reason is that, as mentioned, I have so many ideas constantly running through my head for new goods to make. I want to take all of my thoughts and ideas and "refine" them into a successful business.

You have a beautiful assortment of products! What are your favorite ones to make and which are the most popular with your customers right now?

My most popular items right now are my handmade jesmonite trays and coasters. My material is shipped from a small shop in Singapore, so it can get pretty pricey, and takes a while to arrive! Jesmonite is a non-toxic, water-based, eco-friendly resin that is so fun and safe to work with. After measuring and hand mixing the jesmonite, I add my terrazzo pieces to create a terrazzo look, or my special pigments to create a marbled look. I then carefully pour the mixture into a mold and let it set. After roughly an hour, the pieces are ready to be sanded... this is hands-down the hardest part! I spend hours wet-sanding each piece by hand, running through sandpaper pretty quickly. Although they are the most challenging to make and most expensive products I make, the jesmonite items are my absolute favorites. I get so excited to see how the pieces turn out!

The mask chains are also fun to make! This past Christmas, before I officially launched my business, I wanted to do something special for my family. At that point, I had already made and sold a few mask chains (which are so cute and functional), and I wanted to make some for the women in my family! I took a few of my Nana's old necklace chains and, keeping the original clasps, created custom mask chains for each of them. It is so special to wear a piece of her so close to our hearts each day! While I do sell mostly my own creations, I love making unique custom orders.

What does the future look like for Refined?

I am hopeful that the future of Refined Bham will be full of hard work, joy, and blessings. I am so grateful for the amount of support from family, friends, and even strangers as I step into this new chapter of my life! It means the world to me.

If you are looking for a unique and handcrafted gift to give, I would love for you to check out my shop on Etsy, follow me on social media (RefinedBham), and come say hi at future events. I am so thrilled to share my passion for creating, and work hard to have a little something for everyone - thank you for shopping small, and for shopping Refined!