Every Friday, we feature one woman entrepreneur who is a part of the Entreprenista.com Facebook community. This week, it’s Debrah Block Krol of dbk design arts. Read her story, get inspired, and get connected!
Who Are You?
My name is debrah block krol, and I am the dbk in dbk design arts art jewelry and accessories. I am married with two sons ad live in New Jersey, outside of Manhattan.
I have a lifelong passion and love for color, form and texture. My mother, an artist herself, studied fashion design, and taught me to sew at age 4. I have loved textiles ever since. My projects have included embroidery, knitting, sewing and other traditional needle art forms. I have taken these forms and used them in nontraditional ways to change the viewers’ perception of, and reaction to them. Having earned a BFA in painting, I have worked with oil and acrylic paints, metals, fabric and yarn. In my current works, I now “paint” with ribbons, gems and other materials. For me, creativity is a journey with constantly changing inspirations and forms of expression. I am always looking to learn new methods and materials. I find inspiration in nature with the intricate constructions of flowers, in the vibrant paintings of Matisse, and in the lyricism of ballet, especially the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. My goal is to create objects of beauty that delight, and to evoke associations with memories and events in the wearer’s lives. Ultimately, I want to make my art a part of their lives that gives joy and beauty.
I love beautiful things. I am passionate about the arts and I have a vivid imagination. I love the sensuality of painting and have a bfa in painting. These days I love the physicality and tactile nature of working with wire and gemstones to make my jewelry.
What Do You Do?
I started this incarnation of my business in September of 2010. As with many things it began with a bad break, literally. In 2009 I fell and broke my patella in half. After emergency surgery, I was back on my feet in 2 months, but unfortunately the surgery was not successful. In the meantime I had been toying with idea of a new creative venture and started making scarves—hand dying and embellishing them. They were very well received., but I wanted to do more. Then I discovered wire and wire mesh and my imagination and designs really took off. I started combining ribbons, wire and gemstones.
Instead of recuperating in bed all the time after my second surgery in the fall of 2010, I set up a makeshift studio at my dining room table. I would wheel myself to work. I am sure this aided the speediness of my recovery. I t was still a trying time, but working helped and gave me a sense of purpose.
What time I did spend in bed, I had my laptop constantly by my side. It was my lifeline to the world. I also used the time to google galleries and sent blind emails to at least 300 across the country. The result is that my work has been represented by 25 galleries and shops nationally. I targeted higher end shops and galleries as I had a vision of where I wanted my work to be. I still send out emails as I am always looking for new representation.
An additional bonus came about from all my time on the computer as well. I became very knowledgeable about social media. A former boss saw me online and offered me a job handling his social media! It is a part time job that I can do from home on my trusty laptop.
Why Do You Do What You Do?
Let me say I really love what I do, and I am proud of my work and myself. Making things is what I do, it is my talent. I am a one-woman shop which is sometimes hard and sometimes lonely, but always fulfilling.
I have always wanted to have a successful creative business, and not to sound trite, this is a dream come true for me. In the past I have had a home accessories business, primarily offering hand knit and vintage barkcloth pillows, then a knit accessories business which were both moderately successful.
With dbk design arts I was able to put more effort and dedication into my vision of what my business should be. I was also in a position to put more energy and time into it, as my kids are older and less dependent on me. My husband has been supportive emotionally and financially, a definite factor in the success of dbk.
Having a successful business is fulfilling on many levels. When I am working all my stress goes away and I can lose myself in what I am making. Better than a tranquilizer any day! I often think of my mom when I am working. She died 5 years ago, but she was a creative woman herself and tremendously supportive of me in my endeavours. I know she would have reveled in this.
The best part is I love making beautiful things and other women like them, too!
Where Can We Find You?
I have a studio in my home. To make an appointment you can reach me at deblockrol@me.com or at 973.735.3400.
My website is www.dbkdesignarts.com. There is a complete list of the galleries that carry my work on it. You can also order by contacting me through the site.
Please become a fan of my facebook page at www.facebook.com/dbkdesignarts.
Please follow my blog at http://dbkdesign.wordpress.com/.
I am on twitter @ deblockrol.
I am on Linkedin as Debrah Block Krol.
How Can We Help You Move Forward in Your Business?
Thank you so much for this opportunity. I am always looking for new customers, galleries, outlets and shops and all leads are appreciated. Ultimately I would like to have a large store account such as Anthropologie that I could rely on. I am always open to new ideas that can drive sales.
