Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Boulton.
Carly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After I had given birth to my first child, my postpartum anxiety was destroying my quality of life. I found that creating was giving me the purpose I was needing at the time. I started creating jewelry out of spent bullet casings for my husband’s gun shop. As I was experimenting and expanding my jewelry ideas, I began to use resin.
As our family dog neared the end of his life, I wanted to create something to memorialize him using some of his furs. I had some friends and family see this and love the idea. More and more people wanted keepsakes but all they had left of their pets were their cremation ashes. I branched out and started creating these jewelry pieces with ashes and it has continued to gain traction and appreciation.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey has had its ups and downs. Having never been in this type of work, I didn’t know how hard it would be emotionally. I learned that grief and trauma can manifest different physical symptoms in your body.
It can create health issues if it is ignored and can worsen without being addressed. I’ve had to learn how to take care of myself emotionally in a way I never knew I would need to.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The work that I create isn’t just for memorials. I also create jewelry and keepsakes for new mothers using their breastmilk to honor their motherhood journey.
I use hair, flowers, grave soil and so much more. I have created hundreds of pieces from clients’ ideas and requests (colors, shape, inclusions, etc.) and have the ability to really customize each one. I created a keepsake locket for Post Malone that he still wears all the time.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I feel that it was a risk to switch the direction of my business.
I had a decent following for my bullet jewelry and then suddenly I decided to switch it up and was creating pieces with people and animal remains which can be a bit hard for some people to take in.
Contact Info:
- Website: TheAmmoMama.com
- Instagram: @The.AmmoMama
- TikTok: @The.Ammomama
