Meet Megan Gilchrist | Designer/ Jeweler

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

Hi Megan, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks have helped refine me over and over again. From not going the conventional route of a 9-5 and having security … it afforded me time to dive into my passion. But I also found that I could hustle so many different ways in order to stay afloat while pursuing and learning my craft.

I changed the name of my business at least 4 times until I felt it suited what I was trying to achieve . I may have lost followers or maybe confused them but I knew it was important to build on something I loved from the name to the product.

I changed the product I was actually selling from all handmade vintage finds to becoming a fine jeweler and making cad renderings and concepts for businesses and customers.
This risk helped me learned so many ways to play with jewelry…from sketches , cad design , repairs, learning about all sorts of materials , styles etc. I took on so many positions that I understand what goes into most any project .

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart is no project has been the same. Everything has been custom for the last 10 years. I started with making custom earrings out of found objects and commissioned for custom bridal pieces like hair pins and bridesmaid accessories.
My clients actually excite me. They have grown with me, it has been word of mouth and they have grown with me through all of my stages.
Recently I have been working with a lot of young entrepreneurs from Real Estate, Lawyers, tech companies, chefs, music producers and a host of different creatives making custom pendants and medallions for their companies. These pieces mean so much because I know this piece signifies how proud my client is of their company and something they worked so hard to grow. And in return it lets me be creative, grow and exercise my creative gene.

i’m most proud of all of the changes I went through during this journey as a creator. I moved states a few times and figured it out every time.
I became a mom and I’m so happy I stuck to my passion. I’m proud my daughter can see me flourishing and thriving in what I love. That’s a gift in itself.

There was a point that I didn’t know what I was doing or what I was suppose
To be doing in life. I knew I was gifted but I didn’t know what my focus was . I
Racked my brain many nights of how I would pay bills and do it by doing something I love.

I did it with no money, I did it with no car…I did it before Uber …I did it with no background or someone showing me the way.

My business is purely trial and error. And raw creativity .
I’ve learned that you just have to keep learning …no matter what. There are no losses…it’s just all lessons…so you know better next time and it makes you tougher …and you are gonna keep trying and keep taking a risks.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A dinner at the botanical Gardens or the Garden Room in Buckhead.
Breakfast at Breakfast Boys in Hapeville or Smoothies at R. Thomas.

A work out class at a boutique gym is always fun here. I think since the pandemic it’s been a great way to network while being heathy.
I love The Loft, Effect Fitness and 24 fitness.

A walk on the belt line is fun to bar hop or ride scooters.

And the furniture / thrift scene is really good in Atlanta . I always recommend Atlanta Used furniture , visiting AmericasMart during an exhibit or walking around Little 5 points.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout my mom for letting me crash on her floor straight out college. She had a studio apartment with not a lot of room but she helped me , encouraged me, struggled with me and has always believed in me in whatever I set my mind to throughout my entire life. She never told me what I should be doing …she just encouraged me to keep going…whatever that was . She taught me different ways to see things as a creative herself. She showed me strength . She showed me a fighter all my life and I love her for that.

Website: www.Glchrst.com

Instagram: @glchrst

Image Credits
Whitney Sade Photography. @WhitneySadePhotos WhitneySade.com