Today we’d like to introduce you to Anndrea Ploeger.
Hi Anndrea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Formation Arts (3D) art. My focus was on fibers & small metal designs & I made wearable art like hand-woven or felted clothes & accessories & jewelry. I also obtained an undergrad education degree & started teaching high school. My goal after graduating college was to be a fine artist in the city and get into at least one major art show a year. After being a bit burned out on the whole public education system, I reflected back on something my metals teacher said to me. It was something along the lines of having to make a decision in art… Do you want to be a fine artist and focus on one-of-a-kind or would you like to be a production artist? At the time, in my 20s, I felt that I wanted to be a “real” fine artist. But, that wasn’t going to pay the bills! So, I shifted my approach to making more art on a smaller scale and easier to do in my own spare room/studio. I shifted away from fibers (too time-consuming) & into metal work that needed zero gas/heat. I was able to open an Etsy store and sell hand-forged, stamped, & crystal jewelry. I even did some work with shrinky dinks! I found that I could be happy doing what I was doing, but I really needed help with the business side of things!
I decided I wanted to live in a tiny cabin in the woods, focus on my art & Etsy shop, & go back to school so I could teach college to have a more flexible schedule. So, I quit my art teaching gig in OK, sold my house, & moved 1000 miles north to Iron River, WI.
I did live in NW Wisconsin (a lot of places actually) from 3rd-8th grade, so I still had some old friends. I connected with an old friend, Aimee, who happened to have a cabin less than a mile from where my little cabin was! Aimee owned the Little Gift House in Solon Springs & invited me to pop up a few times to sell my custom stamped jewelry and provided a place for me to wholesale. Aimee also helped me with setting up the paperwork & filing my business, “Anndrea’s Art”.
After I finished my MA at UW-S, I was ready to move & begin my next step in the journey of teaching at the college level. But, Aimee mentioned that she was ready for a new journey too. I thought about it overnight & the next day we started planning a boutique together! That is when blue arrow boutique was born (2014)! The boutique was to provide limited quantities of clothing and a place for small makers, like Anndrea’s Art, to have a place to sell their goods. Blue arrow has been open for almost 9 years now. I have learned a lot about business, the paperwork involved, and even taught Fibers part-time at UWS for a couple of semesters! After the pandemic, Anndrea’s Art has evolved once again!
A couple of years ago, I started to focus more on informing folks about crystals, color, & numerology. And, further, how you can use that knowledge to help your daily life. Wearing crystal jewelry can help us! Knowing about your birth chart & personal numbers can help! So, I’ve been taking on a new role with my art. I started doing permanent jewelry a year ago & encourage folks to seal their jewelry with an intention and add on a crystal charm that will aid them too. The appointments are 20 minutes so we can have time to chit-chat & a lot of esoteric & holistic talk comes up. I started the permanent jewelry at SPACES, got a vintage Camper & did some shows, sold the camper at the Junk Hunt, and then decided to get SPACES up & running again!
SPACES is now a creatives co-op & Anndrea’s Art has it’s own shop there & offers appointments & classes. I will eventually call my shop, ALCHEMY to incorporate ALL the things I offer. I manage SPACES, the pop-ups & events, & help other makers & small business owners have an indoor place to pop up (Winter is harsh here!). We also gather for yoga! It feels great to go to “work” every day & be with like-minded folks. Bonus, it is just 2 doors down from blue arrow! So, I can literally walk between jobs when needed!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? The simple answer is NO.
Being an artist and finding your niche is hard. Juggling creative time & accounting/paperwork is hard.
But, I’ve found that if I keep following my dreams, I find helpers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Right now, I believe I am known most for my permanent jewelry. I was the first in the area to do permanent jewelry. And, one of the first I know of to provide less expensive options like sterling silver & gold-filled. I also add custom gemstone & crystal charms.
I am most proud of taking an idea & making it my own. I figured out how to use a less expensive welder vs. the one larger jewelry companies use. I did that all on my own! That idea of using an alternative welder kept my overhead cost lower to be able to begin permanent jewelry right away before others hopped on the trend.
P.S. I just bought an AURA Photography Machine! I am the only one in the area doing AURA photos! So, watch for what is next with Anndrea’s Ar & my new storefront named, ALCHEMY! I always have new ideas brewing!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I am drawn to water. It makes me feel at peace and it makes me feel safe.
Superior (and the Twin Ports) offer so many ways to experience large & small bodies of water. I feel surrounded & hugged by Lake Superior and the St. Louis River.
Pricing:
- Permanent Jewelry starts at $30.
- Classes start at $22
- Aura Photos start at $22
Contact Info:
- Website: anndreasart.com
- Instagram: @anndreasart
- Facebook: anndreasart
Image Credits
Lindsay Hansen
