Tucked away in a kitchen in a small corner of Fife something quite wonderful is happening. Dried flowers, burnt out matches and metal springs lay patiently waiting to be turned into pieces of art. As if under the influence of magic, moons, hearts and bears burst into a myriad of pinks, greens and blues before being cautiously sprinkled with gold. Here sits the delicate hand behind the operation as she works tentatively on the next launch.
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Morgan is the one-woman workforce behind the Fife based jewellery business Crooked Sea. The 18-year-old entrepreneur began the enterprise in September 2019 and has since seen her small business grow, with an Instagram following of over 1000 and more than 150 orders selling worldwide, as far as Australia. The business, she said, grew out of her ‘pure love of making things’ and being a ‘very hands-on person’. Growing up in a creative landscape, Morgan finds creativity comes easily to her.
Turning 19 in May, the entrepreneur has had to learn how to own and run a business, of course, facing any challenges thrown in her direction. Morgan says that she has had to learn a lot fast. Having never considered herself an entrepreneur or, indeed, a jeweller before September, she says it has been a ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ having been thrown in at the ‘deep end’. One of the most valuable lessons she has learnt had been the importance of customer service as ‘these people are what makes your business complete’. Often holding feedback sessions via stories on Instagram, Morgan has been able to connect to her customers and further deliver what they want after taking on suggestions. ‘Always making sure that a customer is happy with what they received is critical, and through feedback it’s important to take note of the little things you can improve on and to not take it to heart if something isn’t perfect… My customers are all so lovely and genuine, it melts my heart’
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Crooked Sea
Meet the 18-year-old entrepreneur taking on the world, one earring at a time.
Making jewellery became a creative outlet for Morgan after school grades meant she could not do what she wanted to at university. ‘I did not get the grades I had needed to get into University, my backup plan was a college course that another Uni had suggested. About 2 weeks into this course, I could no longer stand doing this mix of subjects that I had zero interest in. I was suffering with bad anxiety after dropping out and I came across an advertisement on my Instagram of some jewellery. It was a very popular resin jewellery page, and I was instantly hooked.’ After doing research, Morgan found out about the substance Epoxy Resin, a liquid that, when mixed with a hardener, turns into a hard plastic. After around a week of research and practicing with the epoxy, Morgan began her business on Instagram on the 18th of September.
The name Crooked Sea grew out of Morgan’s close ties to her family with the two words being a combination of the meaning behind her brothers' and her name.
‘All I’m doing is making. Whether that is my jewellery, drawing in my bullet journal, painting or DIY’ing some of my old clothes. I have quite the obsession currently of painting and designing jackets for myself and friends.’.
‘The name is very personal to me. I am a very family-oriented person, so this brand is built on that love from my family.’.
Surrounded by creativity from a young age, Morgan’s dad, a musician and artist, has become a key source of inspiration and new ideas. The young entrepreneur says she also takes inspiration from other small business’s on Instagram as well as styles and themes she finds on Pinterest, Etsy and her Instagram explore page. With key interest in shape and pattern, Morgan creates monthly launches with changing themes. In a recent collection entitled 'Memphis', inspiration was taken from the 80’s ‘For the Memphis design earrings that came out a few months ago, I was heavily influenced by 80’s fashion and patterns. I researched in order to find the correct name and the designs that focus around the time period.’ Understanding her clients, the young businesswoman also takes inspiration from the seasonal desires of her audience ‘A lot of pieces tend to reflect the time of year I make them in. Flowers and lighter toned things for spring and summer and more deeper tones for winter periods.’
'I learned to trust myself and not to fear when I made mistakes'
Like any small business, Crooked Sea has been affected by the COVID19 outbreak, but the level-headed businesswoman has taken it in her stride limiting how often she sends out deliveries to once a week and working away on new launches. Looking forward to the future, Morgan says ‘I have so many things planned for the future and I’m ecstatic to watch myself and my brand grow’. Hoping, eventually, to move out of her current kitchen base into a bigger space, the future continues to look bright for the young entrepreneur. ‘I learned to trust myself and not to fear when I made mistakes. Last of all, honestly just enjoy it, even though I only started around 6 months ago, I look back on a lot of the things I made within the first month and it is a perfect reminder of how much I have grown and improved.’
Follow Crooked Sea on Instagram HERE