Made by Mom Gift Guide: Mom builds successful jewelry business to help fund adoption

When Carolyn Reese and her husband decided to add to their family of three children through adoption, she knew they'd need some help to raise the funds required to complete the process.

Reese of Rocky Mount has always been creative and especially loves making jewelry. So she launched Rooted Designs to raise money for the adoption. "It has been so exciting to watch the response to Rooted Designs and how many have supported our adoption journey through the shop," Reese tells me.

Rooted Designs is a featured business in Go Ask Mom's annual Made by Mom Gift Guide. Find out more about the business in my Q&A with Reese below. And stay tuned for more Q&As of the mom-owned businesses featured in the 2019 guide!

Go Ask Mom: Rooted Designs is helping to fund some big dreams for your family. Tell us how it all got started and your adoption journey.

Carolyn Reese: Yes! Jordan and I had always wanted adoption to be a part of our family’s story. I remember discussing adoption even before we were married. As the years went on, we were blessed with three biological children, but still wanted add to our family through adoption. Last year, we both felt it was the time to move forward with the process. Over the past months, we have been fundraising and completing all the necessary paper work with our agency. We have nearly finished our home study and are working on raising the funds we need to continue the process.

GAM: What are your inspirations as you create your designs?

CR: I am drawn to cute, classic, and fun jewelry, so I love to create things that most women would find easy to add to their day to day wardrobe. I like those little details you can add to an outfit to complete the look, whether it’s a fun pair of earrings, a great bracelet, or a classic hammered necklace, those little pieces can really bring an outfit together. As a busy mom, I like jewelry that is easy to throw on and comfortable to wear throughout the day.

GAM: There are so many reasons to adopt a child. Why is it the right choice for your family?

CR: I know that not every family will feel called to adopt, but I do think everyone needs to evaluate how they can help children who are in need. Children, both born and yet to be born, are precious gifts from God. Jordan and I felt very strongly that the best way to put our beliefs into action was to step out and begin the adoption process. Our family has another place at the table, room for another bed and lots of love to share and we are so excited to welcome another child into our family.

It has been fun to watch our children respond and get excited about adoption. I think this process has taught them, and us, much about the needs children are facing and some practical steps we can take, as a family, to provide love to mothers facing unexpected pregnancies and children who are in need.

GAM: As you've launched Rooted Designs, what has been the biggest challenge?

CR: I think this could be said about any mom running a business, but one of the greatest challenges of launching Rooted Designs has been finding balance. I love creating jewelry. It’s really enjoyable for me, but I am having to be sure to balance the time I spend working on Rooted Designs with my most important and favorite role of being a wife and a mom. I am learning and growing throughout this whole process.

GAM: Eventually you hope to raise enough money for your adoption, but also to support other families who want to adopt. What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Rooted Designs?

CR: The adoption process can be very expensive and can hinder loving families from pursuing adoption. It would be so exciting to me to see Rooted Designs grow so it could not only help our family bring a child home, but could also be help other families with the cost of adoption. There are many children, around the world and here at home that need families and we would love to be a part of helping remove some of the financial barriers families face when they open their heart and homes to welcome a child through adoption.

If a family is not called to adoption, I hope that Rooted Designs will be an encouragement for people to reach out and get involved in supporting adoptive families. Most people who begin the adoption process do not have all the money lined up that they need to complete the whole process. Many people are unaware of the cost. I hope that we can, even in a small way, become a part of helping others be more aware of the needs and support adoptive parents need.

You can shop Rooted Designs at my Etsy shop, RootedDesignsNC and you can also find me and follow our family’s adoption journey on Facebook at Rooted Designs and Instagram @rooteddesignsnc.

Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday — and even more often in November and December as part of the Made by Mom Gift Guide.