Chris and Nancy Adamo have always been drawn to artistic expression, but it took some time arrive at their chosen field.
“We got started in jewelry about four years ago now,” Chris said. “It actually started from pottery. I had been taking classes in a studio on Saint John [in the U.S. Virgin Islands] for about two years when someone mentioned PMC (precious metal clay). It is silver pulverized into a clay body that when it is fired burns away and pure silver is what remains.”
Splitting their time between southeastern Massachusetts and more southern climes, the Adamos took advantage of their migratory lifestyle to pursue the interesting form of pottery.
“Upon returning to Falmouth that spring, we decided to take a PMC class in Marlborough,” Chris said. “It was a fun class but not exactly what we were hoping for. The class was at a gem and jewelry show though, which, when we finished the class, were able to peruse. Well this was when the jewelry making bug began.
“We thought of opening a retail store, but we didn't want to be tied down to one place. Our solution was to make jewelry and sell it at craft shows. No long-term lease to sign and we could go where and when we wanted. It has been working out great! We now do about 45 craft shows a year and really enjoy them, as well as our customers. We love the feeling of making something that makes people feel good. It is very rewarding and I not talking about the money at all.”
Besides traveling, attending craft shows, managing their online storefront, and actually creating their handmade pieces, the Adamos somehow find time to constantly hone their skills.
“We continually take classes and read books to further improve our jewelry making skills,” Chris said. “We have just introduced our silversmithing line of jewelry. Investing in education and tooling has further improved our product offerings and capabilities. It is a fun and rewarding business. We are artists at heart and although money is important, our lifestyle is more important.”
Chris said that lifestyle was important when it came time to pick a name for the fledgling business.
“The name Inspired came kind of easily,” he said. “We wanted to inspire people with not only our jewelry, but our way of life. We loved the beauty all around us in Saint John and the Cape. We took our inspirations from what was around us. The more we tried to come up with a name the more times the word inspired came up. So we just used Inspired.”
Having chosen a business that allows them to express themselves artistically while pursuing their chosen way of life, the Adamos find it very easy to stay inspired themselves.
“We love what we do,” Chris said, “and do what we love!”