Meet Becca Rantz | The North Shore Moms

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The inspiration to start a small business can come from anywhere, in Becca Rantz’s case it began as a way to process grief and later to find her own joy, while caught up in the day-to-day of motherhood. Keep reading to learn more about this Wakefield mom and her jewelry business, BeccStar Designs

Where are you from originally and what town do you live in now?
I’m originally from Salem, MA, and now reside in Wakefield.

How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have an eight year old daughter, and a seven year old son. They are Irish Twins, born in March 2013 and March 2014.

What’s your favorite family activity on the North Shore?
I’m a bit biased having grown up in the Salem Willows. I love the ocean. We love going to Dead Horse Beach in Salem, or Dane Street Beach and Lynch Park in Beverly.

Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop on the North Shore?
For both I’d answer MarketStreet. There’s so many options for both shopping and eating. A big plus is that I know my kids will always be able to find something they like.

 

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Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to start BeccStar Designs?
I started designing jewelry in 2004. It had a bit of a somber start. I unexpectedly lost my father, and found myself having to sort out all of his affairs on my own. It was an incredibly difficult, dark time in my life. Then one night, while visiting with a friend she showed me a necklace she had made in a jewelry class she took. She then showed me how to make it, and sent me home with some supplies of my own. I was instantly hooked!

I found almost right away that my mind stopped spinning with grief. I was completely drawn into the creative process. I found it so therapeutic and healing, and the best part was that I was left with a piece of jewelry that brought me joy. To channel the negative into a tangible positive was an amazing feeling. It remained a hobby for about a decade.

Then around 2015, after having two children in 12 months, I realized I wasn’t pursuing anything that personally brought me joy. I was so happy to be a mom to a son and daughter, but had nothing of my own to pursue. It was then that I dragged all the boxes of jewelry supplies out of my garage, and decided to take my passion seriously. Out of this decision came BeccStar Designs.

 

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What inspires your jewelry designs?
I’ve lived in Boston, Washington, DC, London and Buenos Aires. Much of my aesthetic is drawn from my time living in these cities. However, I also pull inspiration from everyday life. I may see a woman in my travels with an amazing top on and that will inspire a piece of jewelry.

What is your most cherished piece (or pieces) of jewelry?
A star sapphire and diamond platinum ring. It was my mother’s ring given to her from my father. I used to sneak it out of my mother’s jewelry box as a child and pose in front of her mirror flashing the ring. My jewelry obsession probably dates back to this time. My mother surprised me on my 30th birthday with the ring and I immediately burst into tears!

 

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Where can people shop BeccStar Designs?
My Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/beccstardesigns.

How often do you release new styles?
About every two to three months I add new items to my Etsy shop.

As a working mom, any tips for balancing work & motherhood?
I have found that trying to “turn off” halfway and trying to enjoy activities with my children never works out well. Putting the phone and computer away at times frees me up to really enjoy the moment.

 

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What is the best piece of mom advice you ever received?
Always understand that each child is different and unique. Respect their process of learning and growing.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you need some “me” time?
I swear, wandering around Marshalls or Home Goods cures so much!

Follow along with Becca on Instagram at @beccstardesigns or on Facebook at @beccstardesigns.

 

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This post is sponsored by BeccStar Designs.

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