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Lisa and Joel married in 1996, never imagining that they would be co-business owners some day. Have you heard the quote "If you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plans"?
Lisa had always loved creative work from writing to doing retail boutique store window displays. But it was working with people who were hurting where she felt most called.
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1993, her young adult plans to work full-time with nonprofits were put on hold. So as Joel followed his career plans doing music and sound design for video games, Lisa was in full-time volunteer ministry (ie, working at home in PJs trying to manage her own illness adventure) for those with chronic illness.
In 2003 they had the honor of adopting a baby, their son (now a teenager), and life was "crazy-comfortable."
In 2015, Joel was laid off his job of 2 decades. As mobile gaming edged out platform gaming, technology changed his career path.
At the time, Lisa was making jewelry for volunteer gifts for her nonprofit at her grandma's vintage kitchen table, determined to get rid of air bubbles under the glass!
With the high costs of her health insurance, she and Joel decided to put some of her favorite designs on a handmade platform online and "see what happened."
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After over 20 years of designing websites, authoring books, and marketing experience, Lisa dove into the jewelry design world with enthusiasm.
The purpose behind the pendants was to encourage and inspire and to provide affordable gifts for people to give to someone who just needed to know they were cared for.
The "She Can Be Strong & Courageous" necklace is one of Lisa's first designs. (She was designing the words she needed to hear at this moment in life.)
Lisa is one of those people who distracts herself from her physical pain by getting involved in a project, and so when Gutsy Goodness was established in Spring of 2015, the jewelry thrived on handmade platforms.
As more opportunities arose to grow Gutsy Goodness, Joel and Lisa embraced them all, even flying to Seattle to be part of a Round Table event for handmade jewelry.
Lisa loves the design part of creating a piece that shares a message to someone special.
"It may be something you wish to tell someone, like you are thinking of her during the loss of a pregnancy or giving a bouquet keepsake as she walks down the aisle after the loss of her dad. We all have days when we need reminded of our own strength too. Whether it is through our faith or sheer determination. Being able to create these items that remind people daily of their value is an honor."
Joel and Lisa homeschooled their son. The first two holiday seasons put them into hotels due to pipe leaks in their home. Lisa has had a few surgeries, rebuilding a foot or tendon transfers on her hands. She struggles to walk with growing disabilities.
We couldn't do it without the many who help us. We hired employees within our first year of business and now have a team of about 9 who work in our office and warehouse.
Every jewelry piece is layered in goodness! Packaged ready to gift along with a unique message card, we promise you will love the presentation of your jewelry. If it is a gift, you don't even need to wrap it.
Every piece is designed by Lisa. She also writes each sentimental card. Our team makes every piece by hand in San Diego, CA and ships it out within 1-2 days.
We feel honored to be entrusted to send you--or your friend, family member, child's teacher, (and many more!) that keepsake gift that conveys such a message of love.
We believe every person has a story.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of yours.
We hope to connect with you on social media and get to know you better too! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do this as a family business. We couldn't do it without you!
