Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Tanya Rustigan

Meet Tanya Rustigan, designer and owner of Trust Jewelry. She's young, she's fierce, and she's super talented. Her jewelry is fabulously bohemian and totally on trend, but it's also wonderfully unique and is a great representation of her upbringing (she grew up in the antique business and her work reflects that). 

I met Tanya here on the Cape, where she's been based for the past couple of years and where her jewelry is carried in a local shop that I adore, but for those out West, you're in luck--she's headed your way later this month, when she makes the move to California (!).  

After running into Tanya on multiple occasions, my interest was piqued and I wanted to know more about her and her story; she graduated from college in 2011, and is already making a living through her own creative biz, just a mere 4 years later! If that's not impressive, I don't know what is. 

So, lets learn more, shall we? Read on for all things Tanya Rustigan + Trust...

What's the story of your biz? What made you strike out on your own?
I created Trust about 4 years ago but didn’t decide to do it full time until about 2 years ago….I was always selling jewelry on the side, but it wasn’t until I realized that I never wanted to work for someone else, commute, sit in a cubicle, or be run by a time clock, that I decided to go full time with my business. I had a 9-5 job for about 3 months and used to look around at the traffic on my commute and wonder if anyone was happy. Everyone looked miserable…and I was too. 

I grew up in the antique business and have been a hustler as far back as I can remember. I used to make bracelets with pipe cleaners and sell them at antique shows & flea markets, and I always collected skeleton keys, vintage buttons and costume jewelry. In 2010 I moved to Martha’s Vineyard, which, out of all of the places that I have traveled, remains my favorite place on Earth, and I started making jewelry out of the skeleton keys that I had collected and started selling them in a shop. I ended up continuing the hustle and now I sell my work in over 35 retail shops…and hopefully more to come ;) 

Why do you do what you do (work-wise)? 
I do what I do because its fulfilling. I am happy, I get to travel, I meet tons of people and really…it's just working. By that I mean that it just happened, so I’m going with it and it's working out well. I never imagined I would be doing what I am doing and I believe these things fall into place and are meant to be. 

When you own your own business you’re constantly thinking + working. I can’t say its all perfect--there are plenty of restless nights and stressful moments that are not fun--but there are many more good times, full of pride, and rewards! I work my butt off…constantly…but I do it because I love it. I am someone that will tell you to quit your job if  you hate it and that self- fulfillment and being happy is most important. It is an absolute blessing to be able to own a business and do what I love while having fun, being creative, and expressing myself, who I am, and what I believe. I feel beyond lucky + grateful everyday. 

What inspires you?
I am inspired by many things. The world around me, people, places traveled, the moon + the sun. Most of the collections in Trust come from something that is important in my life.

For example, "The Bullet Collection" idea came to me when I was traveling the coast of Cali, so I named each bullet necklace after a California beach. "The Barre Collection" is named after my passion for dance and my barre teaching certification. Each piece has a different meaning that signifies something important to me. I always try to incorporate experiences and memories into my designs so that even though they’re in the past, I can remember them in the present, just in a different way. 

If you had to give one piece of advice to women (or men!) who want to take the plunge and pursue their dreams of working for themselves or starting their own business or blog, what would it be?
I think the main ingredients are confidence + determination. If you have a vision of what you want, that’s all you need. So many people try to iron out all these details before they launch. Nothing is ever black and white…everything is always changing…like the moon phase. I am constantly changing things up and out of those experiments, better things evolve. 

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment is coming to terms with who I am + what I do, and not caring what people think or have to say. I used to be a lot more self-conscious, but after reflecting on my experiences, the people I met along the way, and the places I’ve been, I am a lot more confident and content with who I am. I am rarely in the loop about things that are happening, people, drama, and gossip, and I am okay with that…I like being in my own world. 

How do you stay balanced? How do you unwind? 
I have so much going in my head that sometimes I really need to just shut off. I make a list of goals to be accomplished at the beginning of each month. Most of them are achievable. I make a weekly list in my “notes” app, jotting down tasks that I need to complete, and I keep a daily written list where I can manually cross things off. This way, I simplify the major list and stay organized. 

I also workout to clear my mind (I love kickboxing + dance), and take time to reflect. I juice a lot to cleanse my system and stick to a healthy diet. Stress is so harmful and I believe that health is the most important asset in life. At the end of the day its more important to be balanced and rich in health than anything else. 

If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?
Chapstick, water and food…but a more fun answer: Chapstick (again), a  notebook (I am ALWAYS carrying a  notebook because my mind is always going + when I have an idea I have to write it down), and my Heather Rose Square Scarf--this thing travels with me everywhere--it works as a tapestry, a towel, a cover up, a dress, a scarf, a blanket, a pillow…and I am sure it would be used in other ways if I was deserted on an island ;) 

If you could live anywhere for one year, where would it be and why?
Byron Bay, Australia. I swoon over the surf/island/ beach lifestyle and could live a mermaid life forever. Sandy feet, salty air, beach hair… 

When did you start creating? When did you start calling yourself an artist?
I was always into creating and being an entrepreneur. My mom used to have me sort antique buttons by color when I was a kid. We had craft time before school. We made homemade Valentines every year (and still do!). As I already mentioned, I made pipe cleaner bracelets and sold them at flea markets. I sometimes sold painted rocks and painted wood. I set up lemonade stands. I even had my own dance camp at age 10. I would say I am more an entrepreneur than an artist. I always knew I wanted to do my own thing, I just didn’t know what it was. Then it just came... 

What's your biggest guilty pleasure? 
I am a snacker. If I could, I would never eat meals…just snack. I love hummus, guacamole, cheese and crackers, nuts. Everyone who knows me well knows I always have “squirrel nuts” on hand and would rather tapas or appetizers over meals. It’s a guilty pleasure because it can get out of hand. 

Words of wisdom you live by?
YOLO. It sounds silly and I don’t generally say “YOLO,” but I do say, “you only live once.” I’ve always jumped on opportunities to travel and do random things because of the fear I’ll never get a chance to do them again. More recently, I have seen how short life is and if there is something I want to do, and I can do it, I do. There are only so many tomorrows. 

Want to learn more about Tanya? You can find her in the following places: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

Thanks for taking the time to tell me all about it, Tanya!