FBG: When did “RashidaGurl” officially open for business?
RG: I guess you could say that RashidaGurl officially opened for business at the completion of my very first sale. It was about 10 years ago…one of my Empire Beauty School classmates, Toya, purchased a pair of my handpainted guitar picks.

FBG. What inspired you to start making jewelry? Had you always been creating other things before?
RG: I had been experimenting with jewelry making since I was about 6 or 7….I used to create different shapes with aluminum foil, steal all the twist ties from the boxes of sandwich bags my Mom would purchase and peel away the paper. …then I would shape the wire into hooks and attach my foil shapes.I absolutely love doing nails…designing clothes…anything that allows me to express myself creatively.

FBG: What inspires your designs? What was the first piece you made?
RG: My designs are inspired by so many different elements…I wouldn’t know where to start! I’m most inspired by bright colors.

FBG:How did you initially market your products? Did you just wear them out and people started asking about them?
RG: That is exactly what I did. I never imagined that I would eventually earn my primary income from jewelry design. I was doing it because I loved to do it and I enjoyed expressing myself with my designs. I began to get so many inquiries everywhere I’d go that I finally decided to begin selling them…in the beginning I was so shy that I’d have my Mom or my friend Shari do it for me…we would post up on Chestnut St or South St here in Philly. 

FBG. How long does it usually take to make a pair?
RG: Depending on the design it could take anywhere from 5 mins to an hour

FBG:Wow,that’s no time at all! What are your favorite pair?
RG: That’s like asking a mother who her favorite child is…lol

FBG: What is your favorite part about being an entrepreneur?
RG: Independence!

FBG: What three words would you choose to describe your designs?
RG: Spontaneous…Bright…Crazy

FBG: What should we expect to see from you in 2012?
RG; Collections….necklaces….bracelets….and I may be introducing a line for Lil’ Gurls……I just hope you see me in 2012.

FBG: What top 3 celebs would you like to see wearing RashidaGurl?
RG: Sophia Grace Brownlee, Rosie Grace McClelland and Nicki Minaj!!! lol

You can follow Rashida on Twitter here :http://twitter.com/#!/rashidag url

& on Tumblr: http://rashidagurl.tumblr.com/

Like her on FB!: https://www.facebook.com/rashi dagurl

Purchase RashidaGurl on Etsy!: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rashidagurl

(Source: forbrowngirls)