Cerese Dolman took a chance one day that changed her life. After graduating from Clark-Atlanta University, Cerese found herself working as a commercial interior designer, designing office spaces. As a born creative, Dolman, 40 found no personal fulfillment in her corporate career.
“I wasn’t happy working there eight years plus and I knew that four years in. I just became miserable,” Dolman, said. “With my job, I just got to the point where I couldn’t take it. I would tell my mom I want to quit my job and she would say ‘well, what are you going to do?’ I would say ‘I don’t know I just can’t be here.’”
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One day at work, a coworker’s necklace caught Dolman’s eye. Dolman learned her coworker bought the stones at a local gem show and made it herself. The two chatted for a bit and Dolman learned the next gem show would be in Florida. Coincidentally, Dolman was headed to Florida for business and went to the gem show to purchase stones. She didn’t know how to make jewelry and upon returning to Atlanta she took a class.
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The real test came when her mother and friends saw her pieces. “I knew she had the talent, she could’ve been unhappy as heck, but still needed that job.” Deborah Dolman said. “I knew based on the responses I was getting she had a gift. She only took one class. That’s it. It’s not something you can be taught, either you have it or your don’t.”
The compliments were all the motivation Cerese needed to start pursuing her new-found love. With accrued vacation and sick time, Cerese took time off from her job and began shopping her jewelry around. Pretty soon, Cerese had to make a decision to either stay at her paying job or pursue her a not-so-guaranteed dream.
Whatever uncertainty Cerese was experiencing was eased when her mom offered support.“If you’re not happy, quit the job and let’s go out on faith,” Deborah said. “If you make it, I’ll sell it.” Cerese never looked back and in 2006, Cerese D. Jewelry was incorporated.
The mother-daughter duo admits they’re each other’s yin-and-yang. Cerese is the creative one and Deborah, an entrepreneur since 1979, is the business-minded one. But just like any other relationship, it has its ups and downs.
“The rewarding part is I get to work with my daughter,” Deborah said. “I moved to Atlanta from Michigan a year ago, so prior to that I was commuting back-and-forth as the business continued to grow. But now that I’m here full time, we work side-by-side, 24 hours a day, seven days a week sometimes and we travel the country together. It’s just great to have that companionship with her. But at the same time, like anything and anybody else when they work that close with you, they get on your nerves. But it lasts for two or three minutes or a half an hour and we’re over it.”
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For the past seven years, Cerese and Deborah have been traveling the country promoting the family business. The handmade pieces, which range anywhere between $75 to $1,500 incorporate some of Cerese’s favorite stones such as jade, onyx and any other gems that “speak to her”
“When I sit down to design there’s not necessarily a rhyme or reason. I’ll just sit down and look at the stones, and I can’t tell you how it comes to my head it just comes and the stones just kind of tell me what to do,” Cerese says. “I feel them, I play with them. My background in interior design really helped me with those designs.”
The goal for now is to have her jewelry placed in department stores, as well as to partner with smaller boutiques to bring more awareness to her business. But for those skeptical about Cerese D Jewelry, Cerese calms your fear with her efficient work ethic.
“They’re going to get the quality, craftsmanship, artistic look. They’re going to get natural stones they’re not going to get plastic and I stand behind all my work.” You can’t beat that!
If you’re in the Atlanta area and would like to purchase some of Cerese D’s handmade jewelry, stop by her studio at 1770 The Exchange, Suite 275, Atlanta, GA, 30339. Don’t forget to make an appointment first. Or you can just enter our giveaway!
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