Just like sapphires and diamonds, Katie Poterala and Danielle Miller-Gilliam are the perfect pair. Their artistic visions and shimmering creativity play off each other in flawless symmetry, bringing high-end, one-of-a-kind jewelry to Main Street. “We both have art degrees,” reveals the oldest of the two, Miller-Gilliam. “We majored in fine arts in college, which is different than just going to a jewelry trade school. We have the ability to bring a piece to the next level because we’ve been trained in design.”
The creative duo first met in 2009, when Poterala was still in school and learning the craft of jewelry making. It was almost a decade later, while commuting to silversmithing classes, when they broached the idea of opening a shop together. Veteran Main Street shoppers may recall the Beaded Frog that once operated in the spot across from the Hyatt Regency. Today, the glass cases are filled with Make Made’s unique rings, necklaces, bracelets, and more. “We feature our own work as well as that of twenty other artists,” shares Poterala. “We also have some really nice ceramics, copperware, bags, and knives, in addition to the jewelry.”
While the gallery is lined with premade pieces, behind-the-scenes work stations house magical art that customers create themselves. “We host different levels of workshops and Make + Sip classes,” Poterala explains. “Folks can come spend three to four hours and leave with something they’ve made, or we have intensive five-week-long classes. Those are for people looking to explore jewelry-making as more than a hobby.”
Advanced stone setting, fabricating swivel lockets, soldering surface textures—students can even design and mold their own wedding bands. “We meet with one couple at a time,” says Miller-Gilliam. “Folks have come from as far away as Australia to make their own bands. For me, it’s really, really gratifying. It’s giving them a story that family will have for generations to come: ‘It’s not just a wedding ring, it’s the ring your grandmother made your grandfather.’”
Make Made Repurposes Heirloom Jewelry
Tapping into even more sentimentality, both owners concede their favorite service is repurposing heirloom jewelry. In fact, that’s the majority of Make Made’s business. “Everybody has old jewelry,” Poterala admits. “It sits in jewelry boxes and safe deposit boxes. They want to wear it, but it’s not their style. They feel guilty for not wearing it. It feels good to create a beautiful piece from the stones and metal that they will wear daily and remember that special person who is gone.”
Opening just prior to the pandemic, the two friends are delighted to meet new customers each month. “If you want a Rolex watch, this isn’t the store to visit,” instructs Miller-Gilliam. “But if you want artist-made jewelry, we can do anything from ultra-contemporary, avant-garde, modern, antique-inspired, really organic and earthy. We inject a little of our own personal style into each piece.” Bringing out the luster in every singular creation until it shines like the sun.
241 N Main St, Greenville. (864) 412-8087, MakeMadeJewelry.com
