By RON WILSON
Director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development Kansas State University
“Connecting makes a difference.” That may be the case at many levels, and today we will meet a rural-preneur who has found that statement to be true as she builds her business in rural Kansas.
Autumn Breault is the founder and owner of Autumn Fever Designs. Autumn grew up in Cloud County at the north central Kansas town of Clyde, population 694 people. Now, that’s rural – but there’s more.
Breault enjoyed art and creating beautiful things with her hands. She earned an associate’s degree in art from Cloud County Community College. “I had a friend in California and I was thinking of renovating a camper and going out to the west coast when I met Trask,” she said. Trask Breault is a local guy who works for the city of Concordia.
Autumn and Trask married and are now living at the nearby town of Jamestown. Autumn is working as a certified nurse’s assistant at the hospital in Concordia. She continues her interest in art.
“In one of my (college) classes, one assignment was to make up a business of our own,” Breault said. Her first art experience had been in abstract acrylics. She transitioned to making handmade jewelry and home décor creations.
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For the class assignment, she developed a description of a business that would market her handmade products. Using her first name, she called it Autumn Fever Designs. The name stuck.
Breault dabbled in artwork, but a friend in California encouraged her to pursue it as a business. “She motivated me to do more,” said Breault, who established a website in 2018.
Today, Autumn Fever Designs is selling a variety of jewelry, macramé and personal items online and at craft shows and festivals. There are no “Made in China” products in her selection. One hundred percent of the items she sells are creations that she made herself. Breault specializes in handmade jewelry and home décor, particularly macrame.
“One of the things I like to say is that everyone should enjoy their own journey,” Breault said. “Why not own a pair of handmade earrings or macrame home decor to take along with you?”
“I like making my house cute. I enjoy helping other people do that too.”
Autumn Fever Designs offers jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets; macramé plant hangers, hat hangers, dog leashes and coasters; keychains’ hair barrettes; and more. One line of products features Dalmatian Jasper, which is a speckled stone. Another line includes an extensive offering of lightweight clay polymer earrings. Many of her products incorporate pearls, morganite or other gems.
Breault enjoys customizing products. “I absolutely love taking custom orders,” she said.
She can create unique items for weddings and other special occasions, or such things as gift boxes for a bridal party. The bridal collection features elegant clay earrings in an array of styles, colors and textures.
“Each pair is carefully designed to be comfortable and light weight,” Breault said. “I also offer 10 to18 carat gold plated jewelry paired with freshwater pearls.”
These luxury pieces, she said, are available in rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Autumn Fever Designs website is www.autumnfeverdesigns.com. The company’s online business has expanded significantly. “We have sold products coast to coast and as far away as Hawaii, Canada and Australia,” Breault said.
It’s an impressive record for a business based in the rural community of Jamestown, population 237 people. Now, that’s rural.
Breault has observed an interesting dynamic as she and Trask take her products to craft shows and festivals.
“The jewelry sells well online but the macramé does better in person,” Breault said. “I like interacting with people. Meeting people makes a connection that helps them see how they can use and enjoy these things.”
Connecting makes a difference. Autumn Breault has found that connecting with her customers helps find, design and create the right product for them.
We commend Autumn Breault of Autumn Fever Designs for making a difference with her entrepreneurship and craftsmanship. Whether online or in person, she has found a way to make creative connections.