Princess Kate Reigns as 2019 March Bridal Madness Champion

Historically, June has been the most popular month for weddings, and many ideas offer explanations for its matrimonial popularity. For example, the month of June derives its name from Juno, the Roman goddess known as the protector of women in all aspects of life, but especially in marriage and childbearing. Given those connections, it was thought that couples who married in June would be blessed with prosperity and happiness.

An anonymous poem further claims "Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go." Although that proverb doesn't exactly capture Katelynne Eslick's life, she is a June bride, and this month she and her husband will celebrate their sixteenth anniversary.

After marrying Jayson Eslick three short weeks after her graduation from Chinook High School in 2003, the newlywed spent some time moving about the state of Montana in the early years of her marriage. From Chinook, the young couple moved to Missoula where they attended college, but then transferred to Bozeman, and finally moved to Glendive, attending Dawson Community College (DCC). In 2008, Katelynne graduated with a degree in business from DCC.

Three years prior to her college graduation and while working from her home, Katelynne Eslick launched Sugar Plum Jewelry Company (SPJC), which specializes in everything from handcrafted custom jewelry to diamonds and engagement rings. SPJC started as a hobby while Eslick was in college. She described wearing her simple creations to work or to class and being asked by co-workers and friends to create something for them. These requests were the beginning of her accepting custom orders, which today is one of the most important aspects of her business.

"The inspiration for 'Sugar Plum Jewelry' comes from my mother's nickname for me – Sugarplum," Eslick explained. "I pour my heart into my work, so of course it reflects me, and it just felt appropriate to name the business after me, in a way."

After relocating to Glendive in 2007, Eslick worked for several local businesses while she continued to make and sell jewelry from home and at small shops as a "side business." All the while, she was applying those experiences to her jewelry design knowledge and ongoing entrepreneurship.

In 2011, she and her husband realized that what had been a hobby, had become a sustainable business. "I was able to work from home full-time from 2011 to 2013 when I opened my full-service retail jewelry store at 107 W. Bell Street in Glendive. Here, I continue to hone my skills for metal work and stone setting, while doing more and more custom work," she explained.

A love of art, her family's history in jewelry, and a genuine care for her customers all contribute to Eslick's success as a designer, jeweler, and business woman. "As a young girl, I spent many hours in my family's jewelry store, Sharples Jewelry, watching my parents and grandparents interact with their customers. I've always been fascinated with jewelry and with people! Now, I'm proud to be a third-generation jeweler and Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Diamonds graduate," she said.

In 2016, Eslick's husband joined her in operating SPJC. Jayson is learning how to repair jewelry and operates the business' newest piece of equipment, a laser welder. He also helps with customers and generally keeps daily operations running smoothly. "We love the family aspect of being able to work together. We recently purchased a new location a few blocks from our current store that we are renovating, and we plan to move our jewelry store into that renovated space. We're very excited to expand," Eslick exclaimed.

Lending some added credence to the prosperity prediction for June brides, Eslick recently won a national design contest sponsored by Stuller, Incorporated and called March Bridal Madness. For the contest-the first Eslick has ever entered-the design had to be a bridal/engagement ring. The ring Eslick designed was created specifically to repurpose diamonds that one of her clients already owned. Eslick described the process as a fun challenge since it meant that she could create a new design that is not only unique and easy to wear but that incorporates a timeless heirloom and represents an interesting anecdote.

After hearing the diamonds' backstory, Eslick sketched a three-band design to use the client's diamonds. In the main ring, she used the larger round diamond from a ring that was returned to the groom after a broken engagement and the pear shape from his grandmother's ring and given to him by his grandfather. She set the small diamonds-called melee (rhymes with jelly) by jewelers-to create two bands of accent stones in closely-packed strings which would flank and hug the main ring.

"This was a fun design, and I was very honored and excited to be chosen as the winner in such a prestigious and highly competitive design contest," she declared.

Founded in 1970 in Lafayette, Louisiana, Stuller provides a complete range of products and services for jewelry professionals. Stuller's core product categories include mountings, diamonds, gemstones, findings, metals, tools, supplies, and digital solutions to meet any jeweler's need for customization. Eslick regularly uses Stuller products in her business, calling Stuller her "go-to supplier."

In addition to the title of 2019 March Bridal Madness Champion, Eslick also won a $1000 cash prize.

What has surprised Eslick the most about owning her own business is that she truly never stops thinking about it. "There really isn't a time that I'm 'off the clock,' so it's good that I love what I do," she said. "I think this is one of the most challenging parts about owning a business. Also, the life/work balance can be difficult, but the reward comes from watching something I've created flourish while providing a service that matters to people. I feel like I'm setting a good example for my kids, too. I think it's empowering for children to see their parents work hard and succeed."

Eslick and her husband have three children: a son, Griffin, 13; and twin daughters, Lily and Chloe, 11. When Eslick isn't designing jewelry or performing in her role as wife and mother, she and her husband also perform in a rock-and-roll band called Mighty Big Jim and the Tall Boys (MBJ). Her nickname in the band is Princess Kate, a rightful title for the reigning 2019 March Bridal Madness Champion.

According to the band's website, MBJ first took the stage together in 2013 and have been making music ever since. Heavily influenced by Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and The Allman Brothers, this roots rock and roll band recently performed at the Bakken Brewfest in Sidney, Montana, on April 20 and at the Stonehome Brewpub's Patio Party on June 1 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Veteran singer/songwriter, Jim Devine fronts the band and is joined by Casey Malkuch on lead guitar and vocals, Jon Redlin on bass and vocals, and Jayson Eslick on drums and vocals. Katelynne Eslick contributes lead and harmony vocals. MBJ released their first full length album, Diamonds and Tears, in February 2017.

Anyone considering custom jewelry design work is encouraged to contact Eslick by visiting her business, Sugar Plum Jewelry Company, at 107 W. Bell Street in Glendive or her website, sugarplumjewelryco.com. She can also be reached by phone 406-377-5788 (work) or 406-531-3038 (cell). Additionally, she holds a presence on social media: facebook.com/sugarplumsjewelry, where she has developed an extensive online customer base.