Fueled By Faith: A Jewelry Business Living up to its Name

Story by Kasey Lawson | Photos by Erika Carter

Picture above:  16 year-old Marilyn Stekoll, a Junior at Graford High School, started her own jewelry business.  

Daring to dream brings the power to turn dreams into reality, and one young entrepreneur is harnessing that power with her jewelry business, which she named Fueled By Faith.

Marilyn Stekoll founded Fueled By Faith at age 16 by selling handmade jewelry. This business enterprise soon led her to find a form of craftsmanship called permanent jewelry, or “linked jewelry.â€

Stekoll described her jewelry as “custom-fit chains welded together without clasps.†This technique gives pieces the effect of being permanent without being attached to one’s skin.

She said the application process is quick and painless, and customers can “bring your best friend, sister, mom, daughter, significant other, etc., and get matching styles meant for everyday wear for effortless style.â€

Her brand offers a variety of metals, including gold-filled, gold-plated, stainless steel or sterling silver.

Stekoll noted that “should a customer want a piece of jewelry removed, they can simply cut it and set it aside to be rewelded.â€

Fueled By Faith also carries a wide selection of accessories that do not require permanent application, such as earrings, necklaces, rings, claw clips and more.

Though Stekoll’s line of work is unique in her family, she credited many of her close relatives for modeling the work ethic that inspired her business venture.

“My mom, grandma, dad and stepdad were all businessmen, so I decided to go ahead and be an entrepreneur,†she said. “I watched what they did, and even if I hadn’t decided to do this three years ago, I have now taken the steps they taught me.â€

The day before beginning her junior year of high school, she decided there was no better time to take a leap of faith with her business, adding that her outreach grows every day.

Permanent jewelry is a relatively new technique within the jewelry industry, Stekoll said, adding: “I saw quite a few people doing it and realized that we didn’t have a place around the lake that does it. It brings a lot of people happiness. It brought me a lot when I discovered it, and it still does.â€

The smiling faces of her many customers make clear that Stekoll’s business does indeed make people happy. Her work brings people together with delicate yet beautiful jewelry pieces, and she said linked jewelry creates invisible bonds that are unique and sentimental to relationships of all kinds.

Fueled By Faith has reached nationwide status, shipping non-permanent jewelry as far away as Minnesota. These products include handmade bracelets and accessories from the Pura Vida Bracelets brand, which was founded in Costa Rica.

Stekoll’s brand has also appeared at several vendor fairs, rodeos and conferences in Texas, including last fall’s annual Craft & Vendor Fair at PK.

Like most business owners, Stekoll said finding success has been far from easy, and she recounted her hardships and second thoughts when trying to jump-start her brand.

“To get started, I basically had to empty my bank account,†she said. “I was working at a restaurant. I was not prepared to spend that kind of money on anything. I thought: ‘What if this doesn’t work out? What if I’m unsuccessful? What if someone laughs at me or thinks I’m doing the wrong thing?’ So of course I had a lot of doubts about it.â€

Stekoll has come a long way with her business, though, and she plans to continue building upon her success. She said she aspires to participate in more major events, such as the Fort Worth Stock Show, that could showcase her craftwork in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area.

With all that Stekoll has learned in the business, she shares these words of enlightenment for others: “Just step out and go for it, but ask God for help all along the way. If I did not have Him or the ability to pray to Him, I would have lost my mind by now. One day, this (craft) just popped up on my feed, and I heard someone say, ‘Just do it,’ and so I did.â€

Customers can book with Stekoll through a Facebook private message to get linked with a special someone today.