Taming the Tangle

When one door closes...

...usually another one opens. At least that's the hope I have for my many artist friends who are getting out of the biz due to the economy. We are all working so hard right now, and today was a tough day when one of my galleries handed back all their inventory because it will be closing its doors at the end of the month.

Until then, you can swing by Haus in Chicago's Andersonville and get some truly great deals on beautifully handmade art, store fixtures, and cool design items. This Friday, April 3, join Greg for the final Haus party from 7-10 pm. Throughout the month items will be marked 30-70% off. We are all sad to see such a wonderful store close, but the timing was such that as a lease expired and the economy is shaky... well, decisions had to be made. We are all supporting Greg and looking forward to his next adventure!

On newsstands now!

If you haven't yet picked up a copy of the February issue of Chicago Magazine that Michelle Obama graces the cover of, please do... and flip to page 30 for an article about local Chicago jewelers. My riverstone bangles are featured prominently... now is when I start hoping Michelle is actually reading this issue, too! -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

These pigeons have the right idea...

Chicago is colder & snowier than usual this December. How do we deal with it? Well, for one, all the El platforms are equipped with heat lamps... it's hotly contested real estate as you can see the pigeons have caught on. -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

Living (in)animate: what a great show!

Friday night made for a great opening at Carrie Secrist Gallery in Chicago's West Loop, where my friend Liza Berkoff has a powerful collection of her photography, mostly featuring mangled toys. It's odd how grisly some of the images felt even when rationalizing that these are mere things, mostly worn down by love.

The show also featured some compelling tiny figures... in one of my photos is Olive posing next to a tiny knitter.

The opening felt alive because it gave me time to catch up with some of my gal pals who I don't see much this time of year since we are all jewelers... Jodi Rae Brownstein, Olive, Nancy Deal, and Ann Cianciolo all were there in addition to some other artists who I know from the art fair circuit and my old space at the Cornelia Arts Building. As much as I enjoy art openings, it is more fun to have friends to discuss the art with and definitely a bonus to know an artist who is showing to get an inside peek into the show while learning about their artistic process and concepts. I do highly suggest checking out the show as a whole... it runs for a few more weeks. -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

Why I do what I do

On any given day I am excited and honored to be a full-time artist. I really get to do what I love, and if I allow myself, I can do what I want when I want. It really can be a freeing proposition. But there are times when you can also catch me bogged down by cash flow, running to UPS in the rain at the last minute, or juggling phone calls on 2 phones as well as trying to keep up with emails... there are definitely moments when I get drowned by the daily tasks and lose sight of the big vision.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about longer-term vision. This has been my year to focus on the business side of my studio -- which started with taking classes at the Women's Business Development Center. I've taken a lot of steps towards compiling the parts of my business plan and hope to have something early next year. We all need that carrot to grasp for... it helps with motivation and keeps us looking toward the future.

In trying to understand myself more I've been thinking a lot about what fuels my passion. I've thought back to college and all the mentoring I did and work with children's groups, I read to the blind, I've been a mother's helper. I've donated to a lot of charities in both cash and jewelry. I ran a marathon and raised money for the American Cancer Society. I enjoyed explaining abstraction to school children at Artclectic, the recent show I did in Nashville. I'm frustrated by homelessness and feel we as a society could take better care of our elders. But what does all of this have to do with creating jewelry?

That, I am not sure of yet. Several of my customers over the years have made me feel honored when they bought my jewelry as a badge of courage for cancer survival or purchased a piece as a specific shield to disguise a scar. A seedpod necklace disguises lymph node scars, an undulating ladder can conceal a heart surgery scar, a one-of-a-kind waterfall necklace gives strength to a breast cancer survivor, a garnet ladder takes attention away from a brown recluse bite.

These are all literal stories, and there are many more... but I love that my jewelry represents something beyond just an adornment. I'm hoping it instills a sense of passion in you and adds that bit of creativity that fuels your life. As I pursue my quest for a larger goal for my life, the studio, and my jewelry, I will keep all of these encounters in mind. Jewelry can be a powerful totem. If you know of any organizations that might fit with my ideals, please share them with me... I'm always looking for interesting alliances and a partnership might be wonderful.

Hey Chicago: Book Release Party + Trunk Show

Come join me today at Florodora in Chicago's South Loop for the Jewelry Design book release party. I will have a large selection of my sculptural wire jewelry for sale, and wine and snacks will be available. The event was also featured in Time Out Chicago... check out the listing for more information. Stop on by anytime from 12-7pm! 

Count down!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow at this time I will finally be running my first marathon. I'm a little stir crazy, so I've decided to come into the studio to channel some of that energy into designs for SOFA.

My mantra tomorrow is going to be slow and steady... I've had some setbacks along the way but I haven't lost 2 toenails, gone through 3 pairs of shoes, and woken up super early before shows to not make an effort to run the whole way.

I owe a lot to Dr. Jared, my chiropractor at Proactive Chiropractic, and Noel Labak, an amazing sports massage therapist who owns Labak Sports Massage, who have done their share to make my body ready. Spiritually I am running for all the people in my life who have battled cancer... too many to name them all here, but I will be running in memory of Julie Thoma-Wright, Becky Kelch, and Robert Lucas and running in honor of Denise Andahazy who is now cancer free!

Thanks to everyone who has helped me raise money for the American Cancer Society and given me much moral support along the way. -- Sent from my T-Mobile Sidekick®

More about Chicago Fashion Week

Seeing as I'm in the midst of SOFA preparation, I'm going to miss out on most of the Chicago Fashion Week events, but I did find time to watch this fun video today... Macy's is doing some great stuff for budding fashion designers (and I keep trying to hit them up about being an emerging jewelry designer...). Enjoy! And please share news of any fun events you made it to.

Studio Stories: Change is the name of the game

The last few weeks have been more of a whirlwind around the studio than usual. Change has been afoot as we gear up for another growth spurt. Allyson, my studio manager for the past year-plus, is due to give birth to her first child any day now (officially August 15). So she will be out for a while, and we are going to have a conversation after her life changes & the studio changes have settled down, probably in mid-September, to see how our paths intersect.

In the meantime, the most fortuitous thing happened... within a day or two of Allyson and I discussing her position change, I had breakfast with my friend Julie of Virtu, a most-fabulous gift-destination boutique in Bucktown (although I always find a few things for myself) and mentioned that I would be looking for a new studio/production manager. She had a friend who had a friend who was looking for a job... vague, but I asked her to pass my phone number along. Voila! Magic happened and in walked Diana, who is now the new studio/production manager. She has the perfect set of skills and experience to get the studio to the next level while also freeing up some of my time so I can focus on new designs and the future of the company.

With that bit of whiplash resolved quickly, the next big change is that Vanessa will also be leaving the studio in August. While I am in Philly now, Diana has been interviewing new production candidates to add to the team. It will be sad to not see Vanessa in the studio since she has been with me for 2 years, but she will move on to something great, as yet to be determined. So, we are all looking to the future... past the point of this whirlwind of change. Because, guess what?, that is not all....

Today Diana is picking up the keys to our new studio space! The official move is next week. We are all beyond excited to have a space with heat, air conditioning, separate work rooms, a kitchenette... so many amenities. Most importantly, the space will be entirely ours, so we can give it our own personality. The new space is in Lincoln Square, walking distance from my house (what a treat) and close to all the fabulous coffee shops and restaurants. I'll write more about it after I've seen it again :)

There have been a cascade of other smaller changes internally that are all good. In the coming weeks the website will get updated to reflect them all & I'll keep you posted of other developments. My best words of advice are to roll with it & keep looking to the future if you find yourself in the midst of a similar turbulence.

Lucky Number 13

Yes, 13 years ago today Dan and I got married. We are older, wiser, and even happier than I look in this photo. We've learned that the best gift we can give each other is time together, so we each took the day off and biked to our favorite bakery -- Milk and Honey -- where we sat reading, drinking cappuccinos, and sharing scones (one of our weaknesses). We then treated ourselves to massages at Urban Oasis, followed by more reading (it's a slightly chilly, rainy day... and we are both tackling fat sci-fi books that we are engrossed in), and we will finish the day with dinner at Bistro Campagne where we can walk and then later meet some friends for birthday drinks at the end of the night. Also forgot to mention, we saw Avenue Q last night. Hilariously wonderful! 

I'm feeling more rested and less anxious about having to pack my bag again tomorrow for another weekend away... my first trip to Columbus, Ohio. Please spread the word to anyone you know there that I will be at the Columbus Arts Festival on Long Street... it runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.