15 Years!! Fifteeeeen Years?!
WOW. That has flown by. (queue the saying “time flies when you are having fun!”) Whether you are a recent collector or an OG, (OH YES, I know who you are!) you have kept me going - as in, “They like me! They really like me, er, my jewelry!” My heart just keeps growing. I am honored, proud + grateful.
I am HONORED for all the new and original collectors of my jewelry designs. I am PROUD that I am going stronger than ever as a one-woman show. I am GRATEFUL you follow along with my gem (ba-da-ching!) of a design life that I dearly treasure.
A trip down memory lane, shall we? It was 2007 and I humbly started out on the Etsy platform (hooray for not having to design my own website for this tech-less-savvy gal). I set up at all of the Indie designer shows in the Chicago area (remember Gen-Art Events? Dose Markets? Macy’s trunk shows?). I was averse to this “Instagram thing” (“No thanks, I’m pretty sure it’s a fad.” HA). Then the time came where I had to design that dreaded website, but actually, dare I say it was fun via Squarespace! I have lived, learned and grown all to arrive at this happy stage where it all keeps getting better and better and more and more fulfilling.
It is quite the sentiment of a feeling when my relationship grows with a client. Like when the obtainment of my jewelry designs comes full circle. At whichever stage we have been acquainted, it has likely started at one of these stages: you have been gifted as a high schooler (a milestone graduation gift from a relative), you’re in grad school and you celebrate yourself for adulting, you get that job and adorn your fresh work attire, you pointed your significant other in my direction with hints and wishlists, you contacted me with glee to announce your engagement and honorably ask me to design your day-of accessories for you and your bridesmaids, your ladies then come back to me when they get engaged, okay now lets honor that growing family of yours with names + letters + birthstones galore, your next of kin or partner celebrates you on Mother’s Day with a commemorative necklace, and then you honorably celebrate your token 25th anniversary with something “silver” (major bravo to this thoughtful husband who researched such sentiment for this special gift).
Speaking for myself personally, you have reciprocated and celebrated me as well. You have asked for life updates when I see you at an event, you asked for peeks of my engagement, wedding, and baby pictures. The loyalty, care, and trust for both have been lovingly mutual. I count my lucky stars that some clients have become very good friends! That’s just crazy neat.
When I say you keep me going, I mean it. Your celebrations, style, ideas, custom requests bring new life to my vantage point and provide inspiration I would not have found solely. Some of my best designs have come by way of you! Like this one and this one. Go ahead and add “assistant designer” to that resume ;).
Adorning yourself or another, THANK YOU for being apart of my design life I am so thankful for.
Much love, Rachel