I was first introduced to this week's Spotlight Mom through her husband, Daniel (her biggest fan). He had stumbled across one of my requests for Spotlight Moms and shared his wife's story with me. How great is that?! It is nice to see husbands standing behind their wives and believing in their businesses -- beyond being a mother and wife. And, after I visited her website and saw her collection of handmade jewelry, I knew I had to spotlight her during the month of December, as her jewelry line would make for great holiday gifts. :-) Hint, hint, nudge, nudge to your husbands. :-) So, what makes Amy Delson's jewelry collection different from others out there?
"She draws inspiration from her urban landscape and its layering of old and new architecture with scenic parks and a colorful spectrum of people. Amy’s creativity and fashion point of view are influenced by her travels around the globe. Her performance background has given her a keen sense of grace and body proportion, which translates into the great wearability of the jewelry she crafts. Amy’s pieces celebrate the simultaneous strength and delicate nature of women and the art of expression through adornment. She recognizes that a woman is empowered to reflect her changing moods through her accessories and have fun with jewelry, revealing herself as the true focal point. Amy designs to bring out and crown the artistic, powerful, spiritual, feminine and playful sides of a woman, inspiring her to embrace herself and share that authentic self with the world."
Just look at some examples of Amy's handmade pieces:
Aren't they beautiful and unique? I was lucky enough to receive one of her necklaces for review, and fell in love with it the moment I took it out the lovely velvet bag it came in. Even though I am a mom to a 2 1/2 and 1 yr. old, I still love getting dressed up for date nights with my husband and layering on jewelry. It makes me feel like an adult again, after spending the week in casual clothes with the girls. :-)
Make sure you head back here on Friday, when I will be sharing my thoughts on the necklace that Amy so kindly sent for review, as well as offer one lucky reader a chance to win a unique, handmade necklace, designed by Amy especially for my readers. If you don't want to wait and see if you win the giveaway -- who would after checking out Amy's collection online? -- please enjoy this 10% off coupon code especially for Inspired by Savannah readers -- "MOMMY" -- to use on your purchase made through her online website I will be leaving a printout with my wish list for my husband to Amy's website, along with the coupon code! :-)
But, in the meantime, please enjoy my Spotlight on Mom interview with Amy Delson of Amy Delson Jewelry.
Name: Amy Delson
Company Name/Product/Service: Amy Delson Jewelry
Company Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
Company Website: www.amydelsonjewelry.com
Facebook URL: Facebook.com/AmyDelsonJewelry
Twitter Handle: @ADJmadewithlove
Age of Company: Two years
Favorite Inspirational Quotes:
“Remember, success is not
measured by heights attained but by obstacles overcome. We’re going to pass
through many obstacles in our lives: good days, bad days. But the successful
person will overcome those obstacles and constantly move forward.” – Bruce
Jenner
“I didn’t know what I wanted to
do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be.” – Diane Von Furstenberg
“I design for the woman who
loves being a woman.” – Diane Von Furstenberg
“I can honestly say that I was
never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do, I was
for it regardless of the possible outcome.” – Golda Meir
“Don’t ask yourself what the
world needs; ask what makes you come alive and do it. Because the world needs
more people who have come alive.”- Howard Thurman
Favorite Books: Coco Chanel, An Intimate Life by Lisa Chaney
Diane,
A Signature Life by Diane Von Furstenberg
The Ten
Laws of Enduring Success by Maria Bartiromo
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies?
Etc.
I’m a mompreneur living and
working in Manhattan with my family. I
love NYC; I’m inspired every day by the coming together of old and new buildings, history, people, parks, culture and constant activity. There are so many amazing resources for
families too.
I have two sons, Samson, age
six, and Helix, age four. We gave them
powerful names after their great-grandfathers, Solomon and Herman. Samson of course is the strongest man in the
Old Testament and Helix is the strongest structure in science and nature. Their middle names, Levi and Judah, are also
biblical and are named after their other great-grandfathers, Lester and Jack. It’s a lot of fun (and a lot of crazy) having
two boys! Every day is an adventure : )
.
When I’m not busy running
around with my kids or working on my home and business, I find practicing yoga
to be a lifesaver in so many ways! I
love the synergy of mind, body, and spirit and the feeling of Zen calmness it
brings to my hectic life. Reading is
also another favorite activity. I'm always learning!
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
My journey to becoming a
jewelry designer and entrepreneur has evolved with my own creative
evolution. After graduating from Duke
University and performing in musical theater and dance in both the U.S. and the
U.K., I worked for ten years as a journalist and marketing professional in both
NYC and N.C. My career as a copywriter,
columnist, editor and director of marketing spanned such publications and
companies as Backstage, Dance Chronicle, Gotham advertising, the Lake Norman Times, Belk Inc., View
Magazine and Citi Habitats. From theater
to retail to real estate, I’ve been fascinated by the blending of historic and
modern influences in style, architecture and artistry.
Ever since I was a little girl
playing with trinkets, coins and beads in my mom’s jewelry box, I’ve loved
exploring adornment and personal expression.
As an adult I’ve loved spending hours combing jewelry markets, antique
sales and street fairs along my travels.
My love for jewelry construction and design was able to take center
stage after having my two sons. Staying
home to raise our children has been an eye-opening and heart searching
experience. After taking some official
jewelry making classes, I began creating pieces as gifts for my loved ones and
things that I personally loved to wear.
Selling my pieces was just a natural progression that allowed me to
continue to stay home with my kids while nurturing my creative spirit and
helping other women express themselves.
My business, Amy Delson
Jewelry, embodies several facets. I
create and sell original jewelry pieces made from gemstones, bohemian art
glass, silver, brass, copper, and gold, as well as vintage elements I have
acquired. I also create custom pieces in
collaboration with my clients, sometimes combining their own elements with new
materials. It’s a blast to take a
woman’s box of broken, unworn, or sentimental, yet out-of-date jewelry and turn
it into pieces she can’t wait to wear.
When I was able to transform a friend’s beloved, yet hardly worn
broach into the centerpiece of a stunning necklace she could wear with anything
from a gown to a T-shirt and jeans, I knew that I wanted to continue helping
people realize their jewelry’s full potential.
When I received “Where’d you get that?” inquiries whenever I wore a
piece that I’d created, I knew there was a market for my designs.
On my web site,
amydelsonjewelry.com, in trunk shows, boutiques, charity events and the Zaarly.com
marketplace, I offer these pieces and services, along with teaching people how
to make their own jewelry. The business
came about really as my way of delivering new value to the market via a service
that looks at a woman’s jewelry as something holistic to manage. What do you have? What do you need? How do you feel? Let’s talk about it. Jewelry really has the power to resonate with
people and help them express their personality and changing mood on any given
day.
What is a typical work day like?
My priority as always is my
family, and thus, my typical work day is a juggling act revolving around my
boys’ schedule. After walking nine
blocks with the boys to first take Samson to his elementary school at 8:30am,
then playing in the playground with Helix until his preschool begins at 9:20am,
I have a window of approximately five hours before pickup and running to the
boys’ Tae Kwon Do, music lessons, etc. In
those five hours I may be meeting with clients or publications, sourcing
materials in the Fashion District, taking a metalworking class or utilizing
bench time at the 92nd St Y, or designing and creating pieces by
hand in my apartment.
Some evenings I go back out to
industry or social events. I love that
what I do enables me to network and interact with such diverse and interesting
people and organizations. Oftentimes I
will create jewelry at night. I get
especially focused when the day is done and the home is quiet!
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
As any mompreneur will tell you, the greatest struggle is being
able to devote the necessary time to your business just like it’s another one
of your babies. One could easily be
consumed with either a business or a family alone 24/7. There will always be more things that need to
get done around the home or in the community (I’m also the PTA President at
Helix’s preschool). The children will
always command so much attention. I
constantly remind myself that we all have the same amount of hours in the day,
and to do my best. If I am genuinely
putting forth my best effort in everything I do, despite whatever curve balls
may appear, I am doing my job.
What did you do in your past work life?
Most recently (before I became
a mom) I was Director of Marketing for Citi Habitats, a large real estate
brokerage firm in Manhattan. Before
that, I was the Editor of View
Magazine for Belk department stores in the South, where I had the privilege of
interviewing and learning from Oscar de la Renta and Kate Spade, among other
dignitaries in the fashion world and society. I’d started out at Belk writing the copy for
their web site launch. Before that, I
was Associate Editor and a columnist for the Lake Norman Times in N.C., and before that I was a Creative
Assistant at Gotham Advertising in NYC. My first job after graduating from Duke in
1997 was Editorial Assistant at Backstage
while publishing in Dance Chronicle
and performing in musical theater and modern dance.
What have been some of your major successes?
Something that I am most proud
of is the collaborative work I’ve done with the designer Althea Harper,
currently on the Lifetime Network show Project Runway All Stars and runner up
of Project Runway’s Season Six. For the
past several seasons, I have designed and created custom jewelry pieces for her
models to wear during New York Fashion Week and in her campaigns and look
books.
I’m also proud of the work I’ve
done with the organization Look Good Feel Better. All of the courageous women
who appeared in their recently filmed PSA (public service announcement) wore my
necklaces, which helped them feel amazing while shining with their own unique beauty
after fighting serious illnesses.
What have been some of your major challenges?
With any startup it’s
challenging making yourself known to the world.
Having a background in marketing (and a husband who works in PR) has
helped tremendously, but every day is a learning experience. Partnering with fashion designers, stylists,
photographers and charity organizations has definitely expanded my circle and helped
boost my brand visibility.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
I think about what motivated me
to explore this path, that voice inside that guided me here, my pure
intention. I think about all of the
women who are glowing with confidence and receiving compliments in their
jewelry pieces that I’ve created. I
think about how lucky I am to have a way of earning on my own terms, with the
flexibility to be there for my family. I
feel grateful as well to be able to express myself artistically. It’s a blessing to have found something I
truly love to do, and if I can inspire others to pursue their dreams or get in
touch with their own personal style, it’s a win-win!
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
Lists, lists, lists!! I love having everything that needs to be
done written down in a list so that when it is accomplished, I have the
satisfaction of crossing it off and moving on.
I feel it’s very helpful to take some time at night to review what your
goals and agenda are for the next day, and what the kids’ schedule is for the
day. It gives me peace of mind to fall
asleep knowing I have a plan ready to go.
I also keep a notepad and pen right on my bedside table because I often
have brainstorms just as I’m falling asleep, or if I wake up during the
night. There really is no perfect secret
to balance. I think the most important
thing is, no matter what may happen in work and life, to keep moving forward.
What is next for your business?
I’m intrigued by social media
and community integration. I recently
was selected by Zaarly https://www.zaarly.com/amydelsonjewelry to be
one of their launch partners for their NYC online storefronts following their
successful San Francisco launch of community entrepreneurs providing unique
products and services. Additionally, I'm excited to start accessorizing NBC "New York Live" correspondent Raina Seitel.
I’m psyched about my new line
of cuffs as well, which was recently used to accessorize Althea Harper’s Spring
2013 campaign. I’ll continue to further
enhance amydelsonjewelry.com with more lines and collections, as well as look
to partner with more boutiques and retailers.
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are
starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?
Follow your passion; everything
doesn’t have to happen overnight. Think
of it as a creative outlet and means of expression for you and even a form of
therapy to release you from the daily stresses of family life. Use it as
something you claim for yourself, and in turn it will benefit your family and
community. Don’t be afraid to go in a
new direction. You are exactly where you
are supposed to be. If you believe in
your vision, you will make it happen. Go
for it!
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