My Story
I began my life on this earth as a creative force, and I was lucky enough to have parents that nurtured the budding artist in me. I was always told that I could accomplish and be anything I wanted to be. Without my ability and freedom to create, I don't know where I would be today.
I didn't grow up knowing that I wanted to design jewelry. My main objective was to always be seen and heard, and you will see that in the bold stylistics of my designs. Expressing myself was always truly important to me. Whether it be through writing, singing, painting, or designing...that was key in my life, and will probably remain so.
Growing up having this fire inside of me would often get me into trouble. Not everybody agreed with the ways that I chose to express myself. Though, my parents supported me, they were unsure of what to do with such a wild child. So we decided on Fashion Design School.
I moved to Los Angeles in the year of 2000 with dreams of becoming a fashion designer, attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Upon graduation in 2003, I landed a comfy job at an apparel manufacturing company. I discovered rather quickly that I was not meant to work for someone else, and so my journey began.........
I was 21 years old and determinded to start a successful company of my own. Lacking industry experience and knowledge, I threw myself into the trenches hoping for the best. While working random odd and end jobs, I started a small accessory line specializing in hats and earrings while designing custom costumes for local dancers and performers.
Things seemed to be going well, until I met a man....a musician. He seemed to light a new kind of fire in me. My love and passion for music grew and caught like wild fire. So a new journey began.....I started writing lyrics to the tracks that he would produce, and eventually I found myself performing at local open mic nights and singing at Karaoke bars weekly to refine my vocal skills.
When that relationship dissolved my love for music only grew stronger, and became my new therapy. I wanted to take my music skills to the next level, so I enrolled myself into the Los Angeles Recording School where I learned audio engineering. This allowed me to produce and record my freshman album, Fresh. I formed a band and began performing in L.A.'s hottest night clubs and venues, determined to make a name for myself as an artist/musician.
The time was approaching for my graduation from recording school, and I had to choose my path. I was offered a job with a company doing live sound, and the doors in the fashion industry were opening up for me again with a job offer from the cooperate offices of Ed Hardy Kids and Denim. My two passions were tugging me into different directions. I chose my orginal love, fashion. I figured it was a more stable career choice, and the money would be much better.
Due to my strong work ethic, I was catipulted into wearing many different hats within the company. Originally hired as a customer service representative, I quickly climbed the cooperate ladder. Moving to a position as a sales rep, fit model, and then eventually the assistant to the Chief of Operations all within a year. Being in this position gave me an up close view of what it took to run a cooperate company, which is exactly where I needed to be.
After a year and a half of working in the fashion industry, my love for music was welling up in me and I was feeling unfulfilled. It was time for me to take another leap. I landed a random job selling beauty products, and began performing and working on my music again. I was living with a new boyfriend, and with our incomes combined I was able to pay off all of my debt. I was in a great place financially, and things were looking rather sunny!
This is where my story comes full circle! One of my back up singers was having a birthday, so I decided to hand make her a pair of earrings. They were such a hit and received so much attention, that she told me to start a jewelry line. I said, "Okay." and I got started.....
I spent three months making jewelry non stop out of found objects and recyclables. Once I felt like I had a large enough inventory, I took my jewels to the Melrose Trading Post and set up shop. The response was great, so I kept it going. I began throwing jewelry parties, and continued to sell on Melrose, which landed my line in several local boutiques.
Once word got out about my line being 'wearable pop art," I was invited into the art world. Showcasing and selling in the underground art scene, at galleries and night clubs. Which leads me to my current location on this rollercoaster of a journey......right here, right now.
I am presently still showcasing my jewelz at different art venues around the Los Angeles area. My line was recently featured on the ABC Family show, Greek, and I recently began producing my own art and fashion show called, Sugar. Sugar features local underground and emerging female artists and designers. I wanted to help give artists the opportunity to have a smoother and easier ride than my own.
I will continue to make my mark, my own way, and on my own terms. It's the only way I know how. Look for traces of my foot steps in a pretty shade of hot pink!
On and on I walk......my story continues, stay tuned! ;)
I began my life on this earth as a creative force, and I was lucky enough to have parents that nurtured the budding artist in me. I was always told that I could accomplish and be anything I wanted to be. Without my ability and freedom to create, I don't know where I would be today.
I didn't grow up knowing that I wanted to design jewelry. My main objective was to always be seen and heard, and you will see that in the bold stylistics of my designs. Expressing myself was always truly important to me. Whether it be through writing, singing, painting, or designing...that was key in my life, and will probably remain so.
Growing up having this fire inside of me would often get me into trouble. Not everybody agreed with the ways that I chose to express myself. Though, my parents supported me, they were unsure of what to do with such a wild child. So we decided on Fashion Design School.
I moved to Los Angeles in the year of 2000 with dreams of becoming a fashion designer, attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Upon graduation in 2003, I landed a comfy job at an apparel manufacturing company. I discovered rather quickly that I was not meant to work for someone else, and so my journey began.........
I was 21 years old and determinded to start a successful company of my own. Lacking industry experience and knowledge, I threw myself into the trenches hoping for the best. While working random odd and end jobs, I started a small accessory line specializing in hats and earrings while designing custom costumes for local dancers and performers.
Things seemed to be going well, until I met a man....a musician. He seemed to light a new kind of fire in me. My love and passion for music grew and caught like wild fire. So a new journey began.....I started writing lyrics to the tracks that he would produce, and eventually I found myself performing at local open mic nights and singing at Karaoke bars weekly to refine my vocal skills.
When that relationship dissolved my love for music only grew stronger, and became my new therapy. I wanted to take my music skills to the next level, so I enrolled myself into the Los Angeles Recording School where I learned audio engineering. This allowed me to produce and record my freshman album, Fresh. I formed a band and began performing in L.A.'s hottest night clubs and venues, determined to make a name for myself as an artist/musician.
The time was approaching for my graduation from recording school, and I had to choose my path. I was offered a job with a company doing live sound, and the doors in the fashion industry were opening up for me again with a job offer from the cooperate offices of Ed Hardy Kids and Denim. My two passions were tugging me into different directions. I chose my orginal love, fashion. I figured it was a more stable career choice, and the money would be much better.
Due to my strong work ethic, I was catipulted into wearing many different hats within the company. Originally hired as a customer service representative, I quickly climbed the cooperate ladder. Moving to a position as a sales rep, fit model, and then eventually the assistant to the Chief of Operations all within a year. Being in this position gave me an up close view of what it took to run a cooperate company, which is exactly where I needed to be.
After a year and a half of working in the fashion industry, my love for music was welling up in me and I was feeling unfulfilled. It was time for me to take another leap. I landed a random job selling beauty products, and began performing and working on my music again. I was living with a new boyfriend, and with our incomes combined I was able to pay off all of my debt. I was in a great place financially, and things were looking rather sunny!
This is where my story comes full circle! One of my back up singers was having a birthday, so I decided to hand make her a pair of earrings. They were such a hit and received so much attention, that she told me to start a jewelry line. I said, "Okay." and I got started.....
I spent three months making jewelry non stop out of found objects and recyclables. Once I felt like I had a large enough inventory, I took my jewels to the Melrose Trading Post and set up shop. The response was great, so I kept it going. I began throwing jewelry parties, and continued to sell on Melrose, which landed my line in several local boutiques.
Once word got out about my line being 'wearable pop art," I was invited into the art world. Showcasing and selling in the underground art scene, at galleries and night clubs. Which leads me to my current location on this rollercoaster of a journey......right here, right now.
I am presently still showcasing my jewelz at different art venues around the Los Angeles area. My line was recently featured on the ABC Family show, Greek, and I recently began producing my own art and fashion show called, Sugar. Sugar features local underground and emerging female artists and designers. I wanted to help give artists the opportunity to have a smoother and easier ride than my own.
I will continue to make my mark, my own way, and on my own terms. It's the only way I know how. Look for traces of my foot steps in a pretty shade of hot pink!
On and on I walk......my story continues, stay tuned! ;)
