Every so often when I teach a PR or social media class in town, I meet fellow solopreneurs like myself who are trying to get some coverage for their business. I always tell the class about this blog with the hopes that someone in attendance would have a business that would have some interest with the Fancy Girl audience. This fall I was introduced to jewelry designer Melisa Drucker (her sister Avital was in my class) who designs coin jewelry win coins from all over the world and different time periods. Her collection of coins, like NYC subway tokens and Japanese 5 Sen, are not only conversation pieces, but they can serve as a way remember or honor a piece of your history.
When I first took a look at her collection, I was reminded of the Bermuda hog penny charm that I have on a bracelet that also includes zodiac charms for me, my husband and my girls. I got the Bermuda charm to remember the cruise my husband and I took right before I got pregnant with our eldest. We loved it there and I wanted something unique to remember the trip. For all the traveling that you and your family might do- whether it’s moving from the US to another country or a favorite place for your family to visit– you’re bound to find something that speaks to you on MelisaDrucker.com. Her designs are popular with women, men, boys and girls.
Most of us are finishing up Christmas shopping right now, but some of us– like moi– have January birthdays to shop for as well! One of these necklaces would be a great gift for a sister-in-law, a niece, a tween, a teen, a mom, you name it! And I don’t know about you , but I like to have a story to tell when I give unique gifts. I had a chance to connect with Melisa by email and ask her a little more about her designs. Melisa has also generously offered to give away the French “Bon Pour” 50 Centimes necklace to one lucky little Fancy Girl! Keep reading for giveaway details.
Q&A with Melisa Drucker
1) What inspired the designs?
The designs were inspired by the images on the coins themselves. Some of them are so beautiful, they seem to be asking to be made into jewelry. I love vintage objects, everyday things that people used in a time of a different aesthetic, one before things were made of plastic.
2) How do you make the coins?
I don’t make the coins but use ones that were actual currency. Most are not in use now.
3) What are your most popular products?
The New York City subway token necklaces are among the most popular items; people are nostalgic for a piece of NYC history. It is a way to say “I love NY” while wearing something genuinely historical and beautiful. I design and make a rose gold plated NYC subway token necklace that is beautiful on girls – you can view it here.
The animal coins are popular as well. I have a butterfly, a starfish, and an owl girls often buy. And boys wear many of the coin necklaces as well, although they usually stay away from the butterfly coin, unfortunately. In fact I have almost as many men and boys by my jewelry as women and girls.
4) What advice can you offer anyone who’s interested in starting his/her own jewelry line?
Be original. Don’t imitate other people, because your imitation of someone else’s work will never be as good as their original. Also, you want to be proud of what you do, not be the person who copied someone else. The key to success is to find what you think is beautiful and keep working on it until your product matches what you picture in your mind. If you think it is beautiful, there’s a good chance someone else will, too. Don’t be afraid to experiment. People make jewelry with everything from paper to diamonds, and they make beautiful things with either material. Work around what inspires you and don’t compare yourself to others – comparing yourself destroys creativity and development.
And just like a good writer reads a lot, you should expose yourself to books, websites, and museums to look at every different kind of jewelry and art imaginable, and you will find in this breadth of creativity a sense of what is possible, creating inspiration for your own designs.
Giveaway
