My love affair with jewelry started at a young age. As most little girls do, I would try on my Mom's jewelry and play "dress up", and then parade around the house feeling very mature and pretty. Who would have thought (I know she didn't) I would end up where I'm at today, designing and making jewelry full-time.
I went through my "rebel" phase were I road motorcycles and played drums for some punk bands. After I went on tour and came home more broke then when I left, I realized, as fun as it was, that it wasn't going to really amount to anything. I decided I needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to do something were I could express myself creatively....then it hit me....I wanted to make jewelry.
To my father's relief, I decided to attend "Parson's School of Design" in Manhattan. After taking, and yes, passing, various types of jewelry making classes (mostly silversmithing), I applied for my first job. To my excitement was hired as a designer for 2 upscale boutiques in NY and NJ. After working there for a few very happy years, I decided it was time for another change. That's when I moved to AZ.
I had to put jewelry making on the back burner and ended up working for a large credit card company. I started making jewelry for co-workers and did some very small art shows to get my "feet wet" . Just when I was thinking of turning in my notice to pursue my passion full-time, my employer was wanting to down size and offered some of us a severance package.
Long story short, I took the money and ran!
Fast forward to today.
I relocated my business to Long Beach, CA and have never been happier! Although the recession has been a REAL challenge for me (and everyone else), I still have my doors open, thankfully. I've always believed that to be truly happy you have to love what you do and/or follow your passion (even if you do it part-time). For me, it took surviving a life threatening motorcycle accident to realize that you only get one chance so you better get off your ass and give it your best shot!
I feel so unbelievably lucky and honored to be doing what I love for a living that words can not express it. I feel that the name "Happy Chi Jewelry" sums it up.
"A privilege of a lifetime is being who you are"
Joseph Campbell
PS I still like to put on jewelry and parade around the house feeling very mature and pretty......maybe not so mature:~)
PSS You can buy my jewelry online or in person at one of my many Art shows through out CA, AZ, and NV.
