Playing around with jewels and walking in gardens

How’s your summer going? Are you HOT as a bbq oven? I honestly didn’t know what other comparison to make but you get it.

My summer has been somewhat quiet and slow which I absolutely LOVE. I’ve been teaching weekly jewelry classes and just generally spending time with my family.

Two weeks ago we traveled just outside of Raleigh to visit the Juniper Level Botanical Gardens and it was such a treat! We loved the waterfalls, all the amazing BIG cactus’ and being in nature. I tell you it is SO soothing.

We marveled at all the different and beautiful plants. Are you growing anything, doesn’t have to be plants? Are you growing a new project? A new idea?

We accidentally grew sunflowers and my daughter and I lost our minds, it’s such a delight, and the sunflowers bloom just outside my studio door. We’ve also got Japenese eggplant, pumpkin, green peppers and of course cherry tomatoes.

I also had a chance to visit my parents in the mountains and I made sure to harvest some of my Dad’s abundant sage and lavender. I created some really pretty bundles with some other wild flowers grown on their property.

When I sit down and spend time with these herbs I feel so connected to Mother Earth, we’re cocreating beauty and presence with these sage and lavender cleansing bundles.

Ya’ll know I LOVE to gift these cleansing wands to you and my friends. I was visiting my parents last month (June) to participate in the Girl Tribe Pop Up in Charlotte.

I had such a great time reading tarot at the event that I decided to participate in the July event which is happening this coming Sunday! If you live in the Charlotte area, come out and shop this super fun event!

I hope to see YOU there and if you can’t make it, be sure to check out my late summer and Fall events. It’s going to be a busy yet fruitful season!

The Keeper II Collection

Our model Alessandra was so excited to work with a real turtle! He was such a great model too.

When I look at these images I can’t help but wonder at the incredible synchronicity of life and how the pieces fall together. A former classmate of mine at ECU, Kate Barreto mailed me this gorgeous intact baby turtle shell with the skull and legs. He’s SO freaking cute and incredible to look at!

Immediately I knew I needed to update one of my favorite collections, the Keeper collection that I created years ago with a larger adult turtle shell. Turtle shells are absolutely incredible. The textures and skin has the most fascinating patterns. It almost resembles a map, but to where?

Turtles are magic to me, as are all animals but the way they are constructed beholds my interest the most.

The lesson with turtle is through sound, through absolute presence and awareness. That is a word I’m holding to this year, AWARENESS. You can learn so much through sitting in the moment, sensing energy through the air.

Now I’m on a tangent because I’m also reading a book about quantum physics and energy. Animals are aware of so much more than we are but on a different level, the 5th dimension maybe?

Okay regardless I hope you love this collection because I am in love with it and the possibilities!! I made a cute turtle skull ring and turtle skull charms.

The Keeper II Collection drops this week on Friday, September 23rd in celebration of Mabon. You can get EARLY access by signing up for my email list at the link below.

I also want to take a moment and thank my super talented friends and colleagues that helped make this photoshoot look so dreamy and magical, Ashleigh Bowden is a STELLAR photographer. She has worked with me for about ten years now, either as a model and now as an amazing photographer (she’s based in Raleigh and does family/portrait style photography along with photoshoots like mine) and of course my bestie in fun Meagan Wilson, whom did the exquisite makeup!

Thanks as always for reading - YOU’RE THE BEST!

Want to learn my secret techniques? Take a class with me

After a brief hiatus from teaching jewelry and metals (aka PRE COVID) I’m back to teaching locally in Pitt County, North Carolina! I’ll be teaching at two facilities, Emerge Pitt County Council of the Arts AND at Pitt Community College.

Many of you have asked me about when I’ll teach one of my favorite metalsmithing techniques, LOST WAX CASTING AND MOLD MAKING. Both methods are very integral to my jewelry and it’s SO much fun!

With mold making you can take any organic or small object and recreate it. Many of the things you see everyday are created through a mold.

Pulling waxes from a wax injector at my old studio at Art Avenue.

Both of the classes I’m teaching are adult evening classes so you can take them after work and create your own talisman or small object. Especially with the holidays coming up this is a wonderful way to prepare something meaningful for yourself or a loved one.

For the Pitt County Community college class you can sign up here. This class is Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm beginning on September 6th.

Here is the link to sign up for my classes at Emerge Pitt County Council of the Arts on Thursday evenings 6-8:30pm.

Here’s my very dear friend Caroline Hedgepeth working on her jewelry piece. Caroline has taken several classes with me at Emerge.

Here’s the thing with jewelry and metals and especially with mold making, this process allows you to play with natural objects in a new way. As human beings we CRAVE TO LEARN and experience life in new ways.

Even if you don’t live in the Pitt County area I highly recommend you take ANY kind of extracurricular class, it’s so good for our bodies and minds to continue learning and growing and ALWAYS STAY CURIOUS.

Thank you for reading and I’ll see you around the ‘nets!

Momboss update - the toddler years are incredible

At the Mucha exhibit in early January at the North Carolina Museum of Art

Oh hey, it’s me over here working part time in my studio and caring for our intrepid and curious 4.5 year old. Tallulah is growing like a sassy little weed and I love it! It’s been some time since I’ve given ya’ll an update on what it’s like raising Tallulah AND balancing an at home jewelry business.

it’s SO challenging and exhausting and precious, so, SOOOO precious. I know that I will look back on these years with yearning and fondness. She is easy to be with most of the time but she also has her tantrums and I have mine. I’m learning patience and presence which are both big lessons.

To give you an idea of our schedule Tallulah is in preschool half the day and she’s at home the other half, my father in law watches her two afternoons a week and then I work one day on the weekend.

This schedule is very tight, for me, meaning that within three hours everyday I squeeze in studio time, computer/marketing/advertising time along with replying to emails, cleaning up the house. And even within those three hours sometimes I schedule doctors appointments or meetings.

Just like with you the hours - every hour - is precious. My sanity and my self care is precious as well. I don’t know about you but within these pandemic years I’ve taken a big OVERALL look on my life and how I spend my time.

Ice cream is a weekly activity we enjoy in our small town of Farmville.

With Tallulah’s baby years gone, I’m recognizing even more that now I must be completely PRESENT with her, watch her grow and learn as well as look less at my phone or obsess over my next Instagram post or reel.

Of course, social media and internet has been a HUGE blessing for my business however I’ve been experiencing burnout and the consequences are real. So when I get time with Tallulah I try really hard to be there for her instead of wandering off to my phone.

Okay so here are some of the FUN activities we do. I’ve taught Tallulah how to rider her bike, so we bike ride to school in the morning, she knows how use the potty on her own, she’s learning some new Spanish words and she’s OBSESSED with slime and play-doh.

Tallulah has her own crafting room and her favorite medium is GLITTER….so there is glitter in every knook and cranny of this house. I’ve even busted out my old gem beads for her to craft her own jewelry. She really loves doing that. And I think one of my new favorite traditions is having Tallulah deliver jewels to some of my local customers.

Whenever Tallulah is at the table, so is Lady Shadow Cookies.

All in all being Tallulah’s primary caretaker is a role I take joyously, the sacrifices we’ve made for that means so much more. Being a mom has made me a more patient and aware human being, I have this immense gratitude for the life I had as a young human and the work my parents put into my life.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and update. I am INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO YOU for watching me grow and evolve as a mother.

New stockist - The Sojourner Whole Earth Provisions

Holy cow I’m SO excited to say that Eilisain is now being carried by my favorite local witchy/pagan shop, The Sojourner Whole Earth Provisions!!!

I have shopped with Michelle since I moved to Greenville and it’s pretty awesome timing that Michelle just released a book!

If you live in the Greenville area, shopping at Sojo’s is a destination, her tarot stock has exploded, she has an array of ceremonial candles, crystals, books, and so much more. I never thought my jewelry would be stocked there but it is and it’s just such an honor.

You can also shop at Sojo’s online. Either way, I wanted to share this exciting news with you. If you have ANY suggestions on stock shops please let me know! You can email me at info@eilisanjewelry.com

Thank you as always for reading and following me on this journey.

You are a BIG blessing in this universe.

How to pick out the right chain length

This question may seem like a simple solution but it really does vary with what kind of necklace or pendant with regards to size and shape.

I decided that ya’ll may need a physical visual of the various chain lengths and what you wear ultimately determines your chain length. For example in this photo below I’m wearing a longer dress with a U shape neckline. I would wear the Third Eye pendant because it’s a larger pendant size and I want it to lay lower.

If i’m wearing a tshirt with a highter neckline I’ll wear a chain that is 22” as it lands right in the middle of my chest abit higher on the neck.

Below is my handy chart for viewing chain lengths on the body.

With the dress I’m wearing I’d prefer to wear a pendant lower on my chest with an 28’’chain.

I do want to say that nearly all of my chains are interchangeablle with any pendant. That way you can order various chain lengths too. My sterling silver 2.4 mm chains are the perfect size and shape for a large pendant. Each chain comes with a spring ring clasp and a small makers mark hallmark tag for authenticity.

I hope my charts help you determine your chain length. And don’t hesitate to reach out for anymore questions (info@eilisainjewelry.com)

Mother's Day Gift Guide for the fierce women in your life

Moms are the bomb. Mother’s get shit done and they deserve our love and sparkly gorgeous gifts!

Peep my 2021 Mother’s Day gift guide, there are gifts for all the gorgeous, fierce and badass women. Check it out below.

And if anything, purchase your mama some handmade lavender cleansing wands. She’ll love the sweet fragrant scent of lavender and it’ll cleanse the air.

Mother's give so much, now that I’m a mom I see how much my mother sacrificed and how patient and loving she was with me. And let’s not forget our friends that have ‘mothered’ us, loved us when we really needed it.

Send a card to your friends that mother’s have passed, sending a message reminds our dear friends that we’re thinking of them.

I hope you enjoyed this gift guide and thank you so much for popping by! xoxo - Lisette

Momboss Journey - Toddler time

Tallulah will officially be 4 years old on March 26th and goodness does time fly quickly, I seriously didn’t think it’d be this fast. I’m holding so tight to her little self before she grows into a tween!

I’ll also be 42 years old this coming weekend and as I come into this journey of my 40’s I have a BIG appreciation for time. We can never get back time, so each moment is truly a gift even if it may be a shitty moment!

Tallulah has now been in preschool for under a year, even during this pandemic, and she’s grown incredibly. I’ve learned to let go and ease up on my own structure around time. With set scheduled days of when I can work in my studio I structure my ‘off’ days with Tallulah around playing outside, reading tarot cards or painting. Lots and lots of painting!

What surprises me about watching Tallulah grow is how much I am reflecting on my own youth, what I remember and how it must’ve been for my mother, raising me. Parenthood teaches us so much about ourselves and who we are.

New Lessons during the toddler years:

• Acknowledging emotions and allowing them to be felt. When my daughter is frustrated or angry I try to remember to pause and see what it is. Pausing is HUGE for both of us.

• Water or going outside cures just about any tantrum. I never realized that until I read it on a moms FB group. The best advice EVER.

• I allow my daughter to paint nearly anything within reason. What can I say, it gives her the best satisfaction to paint rocks.

I can tell you that raising a toddler has given me a whole new set of ways to communicate with an authoritative little person, and these tips can honestly help anyone get thru life.

If you want to follow my journey and learn more about intentional jewelry please subscribe to my list below and I’ll keep you posted!

Get Ready, 'Cause the Holidays are Coming!

So we’ve already got our Halloween decorations out and we’re sipping pumpkin spiced latte - we’re all ready for the weather to cool off so we can bust out the long sleeve pajamas.

Along with that we’re marking our calendars because there are some amazing craft shows coming up. The longer I participate in local handmade shows the more I love shopping for my loved ones at the shows. And I’m participating in several new shows this season.

LIke CraftedVA in Norfolk, Virginia, it’ll be held at O’Connor Craft Brewery on Saturday, October 12th.

I’m also doing the femme empowered Girl Tribe show in Charlotte, NC December 14th &15th.

There are so many great vendors at these shows, ones that are local to the south. These shows are kid friendly and are just a fun outing for the whole family. Did you know when you spend money on locally made products 110% goes back into your community? It’s a win-win situation!

I hope to see you at any of these events - be on the lookout (those on my email list) you’ll be getting a postcard in the mail. And if you aren’t on my list, sign up today!

Every City Should Have a Cat Cafe

Okay, maybe I’m biased, cause ya’ll know I’m an official CRAZY CAT LADY but still, cats are SO awesome.

Which is why I’m so SO ecstatic that my cat claws are now at Crooked Tail Cat Cafe in Greensboro AND in Winston-Salem. I’ll paint the picture for you. Last year my husband and I took a lil’ trip to Greensboro, he had work and I had never visited so I walked around downtown (which is pretty awesome btw) and I happened upon Crooked Tail, of course, i had to pop in and get my cat fix while out of town. I had such a great time watching the cats play, there was one black tuxedo cat that seemed to own the place.

I was fortunate that when I visited, Karen Stratman, the owner, was there, and we chatted for a bit. I love Karen’s story, her animal journey of studying them at the University of Florida (go Gators, I’m one too). And it’s pretty badass that Karen opened the first cat cafe in North Caroline too! Of course a light bulb went off in my head. My cat claws would be purrrrrfect for their cat shop area. I can’t believe the idea didn’t dawn on me sooner.

And now here we are with my sterling silver cat claws are now being sold at Crooked Tail Cat Cafe! So if you’re in Greensboro or Winston-Salem pop in and give a cat some love and maybe you’ll walk out owning one. That’s the best part of Crooked Tail and all the other new cat cafe’s, there is the opportunity to find a loving home for a cute fur baby.

Fifi, my first cat model. Isn’t she fierce?!!

If you want to find more locations where Eilisain Jewelry can be found, click on my stocklist link below. Thank you as always for visiting!

The Power of Myth

When I was eleven years old I distinctly recall picking up a book at the library about Greek mythology and finding the stories and deeds of Gods and demigods awe inspiring and fascinating. At the time I was intensely creative, I sketched fashion outfits, I made clay jewelry, and dreamed up my own stories.

Reading the infamous Greek myths gave me an opening into the massive tales of love, betrayal, deceit and loss of innocence. The myths were a window into other worlds and life lessons.

As I grew older I still found myself drawn to myths and legends. I became particularly enchanted with Celtic myths and the land sites that connected humans to the fairy realm. Not only that I LOVED learning about the sacred objects that connect us to the gods and goddesses of the Celts. There is something magical when reading about giants that roamed Ireland and fought over each other and called upon druids and witches to protect their offspring and homes.

Later when I entered university, my ‘major’ was Anthropology which seemed so fitting, for someone who is now a jeweler. See the intersection of handmade objects and human activity in our world resulted in culture which also ran it’s course with religion and mythology.

What I love so much about mythology is that their UNIVERSAL and most can relate to the human emotions in these epic tales, why do you think we’re so obsessed with Marvel and the Avengers movies, they’re essentially mythologies.

When I first began creating my jewelry collections I knew that I wanted to create stories and themes to the pieces I created. For example my Valkyrie Collection was shot with my friend Claire who has gorgeous short red hair and the presence of a Viking.

Mythologies guide us through life, and connect us to the universe at large. When our ancestors looked up at the night sky and saw the twinkling beauty of planet Venus and constellations they told tales of our our world came to be.

We can travel through time to another era when we read the Celtic, Nordic, Hindu and many other world mythologies and tales. We can understand how greed leads to destruction, rebirth and renewal of the earth.

Kaltes Collection drew from Ugric peoples of western Siberia. She was a shape-shifter.

I hope that this post gives you pause to open a Greek myth book or revisit old myths and legends. There are so many lessons and takeaways.

Flip through some of my lookbooks and videos inspired by Gods and Goddesses of past.

10 Reasons Why I Love Greenville, NC

Image from my Bast Collection photoshoot at the Tar River in Uptown Greenville.

I have a confession to make, when I moved from a bustling, cultural city like Washington, D.C. to a small college city, Greenville in eastern North Carolina, I was convinced I’d leave after my four years at ECU.

I’m a former Army brat and I was used to moving and I love being around international people and the traps of big city life. But something interesting happened, I grew to like Greenville and even more so I grew to LOVE the community and friends I made here. I swore up and down to my friends that I was leaving after graduation and moving overseas for a residency or something. However, my story turned right around when I met my husband during my last year in school. In addition to meeting my husband I had a perfect opportunity to move into Art Avenue in 2013 with several other friends and classmates from ECU.

Mural wall in Uptwon Greenville

Within the span of ten years of living in Greenville and now Farmville, my love for Greenville and for Eastern Carolina to has grown so much. Because as I said moving around so much, I found that when I settled here I realized that I was actually longing to grow roots and stay put for awhile.

So with that said, I felt I had to share some of the reasons why I love Greenville, (I won’t lie that I do miss the big city immensely tho).

1. The Art Community - It should be no surprise that it’s the major reason I love Gvegas (how’d we get that nickname btw?). We’re a tight knit community. On any given day, you can find my dear friend Sim Asher (photographer, teacher & more) or Jonathan Bowling (sculptor) sharing their artwork or beginning new projects around town or Holly Garriott of the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge organizing another successful community arts project like the Vincent Li mural at the corner of Evans and 5th street in Uptown Greenville. There is just SO much talent in Greenville. My dear friend Kelly Boutilier opened up Moxie Pop, a gallery and pop up shop location specifically to highlight and expose the rich community of artists, musicians and creatives. There is NO shortage of amazing creative talent in Greenville and Pitt County itself.

2. The Tar River & Town Commons - There is always some kind of fun & FREE event going on at the Greenville ampitheater, we love going to the Sundays on the Park events with free live music and food trucks. Or we take Tallulah to the childrens playground & park. The Tar river runs through Greenville and Pitt County and there are tons of treasures to be found, shark teeth, fishing and a gorgeous walk way. Again, Kelly Boutilier also teaches yoga on paddle boards on the Tar River - oh and btw Kelly also helps run Starlight Cafe as well!

3. Christy’s Europup - Okay I know it’s a bit of an odd thing to put a pub on this list however there are SO many special memories I have of ‘Crusty’s’ as my friend affectionately calls our local pub. The food is always good, the people are the BEST and the atmosphere is like Cheers, seriously, people know and remember name there! And it is the place I met my husband. They also have live music and open mic night.

4. Starlight Cafe - Ha! Can you tell I love food & drinking? More beautiful and fond memories made at my favorite restaurant. Just like Christy’s, when I walk into Starlight it’s like a second home, they know my name and my favorite drink. AND it’s where my husband and I got married so there’s that major reason. But if you’re looking for gourmet cuisine and fine dining this is where you want to go.

5. School of Art & Design at ECU - I mean this is the main reason I came to Greenville to get a degree in jewelry and metal design. The art school has serious talent and though the art building itself is crumbling a bit, the professors & programs they offer are stellar. If you’re an art student looking to learn from world renowned artists and professors then East Carolina University SOAD is where you want to go. The jewelry & metals department has the best professors, when I came I knew that I would get instruction from a wide range of talent and knowledge.

6. The People - I’d say that I have a pretty good understanding of people & places considering I’ve lived in 3 continents and traveled through North & South America, and overall I’ve felt so welcomed and humbled by the generous people I’ve met here. Here’s an example of how generous people are here, when our current President came for one of his ‘rallies’, my favorite breakfast spot The Scullery made national news when they donated a days worth of income (over $5K) to an immigration nonprofit. And an op-ed was published in our newspaper condemning the xenophobic statements made at the rally, stating that Greenville is a diverse and welcoming city. Another example, I was at the Umbrella Market and a friend of mine just met newcomers to Greenville and she introduced me to them so that we could take about the art scene. Hows that for a welcome mat?

7. First Friday ArtWalk - I think this is probably one of my absolute favorite traditions of the month and Uptown Greenville. Back when I had a studio at Art Avenue, we held all sorts of events that landed on the art walk evenings. We held music shows, exhibitions, fashion shows, poetry slam and more. This is where small town culture & art have a major impact on business and exposure. You really get a sense of what Greenville is all about when you walk through town on First Fridays and absorb incredible art and talent.

8. Proximity - Think about it, you’re roughly 2 hours away from amazing beaches, OBX, Atlantic beach and so on. You’re also about an hours drive from other beautiful towns and cities like Wilson, Farmville, Kinston, Belhaven and Bath - all perfect getaways for the weekend. I never would’ve known about these fun adventures had I not lived in Greenville.

9. Dickinson Avenue - If anything has truly evolved and changed it’s this street that used to be super sketchy and mainly the only reason to go was Jonathon Bowling’s epic parties. Now you can choose from a handful of delicious restaurants, throw axes, visit several breweries, shop and pop into an art studio, The Art Lab.

10. The Wildlife and animals - So this last one isn’t specific to just Greenville, it’s more of Eastern North Carolina. Until I moved to Greenville, I had never shot a gun, tasted deer meat, let alone seen a wild bear. I made friends that went hunting, lived on farm land and had that experience of being out in the wild. Now I’m so much more familiar and I love being that close to nature. My jewelry is made by all of the beautiful animals of eastern North Carolina, the barn owl, bear claw, deer antler, sea shells, and so much more.

The ECU metals Guild from 2010, some serious talent in this photo!

One Halloween night at Christy’s Europup.

An image from the Bast Collection shot at the Tar River by Aileen Devlin.

Our wedding in the Starlight Cafe courtyard.

Living in Greenville and traveling and visiting the places of Eastern North Carolina has broadened my concept of community, it has opened my eyes to so much more than the usual offerings of a city. I tell many of my friends back in the DC metro area that it would’ve been so much harder to get my jewelry company off the ground in a bigger city but in Greenville, I was able to grow and expand my business.

Also the cost of living in a smaller city is so much more manageable. You can eat out more, spend your money on local art & culture, and maintain a art studio outside of the home.

I hope this gives you more reasons to visit and stay in Greenville. If you want more of this kind of knowledge and tips on everyday living, sign up for my email list below. Thanks as always for reading friends!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Who truly holds the world up? Mothers. For real, they get shit done and also manage to be amazing. All the mother’s I know are absolutely incredible. They’re bossbabes, stylish women on the go that also make time to read to their kids, take them to whatever sport activity and run a household.

So let’s treat mom’s to badass jewels!

Here’s my gift guide for all the fierce women in your life, and to the fur mamas too.

This gift guide covers jewels for the dainty mamas to the fly standout moms.

The new bird bone and gemstone ring. You’ll feel like a fierce goddess.

I do hope that you take time to honor the role of mother this year, especially for those that mother’s that may not have a large family or friend base. Send a card to an Aunt or family friend that has carried her role as mother with pride and dignity. I’ve created a list of women that have aided me in my life and been there for me.

I’m quite excited that my own Mother will be visiting our family this year and that we will have a chance to celebrate with Tallulah. When I think back to being a young child and not realizing how hard it must’ve been for my own mom to be strong and lift us up when we needed it, I am incredibly grateful and thankful.

Thank you for visiting and stay fierce!

PS - Don’t forget I’m releasing my Labyrinth Collection on May 8th just before Mother’s Day. These will be incredibly one of a kind and rare jewels. See the sneak peek photo below.

Swirly malachite is so rich and deep.

How Being Part of an Art Collective Taught Me About Business and My Community

Having a community, especially in the art world, is like a warm fuzzy blanket. You feel supported, nurtured and warmed by the commraderie.

While I was studying at East Carolina University for my degree in jewelry and metals, I honestly didn’t have a plan for a studio or where I would work, it all kind of came together the year I graduated in 2012 when I moved into my studio space at Art Avenue. And it’s safe to say, I don’t think I would’ve been as successful in my city had it not been for my friends and companions at Art Avenue.

“I tell this story a lot because I want others to know how much it helped my artistic development and I hope that others in the art field have the same kind of experience. ”

— Lisette Fee

Plant and Fug head by Andy Denton. Photo by Aileen Devlin.

I helped manage the gallery and retail space as well as the metals studio.

The concept of the art collective/incubator came about from my friends Claire Edwards and Sarah Setzco. Claire’s father owns the building in which Art Avenue began. Claire and Sarah wanted to showcase local musicians, bands, artists and more. They began with several ‘pop up’ shows, I curated my first exhibition, Preyed Upon at Art Avenue and so within two years Claire and Sarah finally ordained the space Art Avenue. It worked out so smoothly because there was a good group of us ECU graduates that truly needed a place to grow and flex our skills. We had Aileen Devlin a photographer for the local paper, Andy Denton a sculptor and teacher at Pitt Community College, Jeremy Fineman a ceramicist and also instructor of ceramics and art, Autumn Brown set up the metals studio that I eventually inherited. While Claire and Sarah managed the business and finances of our collective the rest of us worked towards promotion of events, installing exhibitions and studio rental spaces.

Mind you, none of us were paid. It was a labor of love as well as perhaps some of our own self interests in understanding the mechanics of running a gallery space. Art Avenue was part of a new revival in Uptown Greenville, there were graduating artists from ECU that needed space to show and sell work.

What did I learn from my experience at Art Avenue?

• I understood how partnering with local businesses helped expose each other and generate awareness and sales.

• I learned how HARD it is to get the community and people in Pitt County to attend art events. In a strange we (the art community) lived in our own bubble, so it took extra exposure to get attendance.

• Working with local press, influencers and social media is HUGE to generating excitement and appreciation for art.

• My friends and fellow artists contributed to the success of my jewelry company. Aileen Devlin is still my go to photographer and she shares my jewelry with all her friends and family. Andy Denton and Autumn Brown helped set up the casting studio in which I created my jewelry.

• I co-created my first fashion show event with my friend Paula Chrismon and began shooting videos and lookbooks because of the space and talent I had to work with.

• Not everyone is cut out for an art incubator space; it takes an artist at a certain point in their career to work in a shared space.

• when you have a community with you; the sky is the limit. Seriously, there is so much at your fingertips that you may not be aware of.

It was a complete volunteer effort in creating designated studio spaces.

Andy Denton preparing our new studio walls.

In the end Art Avenue struggled to survive (many of the original Art Avenue board members moved to new cities and opportunities), but the basis of what we created was a haven and space to share our art and that of others which provided so much culture and vibrancy to Greenville. And now there are new spaces popping up and I”m sure there will continue to be art havens. For example, The Art Lab run by the Pitt County Council of the Arts which pretty much has the same concept that Art Avenue had except this endeavor is funded by an already established nonprofit.

Art Avenue was very instrumental in getting my business off the ground, and I will forever be grateful to the community and support it provided me. And as it is with these kinds of posts, I urge you to support your local artists, makers and entrepreneurs because they are so vital to the health and happiness of your community.