Yesterday’s post about the challenges of combining art and commerce reminded me of an essay about small business that I wrote for the Huffington Post in 2012. And, like I said recently, it’s occurred to me that I need to republish all my Huffington Post pieces on this blog, because they could vanish at any…
Words of Wisdom
Fashion Repeats Itself: High-Heel Flip Flops
Emilia Petrarca, fashion writer for New York Magazine’s The Cut blog, recently alerted Twitter to two pairs of high-heel flip flops. Heeled flip-flops are coming pic.twitter.com/3xqOvLN3Kx — Emilia Petrarca (@EmiliaPetrarca) April 2, 2019 Both pairs are made out of leather, so it’s probably more accurate to call them “thong sandals” than “high-heel flip flops,” which…
The Thrill of the Chase, the Art of Kintsugi
Last week, I shared an interview that Isabella Santa Maria did with me. She asked me a lot of jewelry questions, of course, but I was especially excited to answer her question about slow fashion. This week, Isabella was interviewed by the BBC. She talks about the facial scarring she has from a childhood car…
Wednesday’s Video: Advice About Advice
I’m continuing my series of YouTube videos about business issues and my advice for this week is to be … wary of advice. Naturally, my advice is an exception to the rule. You should trust me 100%! As I explain in the video, I didn’t take all the bad advice I was offered over the…
Wednesday’s Video: BS Your Way Through a Business Plan
People considering entrepreneurship often ask me if they need a business plan. My answer is, yes, you should have one. My caveat is that it will probably be complete bullshit. Yep, lots of business plans that are full of optimistic bullshit, and that’s true whether they are drawn up by a one-person company or by…
A Long and Shady Business Story, Part 2
This frigid Saturday, I felt gloomy. I thought, “Damn, Seasonal Affective Disorder is kicking my ass today!” As I turned on my laptop to Poodle a light box to chase away the SAD, an old registered-mail receipt tacked up near my desk caught my eye. It was addressed to Paul Rosenberg, head of Eminem’s Shady…
A Birthday, Gifs, and the Wisdom of Sonny Rollins
It’s officially Dec. 23, 2017 (New York time), so it’s my birthday. I’m now halfway to … via GIPHY Holy shit! via GIPHY I remember the surprise party we had for my father’s 50th birthday like it was yesterday, but it was in 1989. I had recently turned 21 and I thought, “Wow, this age…
Piercing Inspiration & Advice for Earring Lovers
Facebook reminded me today that it’s been a year since I posted this photo of the lovely Cassi Lopez adding two piercings to my right ear. The photo, in turn, reminded me that I have an earring-palooza to blog about because we’ve been piercing like crazy here. That’s what happens when you’re a jewelry designer…
Social Media Advice From Wendy Brandes and JCK
Thank you to Brittany Siminitz of JCK for interviewing me about social media! Check out my top tip for people starting out; advice for dealing with plagiarism; and my favorite jewelry and non-jewelry Instagram accounts. CLICK HERE FOR THE INTERVIEW. After I did this interview, an unusual online kerfuffle broke out in the jewelry industry….
Life Advice From Artist Chuck Close
I recently read the following advice from portrait painter Chuck Close. He was talking about art, but it applies to a lot of life situations where we wait and wait and wait till the “right moment” to fulfill our dreams. “The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who’ll listen to me,…