Category Awards & Recognition

Point #72: Josh Prentice Award Winner – Caitlin McDiarmid

CaitlinMcDiarmid

Caitlin McDiarmid
APP Administrator

 

I was happy to participate in and read the article about Josh in Issue 71 of The Point. While writing my part of the article I cried buckets. Grief is a complicated thing. I thought I had gotten it out of my system and then saw the cover, and broke down again. Grief is such an ongoing thing.

Ryan Ouellette mentioned in his article (Issue 71) that I seem to select people to receive the award who I am close to both professionally and personally. I know that I am close to those who serve alongside of me in the trenches – who always help out just a little more and offer themselves when others have not.

Service has built our volunteer family. If you have not yet experienced the joys of volunteering – of sacrificing your time for others – I urge you to do so. Whether it’s in your community or in your industry, someone will be affected positively by your service, and the world will be better for it.

I was more than thrilled to present this year’s Josh A. Prentice Award to Jezebel Voulé, a good friend of mine; in fact I consider her family.

Jezzy Voule - Josh Prentice Award 2015She came to us as an Al D. Sowers Scholarship applicant. She made it clear that no matter what we thought she WAS getting the scholarship. She was so persistent and genuine; so driven and focused. And so, she did get the scholarship.

Later I found out how much she had sacrificed to come to Conference. How she had raised the money to get there (going without electricity) and how hard she had worked to learn everything she could before coming to Conference.

Jezebel came back the following year to volunteer and has returned 7 years in a row. She’s a rule follower. While she continues to find balance between when to bend or break the rules, she is one of the most reliable volunteers. She consistently is reported as one of the most helpful people by volunteers and attendees alike.

She moved from a studio where they didn’t have any air-conditioning in Texas to an APP studio in Iowa; and eventually to her dream studio – finding a home at TRX in St. Louis. However the shop is not the only place she works hard. Recently she has also taken on the unpleasant task of collecting documents from our members and has made real progress with the project.

A few years back she spent Christmas with my family in Lawrence. By the end of that visit my whole family loved her as much as I do. She’s a member of my St. Louis family, who continues to support me while doing follow up medical appointments there. She is the only person who has gone to my dance class with me.

I will never not need her and the organization will never not need her to volunteer. She is a critical member of our team, is an innovator, an initiator, a team player, and a positive and friendly face to all strangers. And while it may not matter, I’m pretty sure Josh would’ve really liked her.

Point #72: Receiving the President’s Award – Jef Saunders

Jef Saunder headshotJef Saunders
Membership Liaison for the Board of Directors

 

Writing about receiving the APP President’s Award has proved to be a daunting task. I am still in a bit of shock and still very flattered to have received the award, but I’m a little uncomfortable discussing how I found myself to be the recipient. Do I list things I’ve done that I think Brian liked? Ugh, the dreaded “humblebrag?!” No thank you, I’m not jumping into that minefield.

What I’d rather do is take this opportunity to say thanks to some of the people that have helped me, taught me, and supported me along the way. Brian Skellie presented me with the award, which made a very special thing even more so. Brian has had such a tremendous impact, not only on my career, but on my life and the way I see the world. His commitment to safety and high professional standards, as well as his seemingly neverending patience and willingness to share with others has been an inspiration to me for years. If I have been helpful to other piercers, I am thrilled, but I learned it from watching Brian.

I initially began my involvement in the APP by volunteering for the Membership Committee. I owe a tremendous amount of thanks to them for letting me be a part of the committee. The work that goes into processing new members is substantial, to say the least. It’s hard to believe there was an APP without a Membership Committee at one time, and all the work was assigned to one Board Member. Eduardo Chavarria developed the idea of delegating that work to a full committee, and was a part of it from day one. He stepped down from the Membership Committee at Conference this year. I didn’t really grasp how much Ed has given of himself to our community over the years until I worked hands on with him. Ed is truly one of those unsung heroes, quietly working hard to make sure this organization works and progresses. I want to say thank you to him personally, and on behalf of the APP.

As I mentioned during the Banquet, the Fakir Intensives have been so near and dear to me. I genuinely can’t imagine being a piercer without them. So thank you Fakir, Chleo, Ken, Eve, Tod, Ian, Grin, Natalie, Cody, Jori, Dustin, Seth, Brent, Neo, Idexa, Bettyann, Laura Jane, and all of the other instructors, students, and contributors to the Fakir Intensives. Being a part of the Fakir Intensives is one of the greatest joys in my life, and I am so thankful to all involved. Ken Coyote, in particular, has played the part of mentor, editor, critic and most importantly friend. Thank you to everyone who has done “the skirt dance”.

The APP is in a period of unprecedented growth. I really believe in this organization and its mission. I am so thankful to everyone who participates. The people who spend hours every day making sure this thing keeps moving forward, but also the members quietly providing safe piercing to their community. We are in the midst of an extraordinary and special time; we are beginning to see the fruits of our organization’s labors. My hope is that we all take a moment to really appreciate where we are, right this very moment. We are imperfect, yes, but we are improving, too. And our harshest critics are also our biggest allies, not only demanding more of the organization, but being the boots on the ground to make those improvements happen. Very few of us get to say we were there at the first Conference, but we will have the chance to say we were at the first Member’s Retreat! We can all say “this policy needs work or this pamphlet needs an update,” but we can also say “let me help improve this organization”. That’s a great place to be and an exciting time for everyone. Thanks to everyone who has worked on this organization over the past 20 years to make it what it is!

So in closing, thank you. Even if you are just reading The Point, you are participating and you are helping to make piercing safer.

Point #71: Josh Prentice Award – Ryan Ouellette & Gus Diamond

RyanOuelletteRyan Ouellette

I remember Josh Prentice being a busy bee at Conference. He always seemed to be helping someone with something. He was kind and never gave anyone the brush off. He really wanted to be part of a team. Admittedly we weren’t more than acquaintances, but I hope I can live up to the standard he set for volunteers within the APP. I am very proud to have received a token of appreciation named in his honor.

Every year when Caitlin McDiarmid makes her tearfilled speeches I am moved by her passion. If there was a “hardest working person in the APP” award she would win it every year. So to be chosen for this award by her makes it twice as special to me. It seems that every year she picks someone very important to her both personally and professionally, so when she started her speech last year, my stomach dropped as I quickly figured out who she was talking about. I like praise as much as anyone with an Instagram page but hearing her heartfelt words really had an impact on me. The feeling of receiving this award from Caitlin, someone who is very important in my life, is very hard to express in words. She is a friend and a colleague, and to know that she cared about the volunteer work I had done for the APP means more than I will ever be able to fully describe. Like a total goof I had to wade through a sea of the people I respect with tear-filled eyes to try and say thank you. I hope Caitlin could fully appreciate how amazingly awkward and appreciative I felt.

With every day I volunteer for the APP, every person I harass with a half formed idea, every deadline I barely make, and every issue I hammer into the ground with my opinions, I hope to make Josh and Caitlin proud. I guess I’m not allowed to slack off anymore.


GusDiamondGus Diamond

I am one of the few attendees that can say I have been to every Conference. That being said it has been an honor to volunteer for the APP Conference for more than the past ten years. To be awarded the Josh Prentice Volunteer Award is simply the cherry on top of an already great sundae. It means that for all the years I have been helping, I’ve been doing something right. I look forward to volunteering for many years to come, each year welcoming new recipients to the club.

Point 71: Al D. Sowers – The Man Behind the Scholarship – Shorty

ShortyCalmaShorty
APP Member, Ink & Pistons

Editor’s Note: In order to write this article Shorty spoke to Al’s colleagues and friends. This article was possible in part to the verbal contributions of Gale Shub of Body Circle, Michaela Grey and David Vidra.

The annual APP Conference and Expo is something that piercers from all over the world look forward to throughout each year. For many it’s the highlight of their year. A time filled with camaraderie between like-minded individuals, catching up with old friends, and making new ones. This is a time of focused learning, with knowledge being shared around the clock, for six solid days, class after class of information, plus the invaluable time at the bar late into the evening. For some less fortunate individuals, the idea of attending Conference is only a pipe dream. But to a small handful of deserving individuals, one man’s legacy has made this pipe dream a reality.

Al D. Sowers
Al D. Sowers

Al D. Sowers is a man often mentioned by many, but very few know more than a detail or two. Who is he? What did he do that was so deserving of having a scholarship named after him? What did he do to inspire the generations of piercers that he preceded?

Al started his piercing career before piercing was a thing in North America. There is little information available about where he started or who taught him. He was very involved in Seattle’s gay/leather scene in the ‘80s, as were other pioneers of the industry. Al also played an important role in the early days of body jewelry, being one of the go-to piercers for Tom and Gale of Body Circle Designs. He helped to perfect basic designs and create some new ones. In the early ‘90s, Michaela Grey and Jim Ward began Gauntlet’s body piercing seminars teaching body piercing fundamentals to those that wanted to learn. It was in 1993 that Al signed up for Gauntlet’s advanced piercing seminar and met a man named David Vidra. Al and David clicked immediately and became very close, both personally and professionally.

Board dinner in Atlanta after meeting at Piercing Experience - 1998
Board dinner in Atlanta after meeting at Piercing Experience – 1998

At the same time, many in the community saw a need to come together and organize piercers, addressing new legislation and creating a formal set of standards for our fledgling industry to follow. In 1994 the APP was officially formed. In October of 1995 Al became its first official business member and David became the second. Together Al and David set out to not only help bring piercing to the mainstream and make it a profitable business, but also to make it as safe as possible. Al helped to create and evolve the APP’s minimum standards. He pushed to make the proper sterilization (autoclaving) of jewelry and tools a minimum requirement. He also suggested that jewelry should always be run in a clean ultrasonic prior to sterilization to remove any manufacturing debris.

In addition to helping set standards he quickly became part of the Board for the APP, serving as secretary for a short time and spearheading local and international outreach. Al and David were known for their ability to think outside of the box and willingness to buck the system in the name of safety. They were always pushing to raise the bar and create the safest possible procedure for the client.

Al was passionate about the necessity for sharing knowledge. He believed that in order for piercers to be successful, they should be appropriately educated and that education should be industry specific. It was that passion which pushed Al to become one of the first industry specific OSHA bloodborne pathogen instructors in Seattle where he also began teaching his own piercing seminars. Along with his local teaching, Al helped developed some of the core curriculum that would be presented at the annual APP Conference. He also traveled to Europe to help with the piercing movement that was beginning to explode there and teach bloodborne pathogen and infection control procedures.

Meeting in New Zealand
Meeting in New Zealand

Al continued working in the industry for many more years, continually pushing to raise standards and mentoring many young piercers. In 2000 he finally retired due to declining health issues and sadly passed in February of 2001. Al’s passion for education is the reason the Association of Professional Piercers decided to honor his memory with a scholarship. This scholarship gives less fortunate but deserving piercers the opportunity to attend Conference, where they can learn and understand new concepts and techniques specific to the piercing industry. Continuing education is a necessity for our industry and if there is any one thing we can learn from Al it is to never settle. Always strive to learn more.

Body Circle Designs was founded in 1991 by Tom Finch and Gale Shub, making simple, high-quality, handcrafted body jewelry for piercers in the Seattle area. The focus was on using only the highest quality surgical steel, simple but beautiful design, and hand-polishing each piece to a flawless mirror finish. Cheap piercing jewelry, poorly made caused too many problems, such as rejection. But quality jewelry was hard to find back then. By working with skilled and experienced piercers such as Fakir, Al D. Sowers and Elayne Angel, we perfected the classic styles of body piercing jewelry and developed many new and innovative designs.”

First meeting of the short-lived European APP in London
First meeting of the short-lived European APP in London

Point #71: Thank You, Bethrah! – Elayne Angel

ThePoint_Issue60_v2_Elayne headshotElayne Angel
Author of The Piercing Bible

Bethrah Szumski has been one of the most active, involved, and productive APP Members in the organization’s twenty-year history. The Association of Professional Piercers would like to publicly recognize Bethrah for her dedication and service, and to express our deepest gratitude for all of her hard work as she steps down from her long-held post as secretary. She is also stepping down from her positions as chair and member of the Conference Committee.

Her tireless efforts and many accomplishments are truly too copious to list. But a brief summary is in order.

Bethrah Szumski
Bethrah Szumski

Bethrah has served multiple voluntary terms of service on the Board of Directors as secretary and also as president. She founded the indispensable Conference Committee. She is also an ongoing member of the Conference Curriculum, the Oversight Committee and Members Retreat subcommittees.

Bethrah has a phenomenal skill set, which she has so generously shared with our group. The APP has benefited greatly from her expert organizational abilities, which she utilized to create and maintain accurate records of the group’s history. She remains tasked with maintaining the corporate record for the Oversight Committee. Bethrah has applied her talents in negotiation to critical dealings with hotels and unions. Her verbal strength and public speaking flair have been put to great use throughout her work on behalf of the organization.

Bethrah first became a member of the APP in 1996. Just two years later she was appointed to the position of secretary. She then instituted the Association’s first elections and in 1999 was duly elected to that position. Bethrah served a full three-year term during which (among other things) she reviewed applications for membership from piercers around the world, giving her an expert eye for appropriate studio set-up.

She was then elected president in 2002 and served an additional threeyear term in that position. She is deservingly credited with having played a key role in stabilizing the organization. Bethrah was the deserving recipient of the very first President’s Award, as an acknowledgement of appreciation. She was voted Hardest Working Piercer in 2005.

During her tenure with the APP she organized multiple U.S. conferences and several in Europe. Her conference duties at various points have included contract negotiation, attendee registration, promotion, literature distribution, event scheduling, vendor relations and floor-plan, and hotel and union relations, just to name a few. She has also been an instructor for numerous educational classes and seminars for piercers, healthcare providers, and legislators, teaching courses in the U.S., Holland, Italy, Germany, and Mexico.

Following a three-year hiatus, in May of 2008, Bethrah returned to service as secretary on the Association of Professional Piercers’ Board of Directors. Notably, she restructured the Association’s annual conference planning by establishing the Conference Committee.

Following the APP Conference in 2010, Bethrah stepped down from her Board position and was appointed by the other Directors to the position of secretary as an officer, rather than as a member of the Board. She continued to serve until the position was recently handed off to Aaron Pollack of Flying Tiger Body Art in Auburn, Alabama.

As Aaron stated, he has some “big shoes to fill,” taking over for Bethrah, but we are confident that he will do a great job given his conscientious attitude and the ongoing support that has been generously offered by Bethrah.

Thank you so much, Bethrah, for all that you have done for the Association and the field of professional body piercing. Your hard work has literally changed the landscape of our industry and forever impacted the strength, efficiency, and effectiveness of the organization.

Point #71: Service – Caitlin McDiarmid

CaitlinMcDiarmid

Caitlin McDiarmid
APP Administrator

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” — Rabindranath Tagore

One of the greatest gifts given to me over the last 13 years has been the gift of mentoring. There’s something about having a grown man or woman, someone who isn’t your own child or student, tell you that you were instrumental in them learning, growing, changing, or reaching a new goal. I wasn’t good at it when I started with the APP. I was more than bad at it. But I continued just the same, tried to learn from my own mentor, Paul King; and tried to work on myself. I’m still not perfect, but the work and success of the volunteers continues to reflect my efforts back to me.

In 2007, at an emotionally laden Banquet Dinner, I talked about the transformative power of service. Back then I didn’t write down my speeches in advance so those exact words are lost. I know I spoke too long – we all did that year. But I wanted to try and get across to the audience – to our Attendees – the joys of service. The APP after all relies on volunteers from the top down.

Our Board Members are volunteers; our committee members are volunteers; our conference workers are volunteers (some minimally compensated). There are few of us who are compensated for certain jobs, but generally go far above the call of duty and are still volunteers for the Association.

From approximately 20 conference volunteers in 2003 (that includes the Board who worked the merch booth and classroom doors that year) to approximately 70 in 2015. As the Conference has grown our team dynamic has developed. As the fun we all were having showed our volunteer group has expanded.

71 - Conference Volunteers

The community of conference volunteers have become more than friends; they have become a family. Through service and working alongside each other we have formed bonds, which means that we send each other letters (real letters!) and cookies in the mail. We reach out to each other when we are going through rough times or experiencing great joys. We share opportunities in the industry – who’s hiring/who’s not. We celebrate when another volunteer becomes a Member and when a new volunteer joins the group. Through service to the organization and the Conference I’ve watched these young women and men grow up, mature, have relationships, change relationships, get jobs, travel, open shops, serve as committee members, and even as Board Members.

Many of the conference volunteers also serve in other capacities for the Association and the event. They often volunteer in their communities as well. Service brings a joy to life that I don’t think can be found elsewhere. This year I am encouraging the most experienced volunteers to start mentoring the newer volunteers. They have earned their place in this process. It is the next step of service work.

I watch every year as a group of volunteers, all decidedly different from one another, interact and work together on a variety of tasks and come out the other side friends and colleagues. It’s a magical process and by the end we are all in tears saying our goodbyes. I’ve watched people from a variety of religious backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, economic levels, cultures, piercing skill level, anxiety levels, social abilities, and ages – all let things which could have caused barriers become bridges.

I have never had a volunteer walk away from the experience unchanged. Service is transformative. Attending the Conference is transformative. Combine the two and it’s amazing.

We shouldn’t get to have all the fun. While our team has grown over the years, we are always looking for new volunteers. If you can’t volunteer during Conference, think about doing so in your community; whether as a piercer educating students in schools about safe piercing or as a food shelf worker. Do something, get involved for the greater good. Absolutely positively – everyone can make a difference.APP Conference Volunteers 2014

Point #71: President’s Corner – Brian Skellie

Brian Skellie headshot at 2014 APP conference by April BerardiBrian Skellie
APP President

In an organization comprised of exceptional participants who have gladly offered countless hours of work and traveled across the planet to share their ardor for safe body adornment, it is the privilege and great pleasure of the President each year to shine a light upon one who has exemplified our mission. To offer a special award in esteem of the outstanding contributions of this volunteer is equally to recognize the potential we all have to achieve the goals set forth by our Association.

In a field of iconoclasts, in which we must each be self reliant during our daily procedures, some of our fellow piercers have demonstrated proficiency at organizing and working together for the benefit of our community.

In a time where our colleagues have researched, debated, and negotiated fair regulations to respect and protect their fellow piercers and body artists, there are certain among us who excel at diplomacy and bringing forward our purpose. These individuals are honoured with the President’s award. We have showcased the winners of this award in several previous issues of The Point, starting with Issue 26 in 2003 (pg 3-5) as well as in 2009 with Issue 48 (pg 2-3).

Since 2009, when the sitting president James Weber presented to Raelyn Gallina, we have had five new honorees, including yours truly in 2014.
2010 Danny Yerna, presented by Jim Weber
2011 Allen Falkner, presented by Jim Weber
2012 Steve Joyner, presented by Elayne Angel
2013 Sarah Wooten, presented by Elayne Angel
2014 Brian Skellie, presented by Elayne Angel

Jack Yount Memorial Certificate of RecognitionBefore the existence of the President’s award, the Jack Yount Memorial Certificate of Recognition for Promoting Excellence in Professional Piercing was dedicated to Michaela Grey, Founder of the APP, as a special award chosen by the appointed Board in 1998. This can be recalled as a time when people who had worked alongside her felt a need to show respect for her efforts in coalescing the Association, and as a nod to the gentle persuasion towards exploration and excellence Jack Yount had shared with us.

“He passed away in Hospital in Copenhagen Denmark on July 15, 1995 at the age of 68.”

http://sacreddebris.com/jack-yount/

Michaela Grey was again recognized in 2005 with a special Lifetime Achievement award from a subsequent APP Board, for her contributions to our industry.

Jim Ward and Michaela Grey at the 2005 APP Awards ceremony
Jim Ward and Michaela Grey at the 2005 APP Awards ceremony

Point #70: The APP wants to thank North Bay Bioscience

The APP wants to thank North Bay Bioscience, LLC (NBBS) and Autoclave Testing Services, Inc. (ATS) for working with us to find an efficient streamlined process for the reporting of spore tests results for the APP Members who test with them.  Once the APP Member gives permission for their testing company to release spore test records to us, we will be able to review test results online.ATS-Logo-small

The APP can now get information/reports on our Members who test with NBBS or ATS via an online portal.  This will make maintaining records much easier and allow the APP to have immediate access to test results.  Members who test with them will no longer have to send in their spore test results monthly/quarterly; instead if for some reason we are NOT seeing test results we will contact the Member.

We have also sent out an inquiry to SPS Medical in the hopes of doing something similar.

Point #70: Thank you to Kim Zapata

Thank you Kim Zapata!

Kim Zapata headshot_2014

On behalf of the Board, the readership, and the new editorial team we would like to sincerely thank Kimberly Zapata. From 2009-2012 she acted as a contributing editor. During this time she authored several articles. In 2012 when her predecessor, James Weber, stepped down, she became Editor and Chief. Kimberly served as Editor from Issues #61-69 and I personally had the pleasure of working on each of those issues with her. This means it is with an extra sadness I see her step down. In the past few years Kim had become not only a colleague and boss, but a mentor and a friend. Her passion for our industry was more than apparent in each issue she spearheaded, always trying to stay on top of current issues and trends in our industry. In her time as Editor, she also saw this publication go from a print edition to a web-based publication and helped set The Point on an exciting new path. So Kim, from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you”! I personally wish Kim nothing but the best in the future, and I am sure that the Board of Directors, everyone in the office, and our readership echo those sentiments.

— Kendra Jane Berndt

Point #68: Best Individual Booth Winner – Blessings to You

Cyrus headshotInterview of Prince Cyrus, conducted by Kimberly Zapata

Q. What is Blessings to You?
A: Blessings to You is the title of my current creative metalsmithing venture which, at the moment, includes designing ear weights and bespoke commissions. The phrase comes directly from my process of creating something for someone as a talisman, an object to carry and direct intention. No dogma subscribed, just well wishes. It took a very long time to think of some clever name or witty phrase but when all was said and done I chose Blessings to You because everything else seemed unable to describe the spirit of my work. On a physical level, BTY is mostly just me at my home studio, hand carving models, and casting them in my garden. But for bigger projects, like creating enough stock for everyone at the APP Exposition, I am very thankful to have support from the fine folks casting at Anatometal in Santa Cruz.

Q: Speaking of Anatometal, how has your collaboration been going with them so far? Are there any big projects in the works you can share with us?
A: Oh my how wonderful it is to be able to visit all the beautiful faces at Anatometal. Their offices and production areas are massive! I always feel like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. (Cyrus laughs.) Barry and Tod have been so welcoming to me when I come through and I really feel like part of the family there. This being my second year casting I feel like I’ve hit the ground running with my abilities to create, but there is no replacement for the experience in casting like Tony has. I’ve been so thankful being able to count on them for my larger production for Vegas everyone was able to take home jewelry they wanted except the bats of course they sold out the first day. As a wizard I always have something up my sleeve…but for now I’ll stay tight-lipped.

blessings jewelry
Photo by Prince Cyrus

Q: What was the catalyst that drove you to create Blessings to You?
A: I’ve dreamt of hand-making metal art for many years. From when I was young being around iron artists, to coming up as a piercer, then assisting design companies; this all further fueled my thirst for learning. The world of jewelry in our industry is very small, especially compared to other industries. For a while I wanted to step back and find a space for myself that was not ‘stepping on anyone’s toes’ so to speak. I created BTY in response to a yearning to contribute to my DIY community and for stability in the context of hypergentrification in San Francisco.

Q: Many of your pieces seem inspired by nature. Can you tell me a bit about how you decide on your designs, and what the creative process is like?
A: My first collection last year was entitled ‘The Floating World,’ as an honor to Japanese nature spirits. I chose pieces based on musings about 16th century Japanese poetry and how that poetry described the mysterious connection we have to the icons of nature. For example, the cicada is iconic for its symbolism of rites of passage and its intense summer mating song.

The focus of this year’s collection shifted under water, for my ‘Modern Atlantis,’ bringing awareness about the starfish wasting disease and the endangered nudibranch sea slugs off the California coasts. It frightens me how mass extinction seems unending in our era, and as an artist I wanted to create bronze body art for archeologists 1000 years from now to dig up and ask ‘Where did this go? Why did they make this?’

Creating these pieces usually starts with hours of research until I envision the right subject of what I am to execute. Sometimes there are days of hand-carving or sometimes hours of rummaging through a forest for the right moment to observe a critter or find the perfect tree pod.

_MG_0153
Photo by Autumn Swisher

Q: How does this creative process then inspire your displays, and what you want people to see?
A: Usually researching a subject really lets me dive deep into the culture of a thing. For example, Atlantis wasn’t just some Greek myth. If you go deeper and deeper you notice many cultures speak of an ancient climate change that devoured coastal cities, cities that we are unearthing off coasts all over the planet. From there I wanted to create a mood for my booth at the expo: hand-painted Neolithic ruins, coral pieces, pyramids, crystal displays, a giant wooden Ziggurat. Selenite crystal slabs were great, a subtle flat white background for displaying bronze and standard versions of designs. “Underwater and ancient” was the set, and my jewelry were the players. I wanted people to see more of a story in my designs, and I tried to use thematic elements in my display to bring that point across.

Q: What do you feel is the most important factor to consider when displaying jewelry, and how does that differ when you display jewelry online versus in a store (or at an expo)?
A: I would say that the most important thing to consider when displaying jewelry is being able to let someone understand everything a piece is about in one glance. Visually you should be able to see the whole silhouette and the physical details. Avoid visual clutter and have a color scheme in mind. Setting the environment around the jewelry should be simple but thematic of the pieces. I try to keep the eye directed through a display to unknowingly move an onlooker along to other pieces. Visuals can entertain while also inform, is there text about the materials and price? I tend to be more contemporary when displaying my jewelry in a studio by keeping flat surfaces and simple accessories in the cases, as opposed to displaying jewelry at an Exposition where a grandiose presentation is better appreciated. In the digital world I love seeing my jewelry next to real life versions of themselves, in pristine natural environments, inside fancy case displays, and—of course—an infamous selfie never hurts. I tend to not have such a strict method to online photos, and on the contrary, I feel the more variety that is displayed of jewelry online the better—only as long as the jewelry is in focus!

Q: What can we expect to see from Blessings to You over the coming year?
A: A glimpse into my bag of tricks?  I’m really loving the fact we’ll be at the Flamingo next year for 20th Anniversary Conference, so I’m thinking taking everyone’s ears, necks and arms into the Amazon this year. Think vivid splashes of color, jeweled python in trees, and sloths swimming with piranha through a lush flooded forest. Everyone should start seeing a little bit by little come winter. I’m really in love with found object natural casting, so I intend on releasing more ear jewelry and accessories from the mountains. Theo, from Honeycomb Organics, and I have also been collaborating on a series of plugs. Plus offering bespoke has led me to no shortage of work making folks dream jewelry. If there is one thing I know how to do it’s keeping busy!