personalized items and wedding orders have been keeping me more than busy these past few months! the holidays are fast approaching (i know, i went there) and my schedule will be filling up very quickly, especially on personalized items. please try to place any customized orders as early as possible! turnaround is between 1-3 weeks not including shipping and may increase as the holidays get closer, so please try and keep that in mind.  there are lots of great items to choose from that make very thoughtful gifts!

custom bracelets

custom tie clips

personalized pocket watch

customized lockets

guestbooks/photo albums/journals (small and large)

customized earrings

brooches/bouquet pins

personalized cuff links

petite pendants

custom clockets

and hundreds of other items in my shop. :)

my whole life, though without knowing where, i’ve felt there was a path down which i’d chase a dream – a path where i would answer to no one and get there on my own terms.  through the world of handmade, i found that path. for the past 3 years, i’ve chased the difficult goal of being self-employed.  through a troublesome economy, personal and financial trials, and many exhausting days i have finally reached the moment that i can stand up and say “i’ve done it.”  and i did it on my own terms. with no debt, without leaning on anyone else, i built up a business i am incredibly proud of and will now sustain me.  starting july first, jerseymaids will be my full-time job, my life, my sustainable outlet.

yesterday was the gut-wrenching (and surprisingly difficult) day of putting in my notice at the gallery where i’ve worked for the past 4 1/2 years.  it was my first real job, and a job i fought for – hard.  being a gallery director gave me an incredible amount of experience in customer service and art business retail, a better understanding of wholesale and how the market works – all of which will be very helpful in the years to come.  i had the opportunity to meet and work with a slew of incredible artists (some famous, some not so famous), formulate a vibrant set of skills and got to fall in love with a town that i’d happily settle into and choose for my first home as an adult.  watching everyone formulate a plan around me is bittersweet – while i’ve longed for this day for years, watching a job i loved and people i loved move on without me is difficult.

but here i am. on the cusp of a new life – an end and a beginning.  while i did get here on my own, i could not have done it without the support of my amazing friends and family.  they believed in me on my worst days and cheered me on when i needed it and when i didn’t.  they met the news of my plans with blazing smiles and wild enthusiasm – to have this to fall back on is a lucky thing and i am grateful for the patience and encouragement you’ve all given me.  and i must also thank the real folks who made this possible – my amazing, loyal, kind and generous customers.  i have said more than once that you make dreams come true and now you see how.  without you, i would be nowhere.  but with you, i am now able to take this leap and dedicate my every day to bring you the best of me and my skills.

here’s to the future! *clink*