Making things with my hands has become the essence of my life. I have faith which guides and centers, and there's the love of my life, my supportive husband. What motivates, calms, excites, drives and creates unquenchable curiosity and a profound sense of accomplishment in me is what can be created. Sometimes it starts out as a thought that goes no where quickly, only to be realized in subsequent weeks, months and even years. Other times, my stomach ties into knots and I have to put it together, whatever it is, or risk falling apart at the seams.

Tragedy actually helped me meet my creative side. Trained to be analytical from the time I was a young girl growing up in Berkeley, I studied and excelled at math, attended college, and earned a degree in statistics. From there I went on to finish business school, began my career in corporate business, and a short time later my life fell apart. Once my mother passed away suddenly, I woke up from whatever haze I had been under for so many years. That comforting feeling of hitting milestones - attending and graduating from college, then business school and getting that first real job suddenly meant nothing. Life is short, and there's nothing like the passing of a loved one to bring this fact into painfully sharp focus. That year I decided to write a book. It took another eight years before it was published, but that's really where it all began. I returned to a corporate job for a while, but my need to create would not be denied.

About four years ago I was sitting at our dining room table, making a necklace for myself. I had always been secretly obsessed with fashion - in good times and bad I would hop the train to San Francisco and spend hours roaming Nordstrom, trying on clothing, caressing shoes and spying jewelry. I got my love of fashion from both of my parents - from their 1950's pictures consisting of crisp suits, hats, high heels and gorgeous dresses to growing up with them in a spotless, well-ordered and furnished home, they couldn't help but make a big and lasting impression. Yet the biggest influence each of them had on me was their incredible ability to create. My mother was a solid seamstress and my father had the ultimate green thumb. I am improving in the sewing department and my plants tend to live more or less, but once I got my hands on a few beads it was love at first sight. From that dining room table to displaying my work at an arts show with encouragement from my husband, I haven't looked back.

Everything you see in my store is handmade. I certainly purchase the wire, beads, leather and yarn that you see, but the end result is a combination of lots of love and hard work. My focus is quality rather than quantity through hand-made and often one-of-a-kind items.  

We recently relocated to Los Angeles for family, resources and location. I'm back in full operation and can't wait to design something that will catch your eye. 

Chandra

Twitter: @cdyann

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