makeunder my life

moving on up! to WordPress that is.

2009-03-26T10:36:00.006-05:00

At long last! The new blog, makeundermylife.com is open for business. I cannot tell you how excited I am for this new layout.

There are.
No words.
To describe my excitement.

Though the switch has not been glitch free (far from it actually, I will elaborate on the switch from Blogger to Word Press tomorrow), the result is definitely worthwhile.

I have a huge design crush on the amazing Brooke, of Oh Brooke, who not only has an adorable blog but also does amazing web design. She took my pre-made Word Press template and turned it into the perfect home for Makeunder My Life. Kind of like a really great makeover by Candice Olsen on Divine Design. Oh yeah, and did I mention she actually has worked on HGTV shows?

So come on over to the new blog.

You're invited!

off the chain update: pocket full of pendants

2009-03-25T16:09:00.003-05:00

It’s funny how things become cool. Then uncool. And years later, cool again. Kind of like those black and neon plastic sunglasses from the 90’s. While I don’t consider Jess LC too old, I have had my first déjà vu design. These Pocket Full of Pendant necklaces now available in the limited edition line, Studio 1423, were first available in 2005 and were one of my most popular styles.

Now the coolness is available on Etsy for just $15 bucks. The necklace comes with a silver plated lobster clasp pendant on a 16″ sterling silver chain and six charms. The idea is that you can customize your necklace with the charms you feel like, switching it up as many times as you like. I recommend wearing 2-4 charms at a time and playing with size and texture. Below are the color options we have available right now. And if these puppies get hot, more combinations will be in the works!

dressing charlotte: bold prints

2009-03-25T10:15:00.002-05:00

This week’s Dressing Charlotte is about pairing the right accessories with an all-over, bold pattern or print. When I wear any one of these three items, I let the print do the talking and wear one of two basic pairs of earrings: state st. large circles, or state st. large eyes. Their large size compliments the scale of the prints, and they have no extra details to compete with the prints. I also think large hoops or other simple, clean earrings over 1″ would look great with these looks.

Scroll down to see the other outfits and earrings. (Charlotte’s only flaw is that she has no ears to model earrings.)

State St. Large Circle Earrings

State St. Large Eye Earrings

getting an internship: "you had me at the semi-colon"

2009-03-24T15:04:00.000-05:00

This week’s business advice is actually geared towards the other end of the business spectrum:

Interns.

If you are in school (for art or otherwiese) and need to gain experience working for a designer, please read this post before decending upon your next victim employer. This topic is very close to my heart at the moment becasue I have been indundated as of late with resumes and referrals for interns looking to get experience at a jewelry company like Jess LC. With the cloudy economic climate, I have been getting more emails regarding internships than ever. Some are great. Some are okay. Some are half-assed. Below are the attributes that will determine which category you will fall into- so take note and aim high!

Half-assed Internship Contact

Email employer with two line email mentioning you are interested in an internship. (May or may not include resume.)
Forget to begin the email with a proper greeting. Why will an employer care about you if you don’t care about writing their name?
No mention about the actual employer or the company in initial email.
Resume in a form other than a Word Doc or PDF.

Good Internship Contact

Short email mentioning employer briefly, with proper greeting (ie: “Dear Mr. Gates:”)
Professional looking resume (no watermarks or unicorns) with relevant work experience and complete contact information. Resumes should be exactly one page.
Open, friendly tone in email without over using exclamation points (!!) but keeping a professional tone.

Great Internship Contact

Professional signature block in email (with full name and phone number [no quotes please]).
Professional email address, preferably using your name (snazzykatz007@aol.com doesn’t say ‘take me seriously’).
Email doubles as a cover letter: highlights most relevant work and school experience, and also mentions why you are excited to work for that company specifically.
Resume is one page long, in PDF form, concise, and focuses on relevant work and school experience.

off the chain update: shop chicago 2009

2009-03-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday I had at Jess LC booth at the Shop Chicago designer show. I also did the fall show last August in Millennium Park. This spring event was in Union Station. The traffic and vendors were down a slightly from last year, but thankfully we ended up doing better than in the fall!

My favorite part of these shows is meeting customers and enjoying their reactions. This show was no exception. Several wonderful ladies remembered us from the fall show and came back to say hi and buy new pieces. And a few ladies were wearing Jess LC pieces to the show, that was so cool. I took lots of pictures for you to enjoy, so peek around.

Allison, our resident sales guru is always huge help at these kinds of shows. Without her, lets just say… I can’t imagine doing these events without her. Her idea to use a bound notebook to gather emails was genius!

Dress form look familiar? Charlotte helped grab attention and sported some Studio 1423 pieces as well as Jess LC. The Addison bracelet collection was laid out on a wood tray. Soc Chic ended up finding a new home on the table a few minutes after this picture.

This is the final set up: we put the branch with Rush St. necklaces next to Charlotte and Soc Chic along the back.

Necklaces laid out by collection, State St., Elm St., and Southport pictured.

naan pizza: serve yourself supper party

2009-03-23T09:28:00.003-05:00

This weekend Erwin and I hosted an impromptu dinner party with out friends Pete and Kaitlyn, of eatmyblog.org. In an effort to save time and money, I challenged myself to cook the meal using ingredients I had on hand. The result was personal pizzas made with Indian naan bread and topping choices including: chicken strips, caramelized onions, homemade pesto, marinara sauce, sliced grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and shrimp.

When cruising Trader Joes last weekend on a bimonthly grocery trip, I spied the new fresh baked naan bread in the bakery section and I thought it looked a lot like pre-made pizza dough. And since I am a consistently poor pizza dough baker, the naan seemed like a way to make easy homemade pizza. The recipe is completely flexible in terms of ingedients, and the baking directions are simple.The end result was amazing - I think this might become a weekly treat.

Naan Pizza

Naan (we used whole wheat)
Fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces

Pesto or marinara sauce
Veggies chopped (whatever you have on hand)
Tomatoes, sliced
Chicken strips, shrimp, etc.

Top naan with desired ingredients on a baking sheet (we lined our's with foil for easy clean up). Preheat oven to 400* and cook for 7-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.

Update: Please pardon the photo edges being cut off, I am still transitioning to Word Press, and the scale is a bit different.

end of the week exfoliaton: sometimes it gets ugly

2009-03-20T16:24:00.000-05:00

This week’s exfoliation was not one of those ‘oh, but it looks so nice, why is she getting rid of it?’ kind of items. This is a ‘why has this still been sitting in her shoe organizer (of all places)?’

So here it is, an ugly, yucky cosmetics bag with some random items I probably kept for travelling but would never actually during a future trip. Unlike last week’s exfoliation, I doubt anyone will be asking me to put this on Etsy.
Have a great weekend!

pesto presto!

2009-03-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

Easy homemade pesto, just like mom ~~used to make~~ should have made

Last night I was busy watching the Michigan basketball game with my insanely excited boyfriend, Erwin. While we watched a surprisingly well played game, I tested this easy homemade pesto recipe by Curtis Stone. The ingredients are simple (all I needed to buy was fresh basil) and preparing it took six minutes start to finish.

Homemade Pesto

1 1/2 bunches fresh basil (about 1 1/2 cups lightly packed)
4 ounces toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Grind the basil, pine nuts and grated Parmesan cheese with a food processor until a smooth paste forms. Slowly add 1/4 cup of olive oil, grinding until a smooth sauce forms.

After the pesto was finished, I tried a trick my friend, Chan, gave me from his childhood. Using a clean ice cube tray, I spooned dollops of pesto in to the cubes and threw the tray in the freezer. So the next time we make pasta or wilted greens I can just throw a cube of frozen pesto into the hot noodles or greens and I'm done. Buh bye, pre-made pesto!

DESIGN YOUR LIFE: Laina

2009-03-18T16:51:00.007-05:00

This week's DESIGN YOUR LIFE is by Laina B., a good friend from business school who basically dragged me through Operations Management Studies. Without her help, lets just say I might not be an 'alumni'. Laina now lives in Charlotte and is a financial analyst for a global manufacturing company.

In the past two years she has lived in three different cities (moving every six months!)- Ann Arbor (MI), Charlotte (NC), Detroit (MI), London (UK), and Charlotte (NC). Despite her globe-trotting, hectic lifestyle, she has managed to maintain many intentions I find difficult to juggle while living in one city. Below she explains how she managed to stay focused and intentional throughout her travels.

DESIGN MY LIFE
by Laina B.

I am a Pisces, which means that inherently, I tend to make lots of plans and dream of big things, but often let my mind and schedule get cluttered with too many of them, and poof time goes by without actually DOING what I set out to do. Living my life with the intention of DOING what I plan, instead of simply PLANNING what I SHOULD do, necessitates knowing when to let go of those plans that are not feasible or will not significantly affect my happiness. This provides me with a focus on actions and activities that will ultimately lead to my lifelong happiness. I want to be an active participant in my own life! By taking a step back and examining my life, I have realized that the following dreams/plans are most important to me: eating healthy, working out regularly, cooking more/learning new recipes, saving money/budgeting, traveling, meeting new friends, keeping in contact with friends and family, and learning and trying new things on a regular basis. Below are some of the things that I have done and continue to do to make sure that I am actively participating in my life and living with intention.

The 3-4-5 Plan
In January, I moved back to the States from London. While I was living and working over there I had little time and even less motivation to stay on top of my workout routine (I worked many 60+ hour weeks, the weather sucked, and all I wanted to do was sleep, play in London or travel when not at work) and had set out to get back into it when I returned. My friend and co-worker in Detroit told me about his new year’s resolution to start bringing his lunch to work more. Initially, we were just trying to keep one another motivated, but with me working in Charlotte and him in Detroit, it wasn’t working fabulously. That is when we decided to make rules and consequences/rewards to keep ourselves on track. This resulted in what we now refer to as our 3-4-5 plan.

Our rules are simple:
3 - Bring lunch AT LEAST 3 out of every 5 work days
4 - Work out AT LEAST 4 days a week for AT LEAST 4 hours total
5 - Make a home made meal for dinner AT LEAST 5 days a week

We picked an end date for this plan of June 14th (in time for my beach week – see below!). We do not restrict what we eat, but have both chosen to primarily keep the foods simple and healthy. Our intention is to create habits that allow us to reach our goals in a healthy and realistic way without burning out. To keep one another accountable, we have made a tracker in Microsoft Excel (yes, we are both Financial Analysts….nerds) that we fill in weekly and consolidate. We each get “paid” $5 for each piece (lunch, dinner, work-out) that we meet each week. Thus, if I were to go out to lunch 3 times in one week and met the rest of the requirements, but my friend met all of the requirements, I would owe him $5 for that week. At the end of our 5 month challenge or plan, we will see who ultimately owes the other, and it will be payout time. It will also be time to see if we truly have reached our goal – creating healthy habits that not only contribute to our health, but also to our financial health (eating out is expensive!).

Grocery shopping guidelines
In order to make sure I have a multitude of healthy options, that I save money and avoid extra trips to the store, I have 3 rules for myself when grocery shopping:

1) Always start in Produce section – if I fill my cart up early with fruits and veggies, it helps me avoid buying unnecessary garbage later on.
2) Always bring a list and follow it. This allows me to stay focused and avoid temptation.
3) I have stopped going down every aisle and just focus on getting the items on my list.

I also always try to make sure to buy one or two new or different things each time. While I always need to buy my staples, buying one or two new things in place of a staple makes the food at home more exciting, encourages me to find new recipes and tempts me to go out less. In the past year, I have had the employee ringing me up comment on the healthiness of my groceries 9 out of every 10 trips, which tells me that I am on the right track!  Also, my grocery costs have decreased by about $40-60 per trip since I started following these rules.

Intention to live overseas
Jess and I took a class together at Michigan’s Business school that required us to create a long-term goal that we would not be able to achieve in the semester. We had to set an action plan and start working towards reaching this goal throughout the semester and beyond. My goal was to work in the U.K. within the next 5 years.

Last April, a year after graduation, I was offered the opportunity to do a 5-6 month rotation abroad in the UK for my company. While the job ended up being less than ideal with a lot of hours and stress, I still did my best to make the most of my 5.5 months in Europe by taking numerous trips around the UK and traveling around mainland Europe – including trips Barcelona, Paris, Munich, Amsterdam, and Croatia. I did what I had planned and then some, and am very proud of reaching this goal so much earlier than I had hoped!

Connect with friends
Being happy to me means being surrounded by people I care about. One way I plan to reach this goal this year is by planning a week long beach vacation with friends from all over the country that I have met in different eras of my life. I love bringing people from different groups of my friends together and I love seeing all of them as often as I can. I have learned that happiness will usually not be brought to me on a silver platter and thus, I can’t just sit back and wait for people ask me to hang out or invite me on a trip. I need to take control of my own happiness and be the one to plan the things I want to do, the things that will make me happy.

Get involved in new activities
Similar to the last point, in moving around so much in the past 2 years, I have learned that making friends takes effort, even for someone as outgoing as myself. I love my alone time, but after a while it gets old. I like having a lot of different groups of friends and a multitude of activities to do each week. It is for this reason that I have joined clubs/groups/teams in every city I have lived in the past two years. Most recently, I joined CHOA - Charlotte Outdoor Adventure club. This week I am going indoor rock climbing with the club and also going on a 6 mile hike through the NC Mountains past numerous beautiful waterfalls. In London, I joined Meet-up.com groups which led to me joining a book club and going on the 12-mile hike through the English countryside. My first 6-month stint in Charlotte, I joined a kickball league which led to me finding a whole new group of friends that I still hang out with and actually play kickball with again now that I am back in Charlotte. Finally, when I was in Detroit I joined an adult recreational softball team and also started my own kickball team. The groups/activities above have helped me transition from college to the real world and from city to city throughout the past two years.

Learning to cook
Slowly learning to cook new things and trying new recipes weekly. This helps me reach my 5 nights of home-made meals a week and also helps me create my focused grocery shopping list!

Joined a gym
Another organization I have joined since moving to Charlotte is the YMCA. Charlotte has some of the best YMCA’s I have ever seen. I was a member when I lived down here previously, and it was the first thing on my to-do list when I moved back. By attending fitness classes regularly, I keep up on my fitness routine easily because I rarely get bored. They offer such a wide range of classes from yoga and Pilates to Cardio Funk (hip hop dancing class that leaves me feeling renewed and ecstatic after each session), Spinning, Sculpt and Kickboxing. Another plus is that many women in my office are also members. We are all constantly encouraging one another to make it to classes as often as possible. Often times going to classes in large groups. It’s a great way for us to bond, have fun and stay in shape – better than a happy hour (but not a replacement)!

Found a roommate
When I found out that I was moving back to Charlotte last November, I decided that, in order to lower my monthly bills without sacrificing the things I wanted, like location, I needed to find a roommate to live with me in what I hoped would be an affordable apartment in Uptown Charlotte (Downtown Charlotte is called Uptown, I have no idea why). Searching for a place and roommate all while living and working in the UK was not an easy feat with the time difference, working 12+hr days and traveling on weekends! However, I succeeded by using my network and Facebook. I messaged an acquaintance living in Charlotte, and found out that she was also looking for a roommate and was willing to check out the places in my absence! Now, my monthly bills are significantly lower than during my previous stint in Charlotte, my commute is shorter or equivalent, and my new place is nicer and large enough to hold both my furniture and my roommates’ furniture! On top of all of those benefits, I have started to make some new friends through my roommate.

designer swap: pigeon toe cermaics

2009-03-18T14:24:00.002-05:00

Every so often I find a designer while hopping along blogs that have some really stand out pieces. Last week I was lucky enough to come across Pigeon Toe Ceramics and knew I had to swap jewels for cups. Lisa, the designer out of Portland, was nice enough to agree to the trade.

This morning I was excited to find a package containing these two tiny cups. How adorable are they? Their petite size (about 2.75"x2.5") is charming but they might best be put to use containing something other than liquid. Any ideas?

dressing charlotte: embellished necklines

2009-03-18T10:19:00.008-05:00

Inspired by Blair's post yesterday on Delight by Design, I devoted this week's Dressing Charlotte to accessorizing embellished tops. When wearing a top with an off the shoulder neckline, patterned neckline, or embellishments, let those accents become the focal point for the outfit. Accessories should highlight other areas like the ears or wrist. By sticking to bracelets and earrings, the look is clean and uncluttered.

Below are some jewelry ideas that compliment the style of the tops and create balance.

The delicate weave, buttons, and texture of this gauzy cardigan looks great with
small, delicate earrings. The pearls also pair nicely with the creamy fan appliques.

Since this pattern is bold, a larger earring is great.
I like the mixed metal, which to add some depth.

With the intricate tone-on-tone embroidery, I think it's best to keep
the earrings simple and fresh. Since there is no print to
balance, the scale of the earrings can vary.

business answers: part two

2009-03-17T14:16:00.007-05:00

Andddd we're back! Here is my second round of answers to the intelligent questions readers asked last week.

Note: this old-school Jess LC packaging is not the best marketing tool

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your business?

This is a very interesting question for me. Up until 2009, I have focused on wholesale business, which means marketing door to door at local shops, and then hiring sales reps to sell it out of the city across the Midwest and in other territories. On the wholesale side, to really take your business to the next level sales reps are often (but not always) the answer. Generally, sales reps work on commission and the good ones represent a variety of lines full-time. Asking your best friend or Aunt's babysitter to rep for you will not be lucrative, will waste your time, and could hurt the relationship- so go with a pro.

Now that I am developing my retail sales, blogging has been effective at getting the brand out there and is personally rewarding. But it also is a huge time commitment for me, and is not something I could do as frequently if I worked part-time somewhere else.

Additionally, the blogging is something that I intend to grow into a separate career, so how I evolve the blog is independent of it's ability to market Jess LC. If I was just blogging for Jess LC, the content would be much narrower and design focused.

What's your best marketing tip?

Personally, I believe marketing should be an organic part of the business (read: free in the beginning) and I prefer free PR over paid advertisements. Once a company is large enough to shoulder the expense of ads, I would stick to online ads on blogs that match your customers. But as I have mentioned, PR and retail marketing is still relatively new for Jess LC.

Jess LC at the Magic trade show last August

How were you able to find wholesale contacts? I find that when I search on the Internet I come up with thousands of results, but none that I really want (or that aren't selling junk!). Is there a good resource that you use?

I suggest starting locally. Small boutique owners are usually the buyers and work in the store all day so they are a) easy to find, and b) know what works for their store and customer. One "line" I used to have when I was schlepping my jewelry to stores in high school and even here in Chicago was, "do you have any locally designed jewelry?" I would start a conversation with the store associate for a while, drop the above line, and wait for the response. It a) lets you know whether they support many local designers or not, and b) makes them think about how important it must be to have local designers, if this nice customer is asking about it. Then you can mention that you are a local designer yourself, and ask to talk to the owner or buyer.

At this point make sure you have 4-12 pieces of jewelry with you in case the casual convo becomes an impromptu appointment. The buyer will generally know within five minutes if they are interested. As I mentioned in the Part One, consignment might be the easiest option, but know what your wholesale prices are before going in the store! No one will take you seriously if you don't have products and pricing.

As for wholesale outside your city, you can do what all good road reps do: drive city to city, setting appointments with buyers you find. Or, ask store owners you know for recommendations outside their area. And finally, sales reps and buying a trade show booth are the "big time" ways to get clients.

Oh how it has grown.

How do you plan to use your blog (and other networking sites) to help promote your business?

Good question! Since I have been doing the blogging thing seriously for about two months, I am still learning the ropes in terms of how to best get the name out there. But we did develop Studio 1423, our Jess LC limited edition line, on Etsy to get new customers with a lower price point and more colorful, one of a kind designs.

Okay, so I wasn't quite this young...

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?

I saved the best for last! I struggled with this question for a bit, having done something for 10 years, there are many points I would wish I learned something quicker. So here is the advice I would give myself at a few points in time.

Age 15
Scene: Just made my first sale.
Advice: Jess, go out and take a class at a bead store to learn how to really make jewlery. You are going to be at this for a while, so know how to make stuff that won't break!

Age 16
Scene: Naming my business
Advice: "Starlette Jewelry" is such a silly name! Stick to something more classic... like your name. You know... Jessica Lynne Constable...

Age 18
Scene: Applying for college
Advice: You are going to love UofM but you are going to hate business school. Either a) know that you will survive, or b) don't go to business school and start your business full-time right away. Just kidding...

Age 22
Scene: Second month in Chicago, first seven days without getting an order
Advice: Relax, your chest palpitations caused by the anxiety of being full-time aren't doing you any favors. And at 5:30pm on Friday you will get a huge order from an awesome store in Lincoln Square, The Dressing Room.

painless and productive purging

2009-03-17T08:09:00.003-05:00

Spring Cleaning with Amy

Considering my propensity to (constantly) makeunder my life, one might assume that my friends are also professional purgers. But this is not the case. Realizing this difference, I am careful not to push my passion for 'living with less' on unsuspecting amigas. However, every so often, a friend will ask for makeunder help.

Last week, Amy, a great friend from college who lives in Lincoln Park, asked me to help with her room and wardrobe. After we completed most of the work, she offered to summarize and reflect on the process. Not only is her writing entertaining, but her frank perspective from "the other side of the makeunder coin" is a great addition for Makeunder My Life. Enjoy!

Painless and Productive Purging (well, minimal pain)
By Amy S.

I'll admit it: appearances are important to me. Each time I leave my apartment, I make sure my outfit is perfectly put together accompanied by the perfect jewelry pieces and handbag. Yet, for some reason, I don't invest the same TLC into the appearance of my bedroom. You see, I love to shop just as much as the next girl, but, after years of purchases, my belongings had taken over my small room in Lincoln Park. My own closet had turned into a foreign jungle filled with mysterious garments on tacky dry-cleaner hangers, and the sartorial overgrowth had pervaded my room.

I knew I needed a change in my life. A knack for organization was not bestowed to me upon birth, unfortunately, so I enlisted the help of my wonderful friend Jess, knowing full-well that her mantra of "making under" could do wonders for my current lifestyle. So we started with my goals: what did I want to achieve after the make-under? Well, for me, clutter had overshadowed the things I loved, like my books and picture frames, so I told her that I wanted those things to be the primary focal point of my room--not the haphazard pile of clothes on the ground. As Jess reminded me, I deserve to live in a beautiful space. Declaring my intentions helped me change my perspective on the things I owned. Obviously we don't need everything we have. Sure, certain things are nice to have--ones that make us happy--but, in my case, I own plenty of things that may have at some point made me happy but now just take up unnecessary space and caused me stress. Those things serve absolutely no productive purpose in my life anymore.

Jess helped me not only get rid of the positively useless things I had been holding onto, but also some other more "difficult" things I would have likely held onto for years to come. For example, I had a brand new purse that sat with the price tag on it for at least three years under my bed. I had justified keeping it based on a line of reasoning that presented a common, recurring dilemma for me: I liked the purse. We only buy things that we like, duh. But in practice, I didn't use the purse because I owned other ones I simply liked better. Jess helpfully coaxed me into getting rid of the darn thing and taught me an important lesson: just because you own something doesn't mean you have to keep it. Plus, there is someone else out there who can actually use it!

The purging is still a work in progress (I was serious when I said I had a lot of stuff!), but already I know I won't miss the things that are gone. In fact, in many cases, I had forgotten they existed! Now I'm working to make all of the things I love--my "priority" items--visible and easily accessible. There's no point owning something that's going to be permanently wedged in the back of my closet. After triumphantly editing out plenty of unnecessary items from my wardrobe, I already feel much better. :)

[Lovely photo by Rachel at Heart of Light]

business answers: part one

2009-03-16T13:47:00.004-05:00

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is relax!

Last week I offered to answer any business questions that were lurking in readers minds and man, you all have some great questions! Specific, insightful questions tell me two things, 1: that there are some serious (or soon-to-be) business owners out there, 2: you all want some serious answers.

Below are half of the questions with their answers, the second half will post tomorrow afternoon.

Love walking in Chicago- such great architecture all around

Why Chicago?

I grew up in Rochester, Michigan and went to school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Having lived in the Midwest my whole life the obvious choice was Chicago for laid back people, bustling city, and Lake Michigan. I also knew I wanted to live in a city that had good public transportation.

Do you think that in the future you will need to move the operation to NY or LA as it gets bigger?

During college I interned in NYC with Macy's in Product Development. Living in New York was great for four months. But the cement scenery, constant noise, and expense wasn't for me long term. Though I have never been to LA, I imagine the weather and view is nicer, but it won't hold a candle to my love for Chicago.

So no, I plan to stay rooted in or around Chicago regardless of the business. Because Chicago's design scene is still 'up and coming' there are a lot of opportunities to get attention and great support.

At last fall's Shop Chicago event

What do you think is the most important step in laying the groundwork for starting a business?

The most important step in starting a part-time business is to just start selling! A lot of would-be-great-designers hold off waiting for the perfect time to begin. But there is no perfect time to begin. So why not sell a necklace today? And maybe a bracelet next week? Start with people you know and branch out, open an Etsy store, print some business cards. There is something great about an organically grown company that expands along with your business acumen. For the purposes of this blog and small designers, I do not recommend launching a line full-time on day one, but to rather grow it on the side until you have an established customer base.

Take Jess LC for example: I sold my first 5 ankle bracelets sitting next to a pool to tipsy Canadian women without even trying! Then I learned to make new pieces, sold them to friends and teachers at school, studied business in college, and nine years later, launched Jess LC full-time.

Your top 5/10 tips for a jewelry designer just starting up?

1. Define your goals. Do you want to get into a ton of stores and sell mostly wholesale? Or do you want to make one-of-a-kind pieces with higher price tags for a small group of loyal customers? Do you want to be full-time or part-time? Know your goals so you can go about achieving them as quickly as possible.

2. If you want to get in a store, offer to do consignment. This is where the store puts your pieces on display and when your pieces are bought, you get 50% of the price. If they don't sell, then you get them back. Buyers like this because they don't have to risk anything by putting your pieces in their store. It is also good for you because you get 50% of the price which (almost) never happens in wholesale. This is a good option until you have successfully sold in about 5-6 stores, then begin to work with the buyers via wholesale.

3. Don't take your own pictures. Unless you are a photographer or have taken classes, do not attempt to shoot your own pieces. Jewelry is small and reflective= very difficult. The first thing you should pay someone to do is photograph the jewelry for retail selling on Etsy or your own site.

4. Make a website. A great place to start is Etsy.com because it already has a huge following and you can upload and provide credit card charges without much work. If I was just starting up now, I would definitely have started there and moved my way to my own separate site over time. Another option is to pay someone to create your site. I suggest posting a freelance job on a local art school website to find students who will do it for less (same goes with photography, see tip #3). Or, if you are ambitious, learn how to use Dreamweaver - this is the route I took.

Know how to use your tools

5. Learn how to make jewelry. No one taught me how to make jewelry when I started at 15 years-old, and subsequently a lot of my (ugly) pieces broke. They got better as I went along, but I would have been better off going to a jewelry/bead store and taking a class or asking questions.

6. Wear your jewelry. This sounds obvious, but tons of people I meet say they make jewelry and don't have their work to show me. If you aren't wearing/carrying some pieces, customers have no idea whether they want to buy from you. Every now and then I wear vintage jewelry but I still try to remember to wear at least one Jess LC piece, just in case.

... to be continued tomorrow!

flea + free decorating ideas

2009-03-16T08:54:00.008-05:00

The most compelling tip jar I have seen to date-
"Stimulate My Economy: Change I need"

Good morning! I apologize for the relatively infrequent posts over the past several days. Last Thursday I attempted to move my blog from Blogger to WordPress.org, and though it was successful, I have a lot of graphic and editing work to finish before it's complete. So for the time being I recommend reading the Blogger version as usual.

While I was busy transferring info between blogs at Noble Tree with my amazing web guru friend, Tim, I snapped a few pictures of some awesome decorating ideas in the coffee house. Most items are free, if not easily found at your average flea market or garage sale.

My favorite: vintage chandelier with paper planes attached

Vintage snail mail tacked to the wall collage style (aka: reclaimed wall paper)

Coffee cups strung along a banister

Vintage windowpane with message

A bright pop of color on an otherwise ho-hum fireplace

end of the week exfoliation

2009-03-13T09:37:00.003-05:00

(Note: I am working on the new Word Press version of MakeunderMyLife.com throughout the weekend. So for now, I will be posting on both sites until the WP version is finished. Thanks for your patience! Perfection takes time.)

This week's exfoliation is a silver cuff I found in my jewelry box. I got it back in high school when I worked for a local jeweler selling fine and vintage jewelry. It is nice, but Erwin got me a similar silver cuff with my initials for my birthday last year and I wear so much Jess LC jewelry, that this one hasn't been worn ... ever. Time to pass it on.

Perhaps it might make it's way to Studio 1423.

monkey business

2009-03-12T12:16:00.003-05:00

I am in the process of switching (hopefully today) from Blogger to Word Press (!). So if you see anything funny on the blog or if you type in makeundermylife.com and it takes you to the middle of no where, just type www.makeudermylife.blogspot.com to see the existing blog in it's soon to be outdated form.

Here goes nothing :).

DESIGN YOUR LIFE: Patricia of PVE Designs

2009-03-12T09:15:00.008-05:00

This week's DESIGN YOUR LIFE interview is brought to you by Patricia of PVE Design. Throughout the years she has worked with some of the most exclusive designers you can name in New York City (Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Liz Claiborne) and has since taken root in Westchester and manned her small business which includes illustration, decorative, and pattern design. I adore her work and have sprinkled pieces she has created throughout the interview below. On top of all this, she also has a great daily blog, pvedesign.blogspot.com.

Not only is her talent striking, but her sincere support of my ventures has been a constant source of encouragement. So I can say firsthand that her intentions outlined below are not just mere guidelines for her, but actual daily practices. One of my favorite intentions she mentions is #7, to know that passion feels like love. So true!

1. To choose wisely - Life is all about choice and the choices that we make can make or break a life. I have three children and my intent is to teach them to be independent thinkers and to know that it is their choice. I learned this from my Mom, as one of seven we learned by doing. Like a bird, we all have to fly so the sooner the better.

2. To sacrifice - Our culture today is so accustomed to "immediate" needs being met that very little sacrifice is being made. I do not really like the word goals, it sounds so "big" and I prefer to set small steps by building upon desires. One has to look ahead, and plan. I prefer to "plan" - lists and a book journaling my steps, my desires and trying to accomplish them. Some require help, like taking a class to learn to work towards desires. Others just simply need action.

3. To be at peace - Peace is more than just making your surroundings an oasis. Developing and understanding peace requires hearing, listening and being open to be still. In a hectic and fast paced world, peace needs to be put first. It is in finding joy in small things, first by waking up earlier, by giving yourself time to think, time to create, time to get out for a walk and be aware of each day. I made a cake for a friend, for her birthday. My friend, who I made the cake for told me about "zen habits" site and I love it, I gave her the book, "The Power of Less" - we all need to simplify, do less and live more peacefully. Honoring yourself and the one's who bring you peace. S l o w i n g down. Visit a cemetery and feel the rest. Feel joyful for each day.

4. To smile - Each day, to smile at those you love and then that one person that you know will benefit from a free smile. I always try to smile at those I meet and hope to make their day a bit brighter, cheerier.

5. To risk - To realize that the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Anyone who has risked has gained. Risks can often involve danger or fear, but it is often fear that drives us. I moved to New York City after college and I think my parents were more afraid than I was. It can be a "risky" city, lots of opportunity, good and bad and I think I chose wisely, gaining invaluable experiences having worked for top fashion designers. We moved to the suburbs north of the city when our twins were little - for a house, green grass, fresh air and good schools. In 2 short years, our sons will graduate from high school and our daughter is 4th grade. We gained a nice community, a small village, but close to the big city. We have the best of both worlds.

6. To express emotions - For me, this would be to express emotions not only in my artwork, but also in my daily life. To speak freely, laugh openly, show tears and to know that it is all good to share and to express. I love the fact that I have always drawn, always loved to from the time I was little and to me, the one emotion is "energy" - "vitality" - "alive" - I get excited, my heart beats a bit faster - I feel like a kid with a brand new box of crayolas! I get so excited.

Patricia's designs can be seen here

7. To work with passion - I am fortunate that I get to do what I love every day. I feel so many people either hate what they do, or were never supported to follow their passion which then can show up in anger, resentment and unhappiness. Working with passion feels like love. You live for it.

8. To radiate light - One must think of themselves like a bright light - full of warmth.
Like ET, he had a special light that he could not hide. There will be brighter days than others, but when you are in the habit of radiating a positive light, it becomes easier to shine. "Light today for tomorrow" - quote from Elizabeth Browning. Again, radiating light is shining, not hiding. It is a personal choice to be the brightest, be the best, and often that is through reflecting and working within. Think of Mother Theresa or Princess Diana. They did not hide, they lit the world.

A gorgeous image Patricia at work

9. To sense - Seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, smelling are all part of getting in touch with your senses. Just think as you go through your day how much you actually sense. Keep a card and write a note of all the things you sense. You will be amazed how we take this for granted. I use a simple card to jot down notes - this really helps me to be aware, to not forget.

10. To realize a purpose - Living with a purpose, gives one direction to wake up, to toil, to love, to care, and to enjoy a life full of intention. No matter what we endure, hardships, hatred, or loss, to know that each of us are here to live a purpose driven life is how we rise to realize our own unique purpose. My purpose is to share my art, to inspire others that want to find passion and love in their work. I think on a bigger scale, I hope to be part of an organization to help others, perhaps children or newly married couples. Love is truly all a part of it, my parents have been married 60 years and they always tell me, it is the little things that add up to something big. I see them as being kind, strong, resilient and loving. My father built a business -"Paul's" Fruit markets in Louisville, KY and it is still going strong. He certainly inspired me to do what I love and of course my Mom gave us many wonderful opportunities to be "open." Open to the best you can be.

business questions? i got answers!

2009-03-11T13:41:00.001-05:00

More and more often I am getting questions about entrepreneurship, and starting a small business- which I LOVE to talk about. So I would like to offer my advice regarding small business, ways to grow, or what running a small business is like. Please post your questions in the comment section and on Friday I give my honest and candid opinion on the topics you propose.

I will also state that my advice is based on my personal experience in business and may not be applicable for all companies. (So please don't sue.) But I can say that:

I started my company at the age of 15. Which means I have been a business owner for nine years.
My jewelry is sold in over 95 stores across the country (and one in Canada- yea for Oliver and Lilly's!)
I work alongside four part-time employees, interns, sales reps, and several freelance workers to keep Jess LC running.
Jess LC is 100% organically funded (no big start-up funds for this little lady).
I personally create and maintain the website.
I graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 2007 and moved to Chicago to pursue Jess LC full-time.

So now that you have a quick idea of how I spend my time: Please, ask away!

dressing charlotte

2009-03-11T09:52:00.006-05:00

My button down shirt, neglected in recent months.

The theme for this week's Dressing Charlotte is about reworking the button down, a closet staple, into something fresh for spring. I realized on Sunday that button downs haven't gotten much trend love in the past few seasons, and therefore my lonely button down has been stranded on a hanger for far too long.

And with the warmer temperatures coming soon (they are going to come, right?) a button down can be a perfect lightweight, long sleeve option. Below are three easy ways I will be sporting my oxford this season.

The V-neck of this sweater is great for the button down and I love the tone-on-tone combo.

The neck of this raspberry short sleeve sweater is just a smidge too big to
wear alone, but it pairs beautifully with the shirt underneath.

The small ruffle on the oxford collar is adorable paired
with the inset detail on this gray cardigan.

As for accessories with a button down? Stick to earrings, and let the scale match the collar of the shirt.

design crush: dream studio tour

2009-03-10T14:56:00.015-05:00

To some, this studio may look familiar. That is because it is the headquarters for Pink Loves Brown, a Chicago based stationary line designed by Nicole, of the popular design blog, Making It Lovely (home of these great photos).

I will cut to the chase and admit that I have a huge design/career crush on Nicole. Her lifestyle in Chicago incorporates a successful business and a house worth blogging about- two things that I hope to one day achieve on a similar level. I have the business part started, but my own jewelry studio is "cute, but no cigar" to this amazing 150 square foot workspace. Can you believe that all of this wonderful resides in a spare bedroom of an Oak Park bungalow?

Moral of the story?
1.) It can be done.
2.) I have some work to do.

Just the right shade of blush for the walls.

Nicole installed these bamboo floors herself!

I. Adore. These. Shelves.

FYI: My packing station has some explaining to do.

Genius! I have this same shoe caddy from Target.

no paint artwork in 15 minutes

2009-03-10T07:40:00.000-05:00

Simple white canvases above my bed.

I never really thought too much about these canvases until my cousin mentioned they were his favorite pieces of art in my apartment.

"Art?"

What was once an unsuccessful attempt to make jewelry displays later became an inexpensive way to fill the space above my bed. Nevertheless, I will accept the compliment and now I am excited to share this simple no paint project (read: apartment friendly).

I bought two $22 primed canvases from Blick, a spool of textured charcoal thread, and a foot of charcoal starched linen-like fabric. I cut the gray fabric into 14-18 leaves for each canvas and cut a small slit in the center of each leaf to make room for the thread.

Then, I wound the thread across the canvas front to back about 12-20 times, threading leaves as I went. Once I was out of thread or liked how it looked, I cut the end and knotted it to the first thread. Done.

Can this even count as a project? Seriously?

There are a million ways this could be evolved into even more elaborate artwork. If anyone tries this project, please send me a picture to post!

off the chain update: love from portugal

2009-03-09T13:13:00.001-05:00

[Soc Chic Giveaway winners]

Daniela in Lisboa, Portugal wearing her new Jess LC necklace.

I mentioned last month that thanks to our efforts "out and about" on the internet, we have seen a big spike in international Jess LC orders and fans. Most recently we added Australia and Portugal to the list.

We always ask our international customers to take a picture of themselves wearing their new Jess LC jewels in their hometown. Daniela of Lisboa, Portugal was happy to supply us with some amazing photos of her sporting her new Southport Cluster Necklace with a stunning backdrop of land and sea.

All I can say is:

First - Thank you Daniela for the great pictures!

Second - Mind if I come and stay for a while? Lisboa sure beats Chicago this time of year!

Such a cutie!

My view of Lake Michigan doesn't hold a candle to this breathtaking sight.

Thanks again, my dear!

soc chic all week: GIVEAWAY WINNERS!

2009-03-09T09:33:00.013-05:00

Drum roll please. At long last we have the winners of the Soc Chic All Week Giveaway. The lucky ladies from the seven awesome participating blogs are listed below. Winners will be emailed today regarding final details.

But for the 822 people who commented and did not snag a lovely Soc Chic necklace we have a special thank you for participating -

For the next two days (Monday 3/9 and Tuesday 3/10) we have FREE SHIPPING on ALL Jess LC jewelry

This special shipping rate applies to all US shipping- no code needed, it will automatically take affect at checkout.

The Soc Chic All Week Winners:

Coco + Kelly : Match Made in Heaven Necklace - Patricia of PVE Design
La Dolce Vita : Silver Lining Necklace - Angela F.
Delight by Design : Good Intention Necklace - Amanda M.
Heart of Light : Falling Star Necklace - Elizabeth B.
Blah Blah Blahg : Commenter’s Choice - Laura
Design Lovely : Lucky in Bed Necklace - Kit of That Unreliable Girl
The City Sage : Pink Lemonade Necklace - Grace of Poetic Home

Also props for Miss B at The Bright Side Project for getting featured on DailyCandy.com!

weekly post its- my favorite house tour

2009-03-06T13:29:00.009-06:00

This week I am going to devote the entire Post It to the Lincoln Park home images from Summer of Summer Thornton Design via Apartment Therapy. I found this slide show months ago, and it remains my absolute favorite. Check out photos below to see why I adore Summer's space so much.

And the best part is her place is only 700 square feet!

end of the week exfoliation

2009-03-06T07:40:00.000-06:00

Another week comes to an end. I have to admit, this week's exfoliation item didn't get picked right away. I looked in my usual spots (kitchen, closet) and eventually came upon this woven belt which I have used the last two or three years. Last summer I wore it more out of necessity than choice. The weave has worn and stretched and it was not a high quality belt to begin with.

So this summer, I won't put up with mediocre. No need to keep it since I have another belt that will function just as well. Adios!

studio 1423: fresh in the shop

2009-03-05T14:10:00.000-06:00

The pieces from this week's sneak peek are now up on Studio 1423. Check them out. Our inspiration was the colors saffron and aqua. We used a mix of died white jade and vintage beads reworked to create a new, modern look. All pieces are made with either sterling silver or 14k gold-filled metal and cost less than $50.

Spring has finally arrived!

White Jade and Mustard Vintage Bead Necklace

White Jade and Aqua Vintage Bead Necklace

Vintage Glass and Gold Necklace

Turquoise and Sterling Necklace

PS- Don't forget to comment on our One Week All Chic Soc Chic giveaway - tomorrow the winners will be picked! (And a huge shout out to all that commented already.)

DESIGN YOUR LIFE: Kaitlyn from EatMyBlog.org

2009-03-05T09:54:00.007-06:00

This week's DESIGN YOUR LIFE interview is with Kaitlyn, my dear friend and blogger for EatMyBlog.org. For those that have followed my Vegan Cleanse, you will remember Kaitlyn as my partner in crime who also gave up a bunch of animal and processed foods for three weeks. I am constantly inspired by her passion for food and cooking and I am happy to report she has rubbed off on me and I am more into cooking now than ever.

Below are 10 intentions she has for eating well and some great suggestions for the rest of us. My favorite intention she mentions is #10, not just because it is a great idea, but also becasue I am often lucky enough to enjoy her amazing meals (still dreaming about her veggie lasagna from a few weeks ago). I hope you gain as much from her tasty intentions as I do.

I enjoy breakfast everyday. My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. I love breakfast so much because it’s the only time of the day that I can quietly think reflect on what the day has to bring. It’s a nice way to gradually move into the hustle and bustle of the rest of your day. I always look forward to breakfast and creating new meal options. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I stopped drinking coffee. My intention for a better life led to me quitting my morning cup of coffee. I found myself addicted to the caffeine boost. If I didn’t drink my morning cup I would feel extremely sluggish and out of sorts. Jess introduced me to a great tasting tea, with much less caffeine and it tastes better than coffee, which made it an easy transition.
I plan my weekly meals in advance to cut back on waste. This is certainly an intention that I am still working at and still find myself wasting an apple here and there, but it is something that makes cooking at home more appealing. Each week I start by writing a grocery list of items that we frequently use or that we are out of. Then I think of meals that my boyfriend and I would like to have throughout the week and list the ingredients accordingly. I try to prepare meals that use perishables first, than move on to any dry or frozen foods. If I feel as though I won’t be needing certain vegetables or baked goods in the near future, I’ll chop and prepare them and put them in the freezer for later use.
I make desserts special. I have a serious sweet tooth and there was a time that I would eat dessert every night after dinner. My intention is to make desserts an occasion, something special. I do this by finding recipes and waiting for the weekend to prepare something extra delicious to look forward to.
I shop mainly at Trader Joe’s. In an effort to eat healthy and save money I have found Trader Joe’s to be a proverbial haven for grocery shoppers. Now that I have been shopping there for a while, I have amassed some favorites that I get excited for each week.

I eat less meat and eat more vegetables. By reading books by authors Kathy Freston, Mark Bittman, and Michael Pollan I have been learning more about reasons why eating less meat is beneficial to the environment, the treatment of animals, and to my health. Although I haven’t completely taken meat out of my diet I have been trying to incorporate more vegetables and have started trying out new vegetarian recipes.
I have go-to meals for the days that I don’t feel like cooking. Some days you just don’t feel like cooking, and for those days I like being prepared with easy go-to meals. These meals usually come from the pantry or the freezer, but are definitely healthy. It certainly helps not reverting back to fast food.
I pack healthy snacks. Whenever I am away from home I like to pack healthy snacks like nuts, apples, or rice cakes so that when I am hungry I don’t have to eat junky snack food.
I shop at the farmer’s market. In the spring and summertime I like to go to the farmer’s market to support local farmers. Not only is the produce fresh and seasonable, but it’s a great event to look forward to each week.
I plan dinner parties for friends and family. I get great joy out of planning, preparing and entertaining guests with dinner parties. It’s a great alternative to going out to a restaurant or the bars because my friends and I don’t have very much money to throw around. Besides who doesn’t love a home-cooked meal shared amongst friends?

divine wine on a dime

2009-03-04T14:11:00.000-06:00

Everyone seems to be antsy for spring, and though the weather may still be chilly and the farmers market may still be closed, there is one favorite spring tradition that can be enjoyed right now: white wine. I discovered this Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc - Voignier at The Melting Pot. Last year Erwin uncovered a hidden secret: The Melting Pot has free wine tastings on Friday and Saturday night while you wait for a table. Let's just say we have informally taken a free* Wine 101 semester via this secret and Miguel, the "wine man" knows us by face.

Of the dozens of wines we have tried, our favorite remains this Pine Ridge. My preference used to be Pinot Grigio, but this blend is a bit more crisp with lots more flavor. And for $10.99 at Binny's, it's a great bottle for the price. To see what an actual wine review click here.

So drink up. Spring will come (eventually).

* Erwin disagrees about the free part. Sure, we didn't pay for the wine tastings, but the meals aren't budget friendly.

dressing charlotte

2009-03-04T07:30:00.000-06:00

For Dressing Charlotte this week I channeled one of the easiest looks I have for going out to dinner in the Loop, or just about anywhere. By layering a cardigan over a halter top I stay warm and look divine. Plus, if I go somewhere else later that night, the cardigan comes off and the look is still chic.

Great halter for going out on the town

Halter + cardigan = dinner and drinks in the winter

Second string halter + cardigan

This look makes accessorizing easy- stay away from necklaces and stick to statement earrings and a great cuff or bracelet. My favorite choices from Jess LC to complete these looks are as follows:

Elm St. Metal Double Circle Earrings

Elm St. Double Diamond Earrings

Addison Three Strand Bracelet with Links

studio 1423: amber + aqua

2009-03-03T16:15:00.001-06:00

Take a sneak peek at what we have been cooking up for Studio 1423 this week. Styles will post on Etsy Thursday morning.

If anyone is obsessing over a particular style and want to pre-order, email me at jess@jesslc.com for more details. The long chunky, creamy fossilized reworked vintage one is one-of-a-kind.

UPDATE: Sorry for not making it super clear, these are four separate necklaces layered on Charlotte.

makeunder: "simple" vs. "sencillo"

2009-03-03T13:33:00.001-06:00

The term makeunder often brings to mind simplifying and paring away unnecessary clutter. And this is generally the idea. But a conversation with a friend brought to light a distinction within that definition which I can only describe using an example I learned from a Mexican executive at a business conference in my previous life as a business student.

My friend pointed out that while I don't have much "stuff" in my apartment, he actually has even less. I own a fair amount of artwork and decor elements like vases and trays, he has none of these things. So literally, it could be said that he was doing a better job at making under than I. And when it comes down to a personal inventory, he is probably right. His sheer volume of items is less than mine.

To explain the difference between our apartments, I will use two Spanish terms I learned in the conference room four years ago. Simple in Spanish as I was told, is bare, raw, unrefined, and primitive. A warehouse is often this way, the purpose is utilitarian without any other consideration. Though it is not entirely the case, in many ways, my friend's space is like this.

Simple

Sensio

Sencillo on the other hand, is another Spanish word for simple with an entirely different slant. Sencillo is intentional simplicity. Refined, developed, elegant restraint. A perfect example of my interpretation of these two terms can be seen in my earlier Before and After Medicine Cabinet post. The "before" medicine cabinet served a purpose; to hold my bathroom products, but there was no intention or thought involved. The "after" medicine cabinet served the same function but had a more pleasing backdrop and overall aesthetic.

So the lesson I keep in mind when making under is to make intentional choices to include or exclude things based on their ability to improve my life and experience. To live a sencillo life.

Update: Thanks, Maho, for the spelling correction. :)

before and after: medicine cabinet

2009-03-03T07:42:00.001-06:00

Part of my quest to live with intention includes living in a beautiful space. This is not a terribly difficult feat for me considering I share a 353 square foot studio with my boyfriend. Less space = less to make beautiful. One of the best and most recent improvements has been my fresh flower revelation. But this weekend I got antsy. I needed a new project and my web wandering led me to the most miraculous medicine cabinet I have ever seen.

Inspiration Medicine Cabinet photo found at Apartment Therapy

Resting my eyes on this image inspired me to take action. Below is what I have looked at every morning and evening. For 547 days.

Hers and his medicine cabinets. Gross.

So I headed over to Target this weekend and bought a $10 roll of contact paper. I was a bit disappointed by their selection (polka dots weren't at the top of my list), but I settled upon a natural cork contact paper that resisted mold and mildew (read: bathroom friendly).

Complicated tools for Project Medicine Cabinet

Once home, I measured the cabinets and cut the contact paper to size. It took about 20 minutes for the whole project (most of the time was spent cleaning the glass shelves).

1. Empty Shelves 2. Cork lined shelves

Painfully beautiful medicine cabinets

Now that the project is complete, I cannot believe I put up with that ugly sight for so long without taking action. Next up: disguising the bathroom's "Jamaica." Don't ask. Once the situation is under control the story will be told.

one week - all chic: soc chic giveaway

2009-03-02T10:18:00.016-06:00

To kick off the spring Jess LC season in a BIG way, we are doing seven giveaways over the next five days! Our entire line of Soc Chic necklaces (you know, the really popular $40 necklaces that have clever names and help social causes) are up for grabs at seven awesome blogs around the design web.

To win the necklaces, simply comment on the participating blogs' giveaway posts (click images to get directed to the correct posts). On Friday (Mar/6), each blogger will randomly choose a winner for their respective Soc Chic necklace. The winners will be announced on Monday (Mar/9) on each blog individually and all winners names will be posted here on Makeunder My Life as well.

turning intention into reality

2009-02-27T10:47:00.006-06:00

In the journey to makeunder and design a life with intention, there needs to be intrinsic motivation to create change. Once that internal urge is secured, the next step is to find ways to capture that gut feeling. Just putting the intention into words or images makes the likelihood of success more probable.

Throughout my experience with intentions and making under my life, I have found the four best methods to turn my intentions into reality. Hop over to Jill's blog, The Good Life For Less (from my recent DESIGN YOUR LIFE interview) to read the full scoop.

end of the week exfoliation

2009-02-27T07:02:00.000-06:00

My End of the Week Exfoliation this week is a pitcher that used to hold my kitchen utensils. Last weekend I went flea market shopping and found a pitcher that fit my current style better than this one.

I reasoned that as long as I exfoliated my existing pitcher (above), I could buy the new flea find. One in, one out. Wonder where this little guy will find new life...

Probably on another girl's counter as a utensil holder.

2 Month Makeunder Round Up

2009-02-26T13:25:00.001-06:00

Here are the Makeunder and Intention topics from the last two months, easy to browse, review, and catch up on all the action.

Intentional Obessions: all things lovely and (eventually) mine

A nice hunk'a watch

A bike made of gold

White marble... anything

End of the Week Exfoliation: all things lovely and (no longer) mine

Buh-bye boots

"Scrapping" the booking

Clothes to the curb

Pitching the Coolpix

Makeunder My: Meals: the three-week vegan cleanse, intention meets determination

Eating out on the cleanse

Taking the good with the bad

Sipping Starbucks on the cleanse

Cleanse summary: part one

Cleanse summary: part two

Dressing Charlotte: new ways to dress and accessorize with the same ol' stuff

Breaking my own rules

Silk scarves without looking old

Cardigans, t-shirts, and chains - my favorite look

Off the Chain Updates: breaking news from "the life self-employed"

Addison: the newest jewelry collection

Best piece of (e)mail ever to hit our inbox

Jess LC goes global

Interview about my design process

DESIGN YOUR LIFE: Jill from The Good Life For Less

2009-02-26T06:54:00.002-06:00

Welcome to a new interview series, DESIGN YOUR LIFE. In the months ahead I will be asking people of all walks of life what their intentions are, and how they design their life to fulfill those goals. Because when you think about it, everyone is a designer of their life, and we might all be better if we share our inspiration.

Meet Jill, of The Good Life For Less, a blog about all things related to living well, raising a family, saving when possible, daydreaming about designer duds, and the occasional splurge at Target. Below are 10 ways she lives out her intentions (I am loving #6).

1. I quit working this past fall to spend more time with my two pre-school aged children. I love these sweet, lazy days with the kiddos before they are whisked away to school for the rest of their lives. This cut our household income dramatically and has had a HUGE effect on how we live. Even without the extra money we have found that our quality of life has dramatically improved!

2. We recently downgraded (or upgraded!) to only one vehicle. My husband has a 8-5 office job only 15-20 minutes from home. Counting this as a luxury, we turned in a leased vehicle last month (perfect timing for the lease expiration) and decided not to replace it. We are now forced to plan our days and errands accordingly. It certainly cuts down on vehicle expenses every month (insurance, car payment) but most importantly eliminates any “I am bored I’ll take the kids to the Target” spending. I do have to say that I live in a great community with lots of moms, kids and parks within walking distance. This helps tremendously We also chose a high quality vehicle that we both love to drive, it is easier to justify the extra cost and makes us happier (in, admittedly, a very materialistic way: when we are carpooling around on crazy days, we have an oasis – or at least heated seats - to sink into).

3. I execute the “keep, sell, trash” practice often. Mostly because I have the time now, but also because it is a regular reminder on why NOT to spend frivolously. I find that we have so much stuff around the house that we don’t use or need. This way the clutter is out, the house is organized and sometimes I make a little cash too! I find that my mind is clearer any given day with less “stuff” around.

4. I plan a weekly menu and shop accordingly. I post the menu for the week on the fridge and there is never any more “What’s for dinner?”. I love it.

5. I blog about my dreams and my realities. I find that putting my ideas in black and white organizes my life. A lot of my blogging is selfish – I feel so blessed that others enjoy it.

6. I have two go-to brands for beauty, skincare and hair products. I never veer away from them because I trust the ethics of the companies, I trust the ingredients they use and I trust that they will work. It eliminates impulse purchases and medicine cabinets that are overflowing with products I won’t use.

7. I plan play-dates. I need time with other moms and my kids need time with other kids. Sometimes it feels like another thing on the schedule but I am always refreshed afterwards.

8. We rarely eat out. I find that eating out is a downward spiral that is hard to get out of so we just avoid it. (oh, but how I love to!)

9. I make time for my hobbies: reading, knitting, blogging. I make them a priority and can feel it in my bones when I am behind on one or the other of them. It’s my therapy!

10. I quit soft drinks and started drinking a lot of tea. I love the process of making tea and the calming effects of drinking tea and also the health benefits!

Our NEW ETSY Jewelry Line: Studio 1423

2009-02-25T14:39:00.014-06:00

Big news! Busy bees have been buzzing around our jewelry studio the last few weeks getting ready to launch a new sister line for Jess LC, Studio 1423. We named the line Studio 1423 because it's our actual studio number and it sounds like a cool name for a jewelry collection. Don't you think?

our logo, and actual door tag

This new line will be mostly one-of-a-kind designs or limited editions that use lots of color, texture, and fun while still keeping the Jess LC clean lines and "naturally graceful" silhouettes. And the best part is the pieces are budget friendly!

Pink Jade and Gold Necklace

We like to think of these pieces as "mash-ups" like the tunes my part-time girls Gertie and Susie listen to while they work. These necklaces and earrings are made from new, vintage, and reused materials. We plan to update the Etsy store throughout each week and we can even do minor changes to the pieces if you fall in love with a piece, but want some small alterations.

So stay tuned for more designs as we get this little puppy off the ground and let us know which pieces you are loving. Some new Studio 1423 pieces might just inspire future Jess LC designs.

Coral and Gold Necklace

Coral and Gold Earrings

Coral Slice Necklace (only $16!)

dressing charlotte

2009-02-25T11:25:00.001-06:00

Attention: This week's Dressing Charlotte actually breaks my own accessory rule. Previously, I have advised women to avoid wearing necklaces with turtlenecks entirely. But if you have seen me around much this winter, you know I have been breaking this rule about four times a month.

Horrid!

Here is the revised rule for 2009: Don't wear short necklaces (or pendant necklaces in general) with turtlenecks or strapless tops. When I look at Charlotte (above), her short necklace reminds me of a second grade Halloween story about a woman who wore a ribbon around her neck everyday, so that her head did not fall off (somehow didn't seem scary at the time). Visually, the short necklace cuts off the neck at an awkward spot and looks generally claustrophobic.

A better choice is to ditch the necklace entirely and stick to stud earrings with hair pulled back for a sleek look. Or go for a softer feel with hair down and loose with larger earrings or hoops. These are two fail-safe ways to look polished without trying.

Yum!

However, for those that want to bend the rules without looking like a scary story character, try long necklaces sans pendants. The three layering necklaces above (I am still wearing them almost everyday as a trio) visually open up the neck and chest providing balance for the narrow neck.

Delicious!

Another option is two longer graduated necklaces (or one long necklace looped twice) like this vintage necklace from our brand new Etsy Studio 1423 Collection (more details coming soon!).

So grab those turtlenecks and get some great new looks while the cold weather lasts.

"makeunder" defined

2009-02-24T09:30:00.000-06:00

This weekend I spoke with a friend about how my vegan cleanse fit under the makeunder umbrella. My friend didn't understand how eating vegan was actually making under, since it was more expensive, made eating out difficult, and made cooking more complicated. And I admit, she was right on all three accounts. It was challenging and slightly more expensive to follow the non-processed food plan. But to me, the three week experiment definitely qualified as a makeunder.

Since this site is a reflection of my perspective on the term, I think it is fair to explain what I think a makeunder is for the purpose of this blog.*

makeunder (noun): the process of simplifying an aspect of someone or something with the intention to make it better.

Given this definition of the term makeunder, my vegan cleanse removed foods in my diet in order to: break bad eating habits, improve the quality of my nutrients, and become more familiar with a plant-based diet. Although the process required more thought and money, it did reflect my ultimate intention of eating healthier and consuming more vegetables.

Other makeunder examples include simplifying one's wardrobe, schedule, or even a DVR queue (guilty as charged). Generally, I consider the act of "addition by subtraction" a makeunder.

One conclusion some may have is that because I am so excited about living with less, I must not be into shopping or consumerism. However, I am most focused on living a high quality life above all- it just happens that quantity is often what causes stress and dissatisfaction for me and much of our society.

So though many times having less is better, having the right things in the right quantities is best. What the right things and the right quantities are vary person to person, and can even fluctuate throughout one's lifetime. The trick is to be aware of one's changing needs and lifestyle and adjust one's environment accordingly.

In the weeks to come, I plan to give more helpful tips, ideas, and interviews regarding this concept as well as explaining what the term "designing an intentional life" means to me. My hope is that these suggestions and stories inspire and encourage personal reflection.

*I believe the term makeunder can be defined differently, depending upon the individual, and what may work for me may not be right for someone else.

[photo from Rachel at Heart of Light]

intentional obsession: big watch

2009-02-23T10:04:00.000-06:00

My new Intentional Obsession is an oversize watch. Currently, I don't wear a watch and substitute my cell phone as a timepiece. But with summer approaching, I am thinking of a watch as more a piece of jewelry or standout accessory than a functional object. Function follows form, if you will.

I have narrowed down the options, and finally laid to rest a nagging wish for this expensive Coach watch. I even shock myself when I say that my new favorite watches are from Fossil. Memories of chunky silver (cheesy) watches from high school definitely dampen my enthusiasm for the brand. But I cannot argue with good design, and these watches are the right blend of style and value for my Intentional Obsession.

So now it is time to vote! Which watch is the best choice?

Watch #1
Watch #2
Watch #3
Watch #4

cooking class: pan seared filet of beef and truffle potato puree

2009-02-21T07:58:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my cooking class part three. For this installment I chose to pair the Pan Seared Filet of Beef with the Truffle Potato Puree- known to laymen as steak and mashed potatoes. Both recipes are delicious, but I would put my flexitarian money on the steak, if forced to choose between the two. See recipes below.

Pan Seared Filet of Beef, Roasted Garlic Compound Butter
(2 servings)

Ingredients:
- 2 8oz Center Cut Filets
- S+P to taste
- 2 tbs. Olive Oil
- 4oz (1 stick) Salted Butter, room temperature
- 5 cloves Roasted Garlic
- 1 tbs. chopped Parsley

Procedure:
1. Place butter, roasted garlic, and parsley in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until well combined. Remove and roll butter in plastic wrap into a tube shape (like a cigar). Transfer compound butter into freezer to set up and chill for at least 20 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 400*. Coat fillets in olive oil, season with S+P to taste. Set aside.

3. Heat dry skillet to med/high heat. Sear both sides of each filet until well browned (1-2 min). Move to oven and continue to cook until desired "doneness."

4. Remove beef from oven and let rest for 5 min. Serve with one slice of compound butter on top.

Truffle Potato Puree with Mascarpone
(2 servings)

Ingredients:
- 2 large Yukon Gold Potatoes
- S+P to taste
- 1 tbs. butter
- 2-4 tbs. Heavy Cream
- 1-2 tsp. truffle oil (white or black)
- 2 oz Mascarpone Cheese

Procedure:
1. Peel potatoes, large dice and boil in salted water until tender. Drain all water and return to pot potatoes were boiled in. Add butter, 2 tbs. heavy cream and Mascarpone cheese.

2. Mash with a hand masher until desired consistency. At this time, feel free to add more heavy cream, (teaspoon by teaspoon) for smoother potatoes. Add S+P to taste. Finally add truffle oil to taste. Serve immediately.

post its: a few blogs that caught my eye

2009-02-20T13:49:00.000-06:00

This week's Post Its are a bit eclectic, just they way they should be. Enjoy!

A Link Love post I made for Dolan Geiman's blog which reveals my inspiration for the next Jess LC collection.

Because of this before and after I am going thrift shopping this weekend.

The new recycled wine glasses I am coveting. Beautiful.

A great blog I wandered into.

Contemplating this blog makeover company for my site.

25 random details about my organic designer friend, Kristin Hassan, of Organik Revolution.

The easiest and cheapest wall treatment. Ever.

I am determined to make this treat of the week recipe soon.

[photo from Abby Tries Again]

end of the week exfoliation

2009-02-20T07:58:00.000-06:00

This week's exfoliation was both obvious and a bit tricky. It is obvious that I should pass on this camera to someone who could use it because I have gotten a new, better camera. Since I only use one camera, I only need one camera. Duh.

But then this little voice in the back of my head said "this old camera might still be good, you haven't tried replacing the batteries to see if it still works." Seriously? I don't need an old camera because it might work with new batteries. Someone else can use it, or I will recycle it at an electronic recycling site, either way it's time to exfoliate!

PS. A few people have mentioned they have also begun exfoliating their stuff once a week. If you would like to get rid of the dead fluff in your life as well, please send me a picture of what you are getting rid of and I will post it each week (with a link to your blog)! Who knows, maybe we can get a little Exfoliation Group going.
Email jess@jesslc.com.

cooking class: Haricot Vert and Prosciutto Carpaccio Salad

2009-02-19T14:01:00.000-06:00

This installment of the cooking class features two of the side dishes we prepared. The first is Haricot Vert (the French name for green beans) with toasted almonds. The second dish is a Prosciutto Carpaccio and Arugula salad. Both take just minutes!

Haricot Vert
(2 servings)

Ingredients:
- 8oz Haricot Vert (French green beans), trimmed
- 1 tbs. salted butter
- S+P to taste
- 2 tbs. blanched slivered Almonds

Procedure:
1. Place almonds in saute pan and heat until almonds are toasted (once they begin to change color to light brown remove them from saute pan and set aside- they will continue to cook while cooling).

2. Boil water. Add beans to water and boil for 1 min. Transfer to ice bath immediately to cool beans. Remove beans from ice bath and dry off.

3. Melt butter in saute pan. Add beans and S+P and saute until heated. Toss in almonds Serve immediately.
Prosciutto Carpaccio and Arugala Salad
(2 servings)

Ingredients:
- 8 slices thin Proscuitto
- 1 cup Arugala, cleaned and dried
- 1 oz Maytag Blue Cheese
- 2 tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tsp. Basalmic Syrup
- S+P to taste

Procedure:
1. Place 8 prosciutto slices flat on two plates covering the enitre base of plate.

2. Arrange Arugula in center of late in a high mound shape. Top with crumbled Maytag Blue Cheese. Season entire late with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Finally drizzle entire plate with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic syrup. Serve immediately.

Off the Chain Update: Interview on City Sage

2009-02-19T12:41:00.005-06:00

Anne at City Sage has just posted a great interview I did for her blog regarding Jess LC. Check out how I design collections, and how the line has evolved since I was 15-years-old.

dressing charlotte: silk scarves and sweaters

2009-02-19T09:17:00.002-06:00

This week's Dressing Charlotte is a look I created for myself using my Grandma's vintage silk scarves. When she passed away, I inherited a handful of these great accessories. I am not sure how often she wore them, or what era they are from (1960's or 1970's?). But the same look can be achieved with new square scarves tied in a simple knot at the back of the neck. Think Jesse James meets Jackie O.

In the summer I like to pair t-shirts with the scarves, a straight jean skirt, and ballet flats. And dark skinny jeans tucked into brown leather boots looks polished with the shirt/scarf combo in winter.

As for accessorizing a look like this, keep jewelry simple above the scarf. Great button earrings, studs, or these little cuties are perfect. Then add some color to the hands with either a great cocktail ring or bracelet like the one below.

Armitage Simple Link Earrings

field trip: two-sided gift store

2009-02-18T13:57:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I feel spoiled by all of the awesome Chicago stores and restaurants. So I plan to share my favorite places via a new post sequence called "field trips." My first stop was to Two Sided at 2958 N. Clark.

Though there are more gift shops in Chicago than Barack Obama posters, Two Sided definitely manages to stand out from the pack. Many of their items can be found elsewhere, like Snow and Graham stationary, but they also have a large selection of vintage and found items woven amongst the freshly made goods.

Isn't it lovely?

treat of the week: edible creations

2009-02-18T07:27:00.000-06:00

This week's Treat of the Week actually came last Saturday and was devoured by the next night. Erwin brought home a great fruit bouquet with chocolate covered strawberries and apples from Edible Arrangements. It was delicious and pseudo-nutritious. Flowers and chocolates... guess he figured he'd kill two birds with one stone.

And what a tasty stone it was.

cooking class: wild mushrooms in cream on toasted brioche

2009-02-17T13:46:00.000-06:00

Of all the recipes from the Valentines Day cooking class, this appetizer was my favorite dish of the night- and it is also the first one that I will make again! It is so tasty and is a perfect appetizer for a dinner party. The final product looks complicated but really it couldn't be easier. See below for the recipe and ingredient list.
Ingredients:
-1/2 cup heavy cream
-2 tbs butter
-1/2 pound fresh wild mushrooms, trimmed, washed well, and patted dry cut to uniform size
-1 1/2 tsp all-purpose flour
-freshly ground white pepper and salt to taste (regular s+p would be fine)
-3 thing slices brioche or challah bread, crusts discarded, each slice cut into 4 triangles and toasted (this was the original recipe, but I would substitute with baguette slices or any other thin, toasted bread)
-few sprigs of fresh Tarragon
-2 tbs fresh Parmesan shavings
Procedure:
1- Heat cream in small saucepan until hot.

2- Heat butter in a 10" heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then saute mushrooms, stirring frequently, until golden, 6-8 min. Sprinkle in flour and cook, stirring, 1 min. Stir in hot cream and reduce heat to low. Gently simmer, stirring once, until mushrooms are tender, 10-15 min. Season with salt and pepper.

3- Arrange 6 toasts on each plate and spoon mushrooms and sauce on top. Garnish with fresh tarragon and Parmesan shavings. Serve immediately.

off the chain update: new addison collection

2009-02-17T08:12:00.000-06:00

After listening a good long while to customers at jewelry shows last fall we realized at Jess LC that we were missing a very important accessory in our line: bracelets. Believe it or not, before yesterday we only had one bracelet in the entire Chicago collection. So the new Addison Collection is long overdue.

Below are a few pieces from the collection. We repeated themes from other collections like the links from Rush St. and the gems from Southport, so the pieces can be mixed and matched.

Addison Alternating Pearl and Cable Bracelet

Addison Thick Cable Chain with Links

Addison Thick Cable and Heart Bracelet

shout out for Jess LC

2009-02-16T14:11:00.004-06:00

Check out the Jess LC spotlight on Bloomacious.com.

Valentines Day: Cooking Classes

2009-02-16T08:45:00.010-06:00

The romantic candlelit setting.

I return back to the jewelry studio tired but with a smile on my face from all the fun I had this weekend. My boyfriend, Erwin, is very thoughtful and romantic- which means Valentine's Day at our "house" (really, it's more of a tiny studio than a house) is always an adventure. This year was no exception.

For weeks leading up to February 14th, I desperately tried to guess what he had planned. I had convinced myself that he got us tickets to one of those big boat dinner cruises that go around the lake and you stare at the Chicago skyline. But I was wrong.

At 6:00PM on Valentine's night we pulled up to Kendall College. Somewhere online he had found a Valentine's Day couples cooking class. I was surprised and very excited; cooking has become a hobby of mine in the last few months. The class was structured so that a chef taught everyone how to prepare a six course meal, then it was up to the cooking couples to prepare the dishes, and later head up to a fancy dining area to enjoy our hard work.

Ahem, never thought I would post a picture with a chef hat.
Our workstation had pre-measured ingredients.

Needless to say, the meal was amazing and I am completely impressed that the dishes were fancy and easy to make. Over the next week or so I will post one recipe at a time so that you may follow along and recreate the dishes yourself. I promise that they are all simple but look very impressive when served. I also definitely recommend checking out Kendall's other "Spice Up Your Life" cooking classes - next on my list is learning to frost floral cake decorations!

The dining area where we ate our "hearts" out and met some great people.

off the chain update: 1,000 pounds of thanks

2009-02-14T13:21:00.001-06:00

As you can imagine with this year's economy, many people have asked me how Jess LC is fairing. I understand their concern and I can say, that thanks to all of you, our online sales have seen an incredible increase! INCREDIBLE!

If you told me last August what kind of traffic and response we would get from online sales and retail orders in 2009, I would have fainted. I am humbled and thankful that so many people have purchased, referred, volunteered, spread the word, and supported Jess LC overall. Though our distribution in boutiques is substantial, the orders we get from readers has seen an unbelievable spike. UNBELIEVABLE!

Thank you. A ton.

post its: a few blogs that caught my eye

2009-02-13T14:15:00.000-06:00

Welcome to a new end of the week segment, Post Its.* My intention is to make my last entry each week a compilation of posts worth a virtual Post-It-Note, across many different blogs.

Get your creative hat on.

The coolest chalkboard art. Ever.

Cheerful photographs.

Cookies with charm.

Super cool + cheap Valentine's Day project.

My next recipe to try.

Have a great weekend! And may February 14th be just as you like it.

*Obviously, I am not sponsored by 3M and the Post-It-Note subsidiary in any way. I use the name simply because it has become a generic term and the play on words pseudo-clever.
[Photo by Rachel at Heart of Light]

end of the week exfoliation

2009-02-13T08:32:00.001-06:00

Exfoliating objects from one's life is like exfoliating one's face. The process is not as pretty as the results. Today is no exception. This water bottle is ugly, cheap, unused, and has sat in my cabinet for over a year now. Why I have allowed it to remain amongst my belongings for this long remains a mystery even to me. Another one bites the dust.*

*By dust I mean recycling.

treat of the week: molly's cupcakes

2009-02-12T14:53:00.005-06:00

Treat of the week: another feature which will post weekly, or as often as my photo taking diligence allows. Since my infamous Quantum Wellness Cleanse, I have decided to continue treating myself to decadent desserts once a week. Here is what my friend Kaitlyn and I dined on last night at Molly's Cupcakes, at 2536 N. Clark St.

the mixed berry purple frosting cupcake in the top row will be my next cupcake from Molly's

my cinnamon roll cupcake, oozing with frosting

Kaitlyn's Ron Bennington cupcake

intentional obsession: farmers market bicycle

2009-02-12T08:29:00.000-06:00

In the depths of January I mentioned that I desperately wanted the Gary Fisher Simple City bicycle. Since that post, two events have occurred.

The first fleeting interaction I had with an actual Simple City bike was through the Johnny Sprockets window, "conveniently" on my daily path to ship FedEx orders. The Simple City bicycle in the window was white and yellow-y mint green; perhaps some throwback color to a strange floral print in the 50's or bad shag carpet in the 60's. The color was hideous and my urge to get the bike vanished. My wallet heaved a sigh of relief.
The second encounter was not so budget friendly. The store has since replaced the offensive green and white bicycle* with a beautiful popcorn cream Simple City with white basket (pictured). It is darling. It is still expensive.

The drama continues.

*Note: When referring to a $969 piece of art, one cannot even consider using the word "bike" - ever noticed that?

aww, shucks!

2009-02-11T15:52:00.004-06:00

Reading Jill's entry on her blog, The Good Life for Less, is like a giant hug on this cold, rainy, dark Chicago afternoon. Check out her feature on the Jess LC Lucky In Bed necklace and MakeunderMyLife!

Thanks, Jill. Good thing it was a cyber hug, I wouldn't want my soaking jacket to get you wet.

design crush: Bold & Noble

2009-02-11T12:50:00.000-06:00

What a cool British design company! More of their prints can be found on the Bold & Noble website. Definitely worth checking out.

[Bold& Noble found via Poppytalk, images from Bold&Noble]

last night included:

2009-02-11T10:19:00.003-06:00

Any questions?

dressing charlotte

2009-02-10T12:28:00.009-06:00

Meet Charlotte. She's the newest member of the Jess LC team. She's blonde. She's skinny. She doesn't say much. But boy does she sure look cute wearing my clothes. As a jewelry designer, people often ask me what jewelry I like to personally wear. My hope is to use this new recurring segment, Dressing Charlotte, to answer that question once a week.
Over the past two months my favorite thing to wear is a t-shirt, 3/4 length cardigan, and three of our Jess LC Rush St Long Layering necklaces. The look is polished, simple, and comfortable. And the best part is, for those who don't happen to own three Rush St Layering necklaces (yet), layering similar long necklaces in both gold and silver will achieve a similar look.

Like the look?

coming clean about the cleanse- part 2

2009-02-09T16:24:00.004-06:00

So now that I am back to being flexitarian* I have decided to continue a few of the habits I formed while on the cleanse. Here is a quick run down of my new intentions:

Regarding meat and dairy I actually didn't mind going without dairy as much as I thought I would, so I plan to eat vegan at home and flexitarian when I am eating out. This way I can still enjoy cheese in moderation. I also plan to continue to drink soy and rice milk, I now genuinely prefer these choices over normal milk.
Regarding alcohol I will continue to drink more red wine in place of Woodchuck Cider or super sweet Pinot Grigio.
Regarding gluten This really won't make much of an imact on my life. I am still pro wheat.
Regarding added sugar I have enjoyed limiting my sugar fix for Saturday afternoons. No more noshing on cookies mindlessly after dinner. Or in the afternoon. Or on the bus.
Regarding caffiene I will continue to drink my daily cup o' honey vanilla white chai.

So there it is. I think overall the cleanse was a great chance to become more mindful of what I eat and I also learned to use lots of new vegan friendly ingredients like agave nectar, soy and rice milk, brown rice pasta, gluten-free waffles, and soy cheese. And perhaps best of all I am eating more veggies than I have in my entire life.

Though the cleanse may not be for everyone, a more moderate way of eating focusing on vegan or vegetarian options turned out to be a great way for me to makeunder my meals.

* Flexitarian: I am vegetarian 96.5% the time. But if I am in front of spicy hot buffalo wings at a sports bar, it would be hard to tell.

[photo from Rachel at Heart of Light]

coming clean about the cleanse- part 1

2009-02-09T15:06:00.004-06:00

At long (three week) last, I have reached the end of the Kathy Freston's Quantum Wellness Cleanse with my friend, Kaitlyn. I have mentioned this cleanse a fair amount but now I feel it is time to come "clean" and share the ups and downs of making under my diet. To summarize, I have decided to rate my ability to keep the tenants she recommended. This blog is all about honesty... so here it goes.

Cleanse Rule #1: No meat or dairy This was actually the easiest practice for me, as I have been flexitarian for almost a year. Giving up cheese and eggs was difficult, especially when eating out. But for the vast majority I did eat vegan* throughout the weeks (except for pizza in week two... twice). My overall ability to avoid meat/dairy: ***
Cleanse Rule #2: No alcohol This rule was dead in the water. The first week I was limited myself to two drinks, twice a week. It loosened up from there. But overall I did drink mostly red wine and cut back the overall quantity. My overall ablity to avoid alcohol: **
Cleanse Rule #3: No gluten Gluten, for those who aren't familiar, is a component of wheat. The first week I avoided gluten entirely. It was incredibly hard to follow this guideline when eating out. After one week without gluten, I realized don't have an allergy to gluten, and I incorporated it back into my diet. The most frustrating part of this objective overall was the fact that whole wheat products offer a fair amount of protein and fiber, unlike most gluten-free alternatives. My overall ability to avoid gluten: *
Cleanse Rule #4: No added sugar This was perhaps the most beneficial rule for my personal development. Reducing sugar intake was very benefitial, considering my family history. But rather than deem sugar off limits completely, which would trigger an insatiable craving, I limited sugar to a special Saturday afternoon treat. This is a habit I plan on continuing post-Cleanse as well. My overall ability to avoid sugar: ***
Cleanse Rule #5: No caffeine Of all the rules, this was the one I blatantly ignored from the get-go. I was not about to give up my Honey Vanilla White Chai, and considered my daily ritual benign. My overall ability to avoid caffeine: **

Clearly, I did not follow the recommendations to a T... or any letter in the alphabet for that matter. But I did manage to eat more veggies, less sugar, and eat healthier overall. In my next post, I will share how I intend to eat going forward in a cleanse-free world.

* Once wheat was included in my diet in weeks 2 and 3, breads consumed contained trace amounts of dairy.

live puppies?

2009-02-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

They say you can find anything on the internet. I have never questioned that statement. But when Erwin told me about this site his co-worker was addicted to, where you can watch puppies- LIVE, I was taken aback. Why watch a litter of white labs? I can only imagine extreme boredom must entice viewers. I admit the puppies are definitely cute, but worth staring at for hours, or even minutes at a time? It is not my cup of tea.
What I found even more humorous about the "channel" on justin.tv, was the live chat next to the puppies. So in case you visit the site, you can converse other puppy watchers- which must be more entertaining than watching the labs take a nap.

But hey, there have been 145,423 views, so what do I know?

happy weekend!

2009-02-06T15:11:00.003-06:00

what a great photo of... somewhere in Ann Arbor

As you read this I am probably stuck on an Amtrak train somewhere between Chicago and Ann Arbor, Michigan. This weekend will be spent with my good friends, Maggie and Marisa, before they take their medical Boards and drop off the planet.

Have a great weekend!

UPDATE: While visiting Ann Arbor, I did find this beautiful window- just off of Main St. on the way to LIVE.

end of the week exfoliation: broken boots

2009-02-06T08:48:00.002-06:00

You would think that someone who is interested in living simply would fix or throw away boots with a broken zipper. But strangely, that has not been the case for me and my tall brown boots.

These questionably faux leather boots were my "go to" shoe of winter, 2007. I wore them daily until the left boot's zipper broke last March. I kept them around because I planned on taking them to the cobbler (There are still cobblers, right? It sounds way cooler than "shoe repairman.") and wear them this winter. But I never repaired them. They have sat on a shelf looking down at me- pleading to be fixed and employed again.

Looking at these boots now, I realize I don't like them. Given the opportunity, I wouldn't buy them- and if that is the case, why should I fix and wear them? Time to walk on.

happy birthday mikey c!

2009-02-05T11:12:00.000-06:00

19 years ago my littlest brother came into this world. Known as Mikey C to friends and Michael to family, this freshman at Michigan State is one of the kindest, decent, and most relaxed people I have ever met. Seriously.

I hope you have a good day, Mike. (Your gift is in the mail....)

february: makeunder my credit card

2009-02-05T09:34:00.002-06:00

unfortunately not my actual credit card, but boy is it funny! photo found on flickr

A few days ago a friend mentioned that in order to curb unnecessary spending, she chose to stop using her credit card for a month. I was incredulous. A whole month with no credit card? I am the type of person who never carries cash- I pay for everything on a Mastercard - to the fury of many a cabdriver.

The more I thought about my credit-free-friend's monthly balance being $0, compared than my bloated rather bloated January statement, I became inspired. Although I pay off my card in full each month, I am willing to wager that I will spend several hundred dollars less this February if I rely on cold hard cash rather than plastic. Online purchases will require the card, and I will need to do a bit more preparing as far as ATM withdrawals, but overall I hope these four weeks will help me become more aware and mindful of my spending. And hey, maybe I will have enough cash left over to splurge on a tropical vacation.

One can always hope.

loving the london fog

2009-02-04T16:23:00.000-06:00

Late last week I had an appointment with my accountant for Jess LC at a Starbucks in Bucktown. It was mid afternoon and I was craving my usual chai tea latte, lamenting about my vegan cleanse's no "added sugar" rule.

my very first London Fog...*

To my delight Starbucks' R&D team seem to have anticipated my newly vegan mindset. They have recently launched new tea lattes with actual tea bags rather than their sugary "boxed" chai.

Since discovering this new drink they call the "London Fog" I have consumed three soy versions in the last four days. So although it may be earth and body friendly it seems to be less kind to my budget.

*Please note: this is my first photo taken while in a completely normal, public situation. I actually whipped out the camera and took a picture of the drink by myself, in the middle of the day. And yes, I did get a few stares. Perhaps I passed some kind of blogger initiation.

design crush: anthropologie rugs

2009-02-04T09:05:00.001-06:00

Though it was tough to find jpegs of these amazing rugs from Anthropologie, they are certainly worth checking out in more detail. I can't say I would put them on "Intentional Obsession" status, but they are definitely huge, beautiful statements. And at this point in early February with three frozen months behind me and a few more months ahead- these blooms certainly brighten my day.

a pocket full of posies for less than a pocket full of change

2009-02-03T16:16:00.001-06:00

This is the coolest trick ever. Okay, maybe not the coolest, but way up there. Up there with turning a tangelo into a dessert bowl. It's that cool.
Here is the deal: every two weeks I shop at Trader Joe's for groceries and I struggle to determine whether or not it is worth buying fresh cut flowers. On the one hand, they are beautiful and will enhance my space, my mood, and Erwin might like them too. On the other hand, they are semi-expensive for something I don't "need" and only last about a week. [Side note: I also have similar silent debates about manicures, but that is a whole different post.]
During my most recent bi-weekly T.J. trip I discovered a solution to my internal dialogue. I found a bouquet of various flowers for $3.99 (they were aptly named the "Consumer's Bouquet" for like minded individuals trying to save cash). When I got them home and started rummaging for a vase, I realized I didn't have one large vase, but rather several small vessels. Eureka!
Take a look at how the $3.99 bouquet has been divided and conquered- bringing cheer and color to four areas of my apartment. By splitting up the bouquet I now have four punches of color for a buck each. Not too shabby.

off the chain update: teaching team in training

2009-02-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

Saturday started bright and early. I had a Jess LC Soc Chic event with Team in Training in Elmhurst, Illinois. My trusty friend Kaitlyn (in the photo above) was both my partner in crime and navigator. For four hours we met Team In Training participants raising money for endurance events, and taught them how to fundraise with our Silver Lining Necklace.
The morning was a huge success and we sold out of the Silver Lining necklaces we brought for the event. For those participating in a Team In Training events, information about using the Silver Lining Necklace to fundraise can be found here.

manual bowling

2009-02-02T17:12:00.000-06:00

This past weekend started with a bang. Friday night Erwin got tickets to see Macbeth at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. We enjoyed the play (I had never seen/read Macbeth before), and even scored front row seats.

Afterward we went to Southport Lanes (pictured above) and put tips in the bowling balls in order to win favor with the men setting up our pins behind the lane. This backfired however, as our particular "bowling pin manager" seemed to have a crush on Kathryn, the only one who ironically did not donate into the tip fund.* So it goes.

*Note: Though Kathryn did not tip the bowling pin manager, she did pay extra for other aspects of the event.

i am thankful for: my yummy metallic leather planners

2009-02-02T09:12:00.000-06:00

Part of my quest to live the "made-under life" is to appreciate things that I have in addition to ridding my space of things I don't need. So this post is an ode to my silver daily planner and blog inspiration notebook. I love everything about them. They are soft, supple, and collect all my thoughts. After a year, they will seem like dear friends.

In case there is interest, I got them at Border's but couldn't find them online.

end of the week exfoliation: scrapbooking supplies

2009-01-31T00:04:00.000-06:00

After taking a quick glance around the studio, I found my object(s) for this week's exfoliation. In college, I had illusions of grandeur as a stationary hobbiest (pretty sure that is not a word but I'll stick with it). Within the span of two weeks I amassed a small treasure trove of stationary supplies. I enjoyed the pastime for a few months, and a handful of people received my handmade notes.

But since that time I have not made any stationary in Chicago. At all. That means I haven't made cards in a year and a half. I have kept the box of supplies around "just in case" I need to make some cards. But c'mon, really? Just in case "I need to" make some cards? How many times have I bought adorable cards at Two Sided down the street? Enough said.

So the next move was finding a worthy (and willing) recipient for this stationary hobbiest's bounty. Initially my dear part-time lady, Gertie, was disinterested in the stash. But once she caught a glimpse of some baby pink heart embossed paper, she was hooked.

Dolan Geiman is kind of a big deal

2009-01-30T16:04:00.000-06:00

Before I moved to Chicago I worked for a few months at Heavenly Metal, in Ann Arbor Michigan. I have mentioned the owner, Vicki, quite a bit so far this month. I think that is because she
a) is a great friend who has taught me a lot about what is really important, and how to live a high quality life without lots of money
and b) knows all sorts of cool, interesting artists.Anyways, as I was saying, before I moved to Illinois, Vicki pressed this picture into my hands and said "You have to have this." When she realized I did not recognize the artist, Dolan Geiman, she was incredulous. "Everyone knows who Dolan Gieman is," she said.

So in case anyone else doesn't know who Dolan Gieman is, now you do too.

my salad gets a makeunder

2009-01-29T16:08:00.000-06:00

I am not really sure if this salad I had on Tuesday night really qualifies as a "makeunder" I mean, it's not simpler than a regular salad. It actually is the vegetable portion of an amazing pasta dish my dear friend Vicki of Heavenly Metal taught me. So I guess it isn't actually a salad makeunder but a pasta dish makeunder. Perfect. Now I can keep the title.

Either way the meal was great- I don't love raw spinach salads, so this was a great way for me to get my leafy greens. Here is the ingredient list:

1 bag fresh spinach - this is a great dish to make if you are close to the expiration date
chopped garlic (as much as you like, I used 3 cloves)
3 tbs olive oil
capers (as many as you like, but optional)
pesto (mine was from Trader Joes, optional but does add a nice flavor)
pine nuts, walnuts

Here is the preparation:

Sear the pine nuts and walnuts in a pan on medium heat until brown, make sure to keep an eye on them and don't let them burn. Put them to the side for later.
Put olive oil in large pot with garlic and let simmer for a few minutes until warm, on medium heat. Once you see some sizzling action, throw the spinach into the pot and cover. Keep an eye on the greens as they wilt and add extra olive oil if needed. It should take 5-7 minutes and greens will look dark and squishy.
In a bowl add cooked spinach, some spoonfuls of pesto, capers, the seared pine nuts, walnuts, and s+p as needed. Stir and enjoy.

PS- Ever notice dinner always tastes better by candle light?

off the chain update: a bit of sunshine on a cloudy, cold, Chicago day

2009-01-29T12:32:00.001-06:00

See Anne of City Sage's original post.

design crush: Rebecca Minkoff

2009-01-29T09:16:00.000-06:00

It's hard to say whether Rebecca Minkoff is considered a "popular" designer. On the one hand most of the tabloid celebrities are photographed with their Minkoff handbags, and she has a strong, devoted (read: cult-like) following. But on the other hand, though I have had a design crush on her styles for about a two years now, very few of my friends, design industry related or otherwise, seem to know she exists. Which is a shame. Because she certainly exists and has absoultely amazing handbags. So here are a few of my favorites:
And this one:
And here is my very own navy Mini Morning After Bag.
You can check out their new photo shoot on You Tube. Adorable.

easy waffles with berries

2009-01-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

At long last I have finally whipped out the camera and started photographing the foods I am making on this whole vegan cleanse thing. This is what my breakfast looked like this morning. After hearing I am abstaining from: meat, dairy, alcohol (more moderation), sugar, and gluten (which has now been added back in my diet), a lot of friends have asked: "so what do you eat?"

Well the answer this morning was:

Banana gluten-free waffles from Trader Joes
Thawed frozen berries from Trader Joes
Agave nectar (a natural, milder, honey-like sweetener) from Trader Joes
Toasted walnuts from Trader Joes

So basically this post can be boiled down to two main points: that breakfast was freaking amazing and I really, really like Trader Joes.

intentional obsession: white marble

2009-01-27T16:25:00.000-06:00

Though it may seem odd, my first love is actually home decor, not jewelry. Gasp. One day I plan to make interior design a more permanent part of my vocation, but for the moment I will stick with the jewels and leave the decor to my dreams.

However I still continue to evolve both my jewelry studio and apartment into spaces I adore. Ask Erwin, the decorating is never done. With this in mind, I plan to start a recurring post titled Intentional Obsessions (I.O.). The title meaning that these obsessions are part of my personal vision and though they are not in my life yet, I intend to incorporate them over time. Sound good? I think so. Plus sharing them will take the edge off the longing desire.

My first I.O. is white marble. One day I intend to have a kitchen with white marble counter tops like this:
(notice the icy blue wall color!) Or maybe a bathroom like this:
But until then I could always use this coffee table:
Or this end table:
Or heck, even these cheese trays:
A girl has to start somewhere.

no paint apartment? no problem!

2009-01-27T15:54:00.001-06:00

What a great idea for those with apartments that don't allow walls to be painted (many of us)! Or for those who are perhaps to lazy to paint walls in the first place (most of us). This image is from a recent post on Design Sponge.

First, I adore this icy blue color. I even chose it as my inspiration board's background for 2009. But what is even cooler is that anyone can use painted shelving like this as a way to add color to a room while keeping the walls neutral or stark white.

I am definitely bookmarking this concept for my apartment move in October.

Jess LC goes international

2009-01-27T09:38:00.000-06:00

Exciting news! Jess LC has gone global. Over the past week we have shipped to Quebec, London, and Singapore.

Two points for pictures submitted with Jess LC jewelry worn outside the US!

Jess LC International - by Jess LC on Polyvore.com

scouts or cookies?

2009-01-26T16:03:00.000-06:00

Yum. Just designing this post is making my stomach rumble. As I placed my annual Girl Scout Cookie order with a friend I began to miss the days when I was a Girl Scout. I learned a lot with that great group of girls in middle school and I am still good friends with one, Catherine, to this day. And though I am sure I learned a lot from this group, the only things that stand out are the memories of french toast made in a coffee can and our fear of the green toilet in the outhouse when camping.

So maybe all I really miss is... the cookies. My favorites are Samoas, any other votes out there?

girl scout cookies - by Jess LC on Polyvore.com

just because i'm not eating sweets doesn't mean i can't enjoy them

2009-01-26T12:24:00.000-06:00

When taking a little stroll through various blogs I found Cakespy.com, the most adorable cupcake art I have ever seen. Not just because it is the only cupcake art I have ever seen but also because it actually is adorable. My personal favorite is this one:
Hey, if you can't eat 'em, join 'em.

notes from the weekend

2009-01-26T09:53:00.000-06:00

The most interesting part of my weekend pertained to the infamous 'vegan cleanse' Kaitlyn and I have been attempting. It eliminates drinking, and therefore discouraged me from going out Friday night. But I was able to rationalize going out Saturday and enjoyed a few drinks anyways. So much for abstaining.

After seven days living more (or less) on the vegan cleanse I did successfully do without: meat, dairy, added sugars, and gluten. Here were the positive outcomes of week 1:

I learned about new foods - I had never tried rice milk, grilled eggplant, soy mozzarella cheese, or brown rice pasta. I liked all of these new foods and plan to eat them more often in my normal diet as well.
I laid off the sugar - I am an admitted sugar freak and taking six days off of the hard stuff seemed difficult but I really didn't miss it as much as I thought. Until Saturday. Then I splurged on dark chocolate with raspberry filling and some PB Whoppers. Once a week I think might be a better pace for sweets than the 1-2 servings a day I used to have.
I realized dairy is disposable - Up until this week I loved, loved, loved dairy. Brie was a weekly purchase and Greek yogurt with honey was a lunch staple. But going off the milky stuff turned out to be easier than I expected, and I don't think I will go back to eating it as much as I used to after the next two weeks of the cleanse.

On the other hand, here are the not-so-nice realities:

Eating gluten-free is next to impossible - Limiting gluten was prescribed in the cleanse because millions of Americans are unknowingly allergic to gluten. After 1 week on the gluten-free bus I can say I did not feel any different and therefore deemed myself pro-gluten. I will continue to eat wheat the rest of the cleanse. Another annoyance with this stipulation was the fact that brown rice products like pasta and waffles had next to no protein and fiber compared to the whole wheat versions.
Eating out on the cleanse is actually impossible - Here is my advice about eating out on a cleanse like this one: don't do it. I went out four times last week. Dinner 1 was at a Spanish tapas bar, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, where all I could eat were olives and spicy potatoes. Dinner 2 at Justin's, a bar and grill was somewhat easier- grilled veggie burrito (without the wrap and cheese) with black beans and a side salad. Dinner 3 at Bistrot Margot I skipped the menu altogether and ate beforehand. Dinner 4 was the best because we went to Karyn's Cooked, a vegan restaurant, where I ordered the grilled veggie wrap (gluten and all).

So looking forward into week 2, I feel a bit wiser and much more satisfied knowing what obstacles are ahead when eating out and that I am going to eat wheat.

Look out whole wheat homemade zucchini bread.

[photo found here]

happy weekend and thanks for the support!

2009-01-23T17:03:00.000-06:00

Off to a great weekend of vegan cleansing (with or without the alcohol restriction). Vegan cleanse buddy Kaitlyn and I are heading to Karyn's Cooked for dinner tomorrow. Heaven.(*note pancake does not represent vegan cleanse as it contains gluten, but he's sure adorable)

And a HUGE thank you to all who commented on A Cup of Jo for the Lucky In Bed giveaway. Reading all 449 comments was awesome! And in case you are wondering, a lucky lady from Canada won the necklace.

Any exciting plans this weekend?

[happy pancake found here]

end of the week exfoliation

2009-01-23T13:41:00.000-06:00

It may sound weird, but I get the same thrill from new purchases as I do from getting rid of old things. Really, I promise. There is something really freeing about passing on things that no longer have a place in my life to someone who needs them. That whole circle of life thing.

On top of that, another one of my intentions for 2009 is to have only really nice stuff. Since I cannot afford lots of really nice things, I can get rid of one item each week, and by the end of the year I will have 50 less items. Thereby increasing the fraction of "nice" things by decreasing the "not nice things." Addition by subtraction.

Now about the title... this whole concept is kind of like washing your face. In order to keep skin looking fresh doctors recommend exfoliating to diminish dead skin cells and reveal a fresh layer of skin. I think the same goes for my stuff.

So this week's exfoliation is actually two big boxes of pillows, blankets, clothes (pictured), shoes, bras, and caramel apple suckers.

Ah. I feel better already.

kiss and tell

2009-01-23T10:10:00.000-06:00

Last night at a great "ladies only" dinner at Bistro Margot we got on the topic of kissing. We debated whether chins touch while making out. If so, can a man's 5 o'clock shadow cause skin irritation on the lady's chin? Has this ever happened to anyone, and if so, is there a solution?

[photo found here]

spicy cooking or cooking spices?

2009-01-22T09:55:00.000-06:00

Since I am still pretty new to the whole "cooking" thing I haven't had a chance to make those blunders that experienced cooks talk about. The whole "I have burned myself several times and been impaled twice peeling potatoes" has never been an issue for me. Until this morning.
It started simply enough. I wanted to prepare a nice vegan meal for lunch. I chose my friend Vicki's pasta recipe with wilted greens. Once the greens were finished, I moved on to boiling the water for the pasta. I had the pot filled, the burner on, and thought about jumping in the shower while the pot began to warm.

But for some strange (or miraculous) reason I checked to see how the water was doing and noticed it was not bubbling in the slightest, but there was a large stream of smoke floating behind the pot. I had turned the burner behind the pot on by accident. Needless to say, the small bowl of garlic and spice rack were well on their way to causing some serious damage. Fortunately I was able to turn off the stove and remove the burning bowl and rack to reveal a chunk of the spice rack platform burned into the stove top. So it goes.

[photo found here]

win the Lucky In Bed Necklace

2009-01-21T14:09:00.000-06:00

Those who are familiar with Jess LC jewelry probably already know about our Lucky In Bed Necklaces. And if you want to win one, post on a favorite blog of mine, Cup of Jo, before tomorrow. She will pick one (lucky) person at random to take home the most popular Jess LC necklace.

bailey doesn't bark

2009-01-21T13:49:00.001-06:00

How adorable is this cup and saucer from Bailey Doesn't Bark? I love Honey Vanilla White Chai in the morning and think this little combo is perfect. I also like the birds on the cereal bowl-
So cute.

vegan for a day.

2009-01-21T09:40:00.000-06:00

My dear friend Kaitlyn and I have been reading Quantum Wellness by Kathy Freston and are inspired to try her vegan "cleanse." So basically from Monday the 19th to February 9th we are (trying) to stay away from: meat, dairy, added sugars, gluten (in most wheat products), and alcohol. Yes. I know.

On Sunday to prepare for this little experiment I stocked up on groceries (you would guess I was preparing for siege or a severe hurricane warning) and cooked vegan recipes all day - more on those in posts to come. Needless to say I have been eating better, healthier, and loving it for a full... 48 hours. That is until I went out to eat last night at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. The table looked something like this*:
And of all that was on the table I could only eat this*:
And this* (*photos not from actual meal):
Surprisingly, though I would definitely have preferred a vegetarian approach to the meal, I did end up pretty satisfied and felt great this morning. Tomorrow night out to dinner with the girls should be another interesting vegan adventure.

where i work. part 2

2009-01-20T16:08:00.001-06:00

With a lull in the day I thought I might follow up with the rest of the studio tour. Here it goes:
This is a big empty frame that hangs above my computer desk. I simply taped a piece of fancy paper from Paper Source and started adding things on top of that almost as if it was attached to the frame. The little Buddha and small stone are there to keep things in perspective.
This little wire basket is the mate to the corner shelf/basket thing hanging on the wall in Part 1 of the studio tour. Here it holds bowls of chain and wire for the jewelry we make. The little square is actually a ceramic egg holder from Anthropologie for about $9.
This dresser is one of a set of my-best-friend's-mom-from-when-she-was-a-little-girl-in-the-1960s. My best friend from childhood, Carol Beth, used it when she was growing up and when she got married she didn't need the set anymore. When it arrived in my hands for $0, it was worn, bright white with fading flower appliques, and had yucky yellow brass hardware. I sanded it, painted it "popcorn white" and added all antiqued knobs rather than handles. I adore the double knobs rather than traditional pulls but really it happened out of necessity. They actually don't make drawer pulls the same size as this piece any longer.
This little piece is the nightstand to the set from my-best-friend's-mom-from-when-she-was-a-little-girl-in-the-1960s. It serves here as a entry table and spot to store some running stuff.
GREAT IDEA! Since my bathroom has no storage besides a medicine cabinet I needed a place to stash my blow dryer and cleaning supplies. So I bought this vintage picnic basket from my trusty Ann Arbor thrift store to do the job. (The wine holders hold the blow dryer and brushes.)

So there it is. All in all when I moved to Chicago in August of 2007 I think I spent a total of $2000 on all the furniture, accessories, and trusty U-Haul. No cushy corporate moving and relocation reimbursements, but it's pretty darn cute anyway.

where i work. part 1

2009-01-20T12:58:00.000-06:00

So for those who wonder why "makeunder my life" is the title for my blog, I will explain (a little). In part it has to do with my belief that great things come in all sizes, large and microscopic, and that my life though humble, does not need to be void of style. Even if one (read: me) doesn't have a lot of money to invest in her environment, that does not mean she cannot enjoy great design.So I thought I would share some photos of my studio (which is now actually the Jess LC jewelry studio exclusively- but at the time of these photos taken last summer, I also had a bed to sleep on in the studio as well). Please keep in mind this is a ~400 square foot space - about the size of the dining room in my parents house. I did mention I had a "humble abode," right?
This is one of my favorite tablescapes ever- the table itself is a bench repainted (twice) that I found on a run with my dear friend Catherine in high school. The black box was $4 from a thrift store in Ann Arbor, Michigan which I dearly miss here in Chicago. The plants are all under $6 from Trader Joes. Loveseat is from Ikea.
The (fake) painting was $100 from Bed Bath and Beyond and the adorable bird statue is from Ann Arbor's awesome Heavenly Metal.
A $4 Urban Outfitters lampshade got a makeover with my Grandma's vintage pins.
The two green hang-y things are from my high school days playing decorator in my old bedroom. They are filled with pine cones from old holiday decor and the middle piece is actually a corner shelf hanging with it's bottom against the wall. Inside that are some pine cones and a birds nest. The strings actually are not really supporting the pieces- they are there to make that dowel rod from my old Christmas decorations look like it actually has a purpose.
These keys got a lot of attention on the Apartment Therapy blog post about my studio. They were about $12 and in a rusty black color when I bought them. Using a foam brush I painted on a gold coat to make them look more "schmancy." The big glass vase is standing in a vintage candy dish, the candle holders are my Grandma's, and the two glass votives were $1 each.
This is one of my favorite (and really easy) projects. Inside this simple frame is a $4 document I found at an antique store from October 21, 1865. It is a deed to some land in Georgia - but it's current validity is under suspicion. The 'mat' is actually just a fancy embossed paper cut the width of the frame. Voila - a historic piece of art for about $12.

All this storytelling makes me wish I could decorate some new spaces... any takers?

went to a jewelry show, met a graphic designer

2009-01-19T15:32:00.000-06:00

In December 2008 I did a jewelry show for Macy's on State St. in Chicago (the iconic Marshall Field's Building) and met of all people, a wonderful stationary and graphic designer, Megan Nutley of Silhouette Blue. We hit it off and now she is designing some new packaging for our Soc Chic line at Jess LC. (It's top secret, but I'll just tell you anyways: we are moving from the current Soc Chic boxes to simpler, greener packaging with a spiffed up look.)

Take a look at some of her other great stationary (my favorites pictured).

getting a bike was a summer intention. going broke wasn't

2009-01-19T13:50:00.001-06:00

So when Erwin (my boyfriend) and I planned our New Year's Intentions (notice Intentions not Resolutions: the latter are too demanding and morally defeating for me if not carried through) and put "get some bikes" on our list, I didn't think much of it. That is until I spotted this Gary Fisher Simple City bike on a blog and fell in love. Now I keep wondering how I can find a way to afford this beautiful piece of art (that happens to moonlight as transportation) for the low price of $969.00.

At first I thought no way. Can't be done. Then an erratic thought popped in my head "well, maybe Jess LC will really hit it big in the next few months and I can afford it by then." At that point I stepped back and took a moment of personal reflection: I just said that if I "hit it big" I could afford to buy a bicycle?

nervous, excited, and learning to use my new camera

2009-01-19T12:49:00.000-06:00

So here it goes. With this blog I plan to share my intentions, design inspiration, entrepreneurial stories, and cool stuff that crosses my path. As a designer I am drawn to all sorts of images, ideas, and ideals I wish I could automatically incorporate into my life. Some I can, others take longer. On the flip side, my "business" side enjoys planning, executing, and tracking my progress.

I write from my experience because (a) it is what I know, and (b) my thoughts may not be the best fit for everyone.

I hope the posts and ideas to come are fun to read, continue to keep me inspired, and help others become more excited about growing in their own lives.

But for now I better learn to work my new camera, so great (or at least passable) photos can capture the adventures to come.