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We are so excited for the chance to showcase
Landon Lacey Jewelry on our blog! If you remember, we included one of her necklaces on our blog's
summer wish list. She had such an interesting story, we thought it would be fun to do an interview with her on the blog! Check it out below.
Store Name: Landon Lacey Jewelry
Owner:
Landon Lacey
Product:
Handmade Necklaces, Earrings & Bracelets
TDC: How did you get started making jewelry?
Landon: When I was in high school, a friend’s mom taught me how to make glass
beads by melting glass onto little sticks under a torch. I loved watching the glass melt into
red-hot globes, and I loved stringing my creations onto wire for necklaces. But
my hard-earned little gems were less than beautiful! I decided to forgo creating my materials from scratch, and
instead began a now decade-long hunt for stunning materials made by regional
artists to incorporate into my own designs. Melting glass was my starting point, and it has evolved into
the Landon Lacey line I have today.
TDC: You have such an interesting story about how your
travels and homes have influenced your designs. Can you share a little bit of
that with us?
Landon: Yes! I feel like my style is a perfect
reflection of three of the places I’ve lived. Twenty-two years in the South left me an appreciation of pearls,
pastels, and old gold. I grew up
in Charlotte, North Carolina and went to Wake Forest University, a preppy southern school. I first began selling jewelry in college and was blessed by an
extremely supportive system of sororities who encouraged me during my initial
hurdles.
After undergrad, I moved
to Thailand to work in an AIDS orphanage called Agape Home. I didn’t drag my jewelry supplies
across the world, so this was a hiatus from actually creating jewelry. Instead of making jewelry, I allowed
myself to be inspired by the delicate Asian symmetry, minimalism, and attention
to detail. I remember paying $2
for some of the best street food I’ve ever had, and being shocked at the way it
was presented: a pair of perfectly placed purple orchids, slightly off-center,
at the top of my plate of fried rice.
I developed an appreciation for all things sparkly and understated.
A year and a half after
moving to Thailand, I headed back home to get a Masters in Speech-Language
Pathology. I pulled my tools and
supplies out of the storage unit, and began creating again. I went to UNC Chapel Hill for grad
school and was again blown away by the network of females around me who
supported my growing business.
Southern prep met Asian minimalism in a pretty burst of delicate gold
and pastels.
While in graduate school,
I met the love of my life who was wrapping up medical school. He wound up matching for his residency
in Chicago; we graduated on the same day, rented a U-Haul, and moved everything
(beads and pliers included) to the Windy City. I fell in love with Chicago the second I saw it. Gorgeous architecture, killer style,
extreme seasons, delicious foods, killer concerts and comedy… this city has
everything. I live downtown on the
28th floor of a high rise next to Navy Pier right on the river. Looking out my window, I’m reminded why
my jewelry took an edgy turn when I moved here: this city is full of sharp
angled buildings, shiny glass, fancy cars and high heels. Bye bye pearls, hello spikes! You can see all of these places
reflected in my jewelry line.
TDC: What is involved in the process of creating and
designing jewelry?
Landon: A new piece can be born in
a variety of ways. Sometimes I’m
inspired by something I see: a sunset on Lake Michigan can turn into to an
ombre fire opal necklace. Sometimes
I’m inspired by other jewelry, like Gwyneth Paltrow’s gorgeous horn necklace
she seems to wear daily. Sometimes
I’m inspired by a pendant or stone that may sit in a box or my desk for months
until I finally decide how I’m going to use it. Occasionally I’ll doodle sketches completely from scratch
and set out to find the supplies I need to bring it to life. I try to keep my jewelry relevant and
trendy, but also personal and unique to my line.
TDC: Which item in your store is your personal favorite?
Landon: Oh goodness this changes
every week! Right now, I have a
gold horn necklace that I hung from a black onyx rosary chain that I just
posted to Etsy today. I wore it to
my cousin’s engagement party this past weekend with a funky dress and got a
million compliments! I think
that’s my favorite, but I’ll change my mind next week : )
TDC: What part of the job do you love the most?
Landon: My customers. I love how jewelry has opened me up to
so many people I wouldn’t otherwise know!
There are people in Chicago who have found me through Etsy, have come
over to hand-select their pieces, and we’ve begun a friendship. Shop owners, bloggers, brides-to-be,
book clubs, trunk shows, craft shows, and Christmas parties are all ways that
I’ve been able to branch out and meet new people. Seeing my jewelry on someone’s smiling face is
priceless! It’s an amazing feeling
being able to share my art and see it appreciated by so many other people.
TDC: Do you have a favorite Etsy shop to visit?
Landon: Yes! I love supporting other artists whenever
possible, and Anna Woolf at WildCardPottery does great work! I recently sent my dad a barnacle
coffee mug, and he loves it. Her
product is truly unique! I’m also a big fan of
SucculentSalon – I can’t get enough of succulents and hers are some of the
best.
TDC: You make all of your products in Chicago, IL. Can
you share with us some of your favorite spots in the city?
Landon: I’ve been here for a year
and feel like I haven’t scratched the surface! My two favorite restaurants are probably Café Baba Reeba and
Purple Pig. Both have fabulous
tapas-style bites. For dancing, I
love Untitled and for comedy I love Second City. A fabulous jewelry supply show called InterGem comes through
Chicago a few times a year to Rosemont, and I’m able to stock up on new little
treasures. Right now, I’m trying
not to repeat places because there is so much to experience – but the one place
I keep returning to is Yolk for brunch.
Their coffee is the best!
Tea and Work! Follow Landon Lacey on Instagram here!
Landon, thank you so much for your time! We love your shop and your beautiful craftsmanship! Visit the store here and like Landon Lacey on Facebook to check out more images of her products!
All photos courtesy of Landon Lacey Jewelry.
