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Every time I land in San Francisco, something in my body exhales. There’s a light that feels familiar and the smell of eucalyptus and sea water is so grounding.The fog rolling in over Twin Peaks feels like an old friend. It’s cliché to say I left my heart here — but if I’m being honest, I kind of did.
CMD was born in this city.
In 2005, I was making jewelry at a desk in my cluttered Hayes Valley apartment. For the first year of CMD, the front room of that big old yellow Victorian was truly where it all began. I would pack orders on the floor, organize materials in tiny bins, and dream about where I could take this little scrappy idea. San Francisco was buzzing with creativity at the time and I was in my 20s with SO much blind ambition. I knew I had nothing to lose. The maker movement was just beginning to swell. I could feel that something bigger was happening, and I wanted to be part of it.
That’s when Secession Art & Design entered the picture (2006-2012). I often rode my bike from Hayes Valley across the city, weaving through traffic with a backpack full of my tools. Secession gave me my first real “home” outside of my apartment. It was a place to create and sell my work in a community alongside other artists. It was there that CMD began to take shape and it was more than just me and a desk. Fun fact: I first hired Aryana to work with me at my little studio at Secession.
One of the most pivotal chapters came just a few years later.I was riding my bike along Valencia when I popped into artist Sirron Norris’s storefront. I had previously made his wife’s wedding jewelry (they had originally found me at the Glen Park Festival), and I always liked to see what projects he had going on. Just a few weeks later, Sirron called me to see if I might be interested in sharing his space. That simple exchange changed everything and I also needed more space!
From 2012 - 2013, we shared the Valencia studio. I had the main front space, Sirron had the adjoining room. It was such a creatively electric time — murals, jewelry, conversations about art and business, people wandering in off the street. Eventually, Sirron decided he didn’t need the space anymore, and in 2013, I took over the entire studio. That second room became CMD’s dedicated design and production space. It felt like my dream had come to fruition... a Colleen Mauer Designs sign hung perpendicular to my very own storefront.
From 2013–2020, Valencia Street was our anchor. We hosted events, launched collections, and built lifelong relationships. Some of my favorite memories are from those nights when the doors were open, music was playing, and the studio was packed with customers and friends who felt more like family. My team and I would dance in the main room when we needed a little pick me up… I can still hear echoes of all the laughter and the CMD soundtrack that has become life.
In 2020, when our lease was up in August, I originally planned to keep the Valencia space and go bi-coastal. I truly thought CMD would have a permanent home in both San Francisco and New Jersey. But when the world shut down, I had to make one of the hardest business decisions of my life. I chose not to renew, to relocate to Asbury Park, and I felt the Universe had helped me make those decisions. Letting go of that space and leaving my perfect city by The Bay was heartbreaking.
Whenever I return to San Francisco, it feels like I never left. The community here still shows up like nothing has changed. Old friends drop by my pop-up events and longtime customers reach out and book one-on-one appointments at my rental flat. The roots are still alive and being here is good for business — and honestly, it’s nourishing food for my soul. Which brings me to something that feels beautifully full circle...
On Saturday, March 21st from 12pm–5pm, I’m bringing The Ring Bar to Lauren Nelson Design in San Anselmo (368 San Anselmo Ave).
Lauren and I go way back. We were roommates in our very first San Francisco apartment together on 9th and Irving in the Inner Sunset back in 2002. We were both Virginia Tech grads exploring San Francisco together with bright eyes and bushy tails! Laur was always an amazing designer, her artwork on the walls and she even painted the accent wall in that apartment.
To now collaborate in her stunning design space feels surreal. This is our first pop-up together before, and I can’t think of a better spot to do my last event while I'm out here this winter.
I’ll have my full collection available for the afternoon. We can stack, style, dream up future heirlooms, and reconnect in person. Lauren will also be offering a curated selection of ceramics, textiles, vintage goods, and decorative smalls (almost like a sample sale moment inside her beautiful studio).
If you’re in the Bay Area or have been meaning to make a little day trip, I would absolutely love to see you. Grab a friend and come say hi. Let’s build something beautiful together, just like we used to!
San Francisco will always be part of CMD’s DNA. And as I continue finding ways to spend more time out here, these gatherings feel like the perfect bridge between past and future.
See you on the 21st. 💛
Colleen
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