Thoughts & Reflections

Like many, I’ve spent a lot of the last week feeling overwhelmed by our uncertain times. I’ve texted and messaged many of my small business friends and that has offered me a lot of comfort. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that the spread of the COVID-19 is affecting many people - our friends, our colleagues, our families [...]

It’s funny that after all these years, I still get an excited nervousness right before I release a new collection. Even with plenty of avid CMD supporters by my side, there's still some anxiety and emotion that rises to the surface of it all. Over the years though, my confidence and design skills have definitely improved, and it’s taken a lot [...]

Thank you for your continued support of our small business. We love what we do, and it's because of people like you that we can evolve, not only as a company, but with each collection that we handcraft with love [...]

People want simple pieces that they could wear every day. They don’t have to think about what outfit it goes with… it just works. It's a piece that becomes an essential part of their wardrobe, and a signature part of their unique style. Personally, I like to make a subtle statement in all that I do. 

Last week, we welcomed the 5-Loop Mini Pebble Necklace into the CMD family and it's already making some big waves. If you've been following our brand for a while now, you may recall my "pebble" designs from previous collections. This is a concept I keep coming back to time and time again, and I wanted to share a little of my inspiration...

This will be my 13th time showing at NY NOW, and that always gets me thinking about who we are and what we do here at CMD. We're a team of strong, bi-coastal, women. We're kind of a super team: from design to delivery, we do it all here at CMD.

When I design something, I like to try it on every single person in the room. Everyone is so different… we all have different ear shapes, number of piercings, skin tones, necklines, wrist sizes and hand shapes. We all have different styles and preferences, and I like to ask each team member, “which is your favorite?”

Happy happy International Women’s Day. I’m so, so proud to be a female owned and operated small business! For those of you who don’t already know, I currently have an incredible all-women bi-coastal team and I don’t know what I’d do without them. 

Valentine’s Day is a bit of a Hallmark Holiday, but I don’t think it has to be. I think it’s just a great day as any to show up and express your love – for the people you care for and for yourself. Whether you’re married, in a relationship or single, love and self-love should always come first. 

I want to challenge the way you think about the value in shopping small. Remember how important it is to shop in stores and support our local communities and neighbors. As we continue to see small spaces closing, I encourage you to consider the part you play in contributing to what makes your neighborhood vibrant.

If you haven’t been into the Showroom, I’d love to invite you to swing by and join me here. It’s my home away from home. You can check out our creative space (brimming with tools and sketches) and try on any of our beautifully finished pieces. We even have a Ring Bar where you can build customized stacks. 

It took years of trial and error, but I stuck with it and always believed that if I worked hard, I could make anything happen. Starting a business takes at 26 take a lot of courage and perseverance, but I knew that living my life as a creative is what I was put on this planet to do.

Running a small business has so many facets and while it can be so rewarding, it can also be challenging at times. But, at the end of the day when I walk out of my shop, I look up at the CMD sign and feel so grateful because it reminds me of where I started and how far we’ve come as a group of women on two coasts.

I often get asked what my favorite part of being a designer is. For me, it’s surely the creative design process – the part where I sit down, put pen to paper, and sketch and sketch and sketch. When I’m in the studio by myself, there’s something about the quiet that allows my brain to flick on… well, on a good day anyway.

My mom is one of the most amazing people in my life. Living 3000 miles apart isn’t always easy, but we manage by getting on the phone together nearly every day.  My mom is a woman I have always admired – she raised me, my brother and sister on her own while working as an elementary school teacher.