With a long history in retail and design, here is a closer look at the Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company owner and how she got to where she is today!
How long have you been in retail?
It’s as though I was raised in retail. Many after-school hours and summers were spent working at my parent’s Asian import stores in Boca Raton, Riviera Beach, and Palm Beach, Florida. From waiting on customers, to reveling in gift wrap, to unpacking untold treasures from the Far East, I loved being part of my parent’s shops. Each day was like being in a foreign land surrounded by beautiful and exotic things. Unlike most of my friends, my mom went to work each day in a brocade Suzy Wong dress.
Who or what piqued your interest in Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company?
I feel that my path to Pick Up Sticks was a gift from my sister, literally. Andrea and I were an amazing team. In younger years our five-and-half-year age difference was apparent, of course, but as we grew older, we grew closer. Some of my fondest childhood memories were she and I in Saturday morning art class together, or spending vacations at the Jersey shore burying each other in the sand or digging for periwinkle shells.
In 2008, however, we banded together for a much more serious pursuit. Our beautiful mother suffered a major stroke, and Andie and I were called into action. We worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and care for Mom, while juggling our personal and work lives. It was a challenging journey that spanned not months, but years.
During that time, Andie gave me the Pick Up Sticks “Queen Sister” charm as a Christmas present. The reverse side of the charm states: “Never underestimate the power of sisters.” Ironically, those words and others like them we shared on a regular basis. When the going got tough, we would tell each other that there wasn’t anything we couldn’t do together, so the gift held special significance. From that time on I kept the Queen Sister charm close as a reminder of the bond we shared and to draw on our collective strength.
Upon discovering Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company, I fell in love with the entire line and became an avid customer. A short time later I learned that the company’s founders had decided to retire and close the business. I couldn’t bear the idea that this company, with such a wonderful history and its unique products would be no more. I knew many others had been inspired and even comforted by Pick Up Sticks Jewelry like Andie and I had been. Guided by the voices of my parents reminding me that anything is possible, and blessed by a wonderful twist of fate, an agreement was reached between the talented owners and founders, Glena and Sabrina, and myself, and the company became mine.
How did your family inspire you?
My family inspired me in so many ways, both as a child and now as an adult. Our family culture was steeped in the arts—my mother an accomplished landscape and still life painter, my sister a talented designer with a commercial arts degree, and my father a skilled craftsman with a love of music and a ready laugh. Inspiration was everywhere. My parents taught kindness, tolerance, equality, and the importance of family. Humor was a big part of who we were as well. These are qualities I continue to hold above all else…many of the same qualities found in Pick Up Sticks Jewelry.
I hear that you have many interests. Can you tell us what you do outside of owning Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company?
At the age of five I discovered a love for dance. It still dominates my life today, leading me to both teach and perform when time permits. My early professional career path led to that of graphic artist, writer, and editor. It seems that both personally and professionally, the creative arts has called to me. It’s thrilling to be at the helm of this unique and inspiring company. I feel that the line has endless creative possibilities, and, best of all, it offers so many opportunities to touch the lives of others.
Has Florida always been where you call home?
I’m not a native Floridian but I might as well be, because I have lived here the vast majority of my life. At the age of seven, my parents packed up the family station wagon and moved me, my sister, our cocker spaniel, and two cats from snowy Pennsylvania to sunny Florida. Our two grandmothers followed soon after, so it quickly felt like home. Although I’m a Philly girl at heart, I happily traded my galoshes for flip-flops and am delighted to call Ft. Myers my home today.