 |
Shop Our Jewelry
Shop by Style
 |
| Site Est. 2005 Michelle Jesmain Cohoes I New York I 12047 518.708.2097 |
Home I What's New? I Catalog I Contact Us I The Designer I FAQ's |
I have been a salon owner and operator for 19 years now. As an
entrepeneur, I am always looking for new and exciting ideas, it's in my
nature. I have a long time client who comes into my salon wearing
gorgeous, unique jewelry. At every visit I would have to inspect every piece
she was wearing. Of course I would always say, "Where did you get that, I
love it." Many years passed and this would be our routine. Julie would
always say, "You should learn, you have the perfect setting, all the clients
you need, you would do well". My response would always be, "I should".
Although, it was always in the back of my mind, I never pursued it.
My husband and I had been married for 20 years. We moved the salon from
a commercial setting, gave up all employees, for a more private, personal
experience, to focus on starting a family. In 2004 after 13 years of marriage,
and after being on bed rest for 5 months, I gave birth naturally (but with
drugs) to miracle twin baby girls. They were a month premature but they
were strong and healthy. So healthy in fact we were home from the hospital
2 days later. Raising twins and running a business is a lot of work, but I
have a very supportive family and a lot of help. Their Nanny lives with us,
(my mom). She is extremely helpful and just makes my life a whole lot easier.
I don't know what I would do without her.
Now that I was spending more time at home with my girls, although very
busy, I still felt like I had a lot of free time on my hands. I didn't have to
concentrate on the Salon, mainly employees, if you have ever had
employees you'll understand. My business was stable and continually
growing despite an extended maternity leave. Thankfully, I have extremely
loyal clients. I had paid my dues with long hours and great sacrifice for
myself and my family. Now it was time to enjoy all that I have accomplished.
Seeing her once a month I was continually reminded of our conversation
about jewelry designing. She convinced me to at least look into it. I began
researching. I devoured anything and everything I could find about beading.
I surfed the web, bought books, talked to clients, and anyone else that I
thought might be interested. I tried it.....I was hooked. I enjoyed it so much
I wanted to share it with everyone. Because of all the positive and
enthusiastic feedback I received MiShelli Designs was born. (One of my other
clients came up with name.)
If you're like me, you don't like to have what everyone else does. In order to
find that special, unique piece, the easiest thing to do is create it. And create
I did. I don't claim to be an expert in Jewelry Designing due to the fact that I
am completely self taught, in fact I am the first to admit I have a lot to learn.
I can't always remember the names of the gemstones I use because I have
so many favorites. I only create designs that I will wear myself, that in itself
becomes a problem, because then I don't want to sell the items. I want to
keep them all for myself. But a girl can only have so much jewelry! (Did I
really say that?).........
After many months of beading, I felt comfortable enough to begin marketing
it. I started looking into building a website. The idea was for my regular
clients to be able to shop before they came in for their hair appointments. I
was getting prices anywhere from $2000. - $5000. I couldn't bring myself
to spend that much money on something I considered a hobby. "Why can't I
do it?", I thought. As if I didn't have anything else to do.... It took a full
year of trial and error. I refer to it as "Tripping through it every step of the
way", but I did it. It'll always be a work in progress, but so is life! Isn't it?
P.S. In 2007, we were blessed with an unexpected miracle. In September,
I gave birth to a healthy, bouncing baby boy. "How can someone be so
blessed?" I ask myself all the time...
entrepeneur, I am always looking for new and exciting ideas, it's in my
nature. I have a long time client who comes into my salon wearing
gorgeous, unique jewelry. At every visit I would have to inspect every piece
she was wearing. Of course I would always say, "Where did you get that, I
love it." Many years passed and this would be our routine. Julie would
always say, "You should learn, you have the perfect setting, all the clients
you need, you would do well". My response would always be, "I should".
Although, it was always in the back of my mind, I never pursued it.
My husband and I had been married for 20 years. We moved the salon from
a commercial setting, gave up all employees, for a more private, personal
experience, to focus on starting a family. In 2004 after 13 years of marriage,
and after being on bed rest for 5 months, I gave birth naturally (but with
drugs) to miracle twin baby girls. They were a month premature but they
were strong and healthy. So healthy in fact we were home from the hospital
2 days later. Raising twins and running a business is a lot of work, but I
have a very supportive family and a lot of help. Their Nanny lives with us,
(my mom). She is extremely helpful and just makes my life a whole lot easier.
I don't know what I would do without her.
Now that I was spending more time at home with my girls, although very
busy, I still felt like I had a lot of free time on my hands. I didn't have to
concentrate on the Salon, mainly employees, if you have ever had
employees you'll understand. My business was stable and continually
growing despite an extended maternity leave. Thankfully, I have extremely
loyal clients. I had paid my dues with long hours and great sacrifice for
myself and my family. Now it was time to enjoy all that I have accomplished.
Seeing her once a month I was continually reminded of our conversation
about jewelry designing. She convinced me to at least look into it. I began
researching. I devoured anything and everything I could find about beading.
I surfed the web, bought books, talked to clients, and anyone else that I
thought might be interested. I tried it.....I was hooked. I enjoyed it so much
I wanted to share it with everyone. Because of all the positive and
enthusiastic feedback I received MiShelli Designs was born. (One of my other
clients came up with name.)
If you're like me, you don't like to have what everyone else does. In order to
find that special, unique piece, the easiest thing to do is create it. And create
I did. I don't claim to be an expert in Jewelry Designing due to the fact that I
am completely self taught, in fact I am the first to admit I have a lot to learn.
I can't always remember the names of the gemstones I use because I have
so many favorites. I only create designs that I will wear myself, that in itself
becomes a problem, because then I don't want to sell the items. I want to
keep them all for myself. But a girl can only have so much jewelry! (Did I
really say that?).........
After many months of beading, I felt comfortable enough to begin marketing
it. I started looking into building a website. The idea was for my regular
clients to be able to shop before they came in for their hair appointments. I
was getting prices anywhere from $2000. - $5000. I couldn't bring myself
to spend that much money on something I considered a hobby. "Why can't I
do it?", I thought. As if I didn't have anything else to do.... It took a full
year of trial and error. I refer to it as "Tripping through it every step of the
way", but I did it. It'll always be a work in progress, but so is life! Isn't it?
P.S. In 2007, we were blessed with an unexpected miracle. In September,
I gave birth to a healthy, bouncing baby boy. "How can someone be so
blessed?" I ask myself all the time...
| Mom and Noah 2008 |
| 2009 |
| My Life Halloween 2008 |
| The Designer |