After working alone in the studio for 5 years, I thought it might be nice to have some visitors. In May 2009 I converted half of my Manhattan-style second floor, walk-up studio into a boutique. I have monthly ads in The BUZZ (arts and entertainment magazine), a brochure with my neighbours called the Olde Charlottetown Artisan Group, and a sandwich board on the sidewalk. It is amazing to me how many people climb the stairs. I love visiting with these people and my life is much richer for the experience.

The studio is a riot of colour. My grandfather was Swedish, so my walls match the Swedish flag. The ceiling is the original tin from 1897. To avoid putting 12 holes in the tin for the lighting, we used a grid of “Central Va” pvc tubing to run the wiring through. I used colourful citronella candle buckets for light fixtures. My husband and I built the countertop from MDF and gave it a very curvaceous profile. My fine artist friend, Terry Dunton Stevenson likes to pop in for “the lovely UP-ness” of the studio.

So now I am very happy to call myself an artisan jewellery designer/businesswoman.