In 1996, SUZAN was established as a distinctive company whose mission goes beyond selling jewelry. Even at the outset of my business, I realized that in addition to designing and making jewelry as an individual artistic endeavor, it was more important to me to build a community-oriented company where people could grow and learn and where giving back was the mission at hand.

From that point forward, the broader view of my business and art has been to mentor and teach young women, who have suffered personal hardship either through abuse or neglect, and offer them the opportunity to experience restoration and real life business at the same time. Facing reality head on has helped me triumph over my past and I believe it is the only way to move beyond the debilitating effects of abuse. By integrating character developing goals with each process of the business, and by providing opportunity for people to experience their own God given gifts and make something beautiful using their hands, self-discovery happens and ownership can take place.

My dream is to grow this component of my business by collaborating with those who share a passion for mentoring and giving back to community. I see a larger-scale setting where this innovative and interactive program of life-skills mentoring takes place. It would includes highly organized “stations” of learning, and gathering places for discussion and creative expression. Documenting these experiences in writing and photography is a key component to this program. And I see this process published, sold, and donated to encourage those suffering the same life’s challenges. Developing creative expression in those who think they have lost themselves is one of my most heart-felt passions.

I am looking for people who are inspired by this idea of comprehensive mentoring and who have the skills and means to truly make this dream a reality.

In addition to mentoring, I want to help others directly impact the lives of young women with the sales of my jewelry. During the entire course of business, I have donated to many organizations and schools and I am pleased to announce that we have a new program for giving back.

Beginning with the launch of our website, $5 is donated, with every piece of jewelry sold, to select organizations helping children and women surviving the trauma of abuse and neglect.

SUZAN jewelry is created for, marketed to, and worn by women of all ages including young children. Each collection has a written story that accompanies it. I have chosen to share my life story with each piece of jewelry, hoping to inspire others. With our days so busy and rushed, I love that women tell me they stop and talk to other women they see wearing my Essentials; bracelets, earrings and necklaces and that wearers of my are complimented, stories are shared, people are connected, and lives are touched.

As a single mother of twins, and as sole supporter of the company, I have to wear many hats and still strive to live a balanced life. This is challenging in our current economy and requires creativity to look beyond traditional ways of marketing. In our in-studio gallery, Studio SUZAN, customers and their families can now come to create and actually participate in making heirloom jewelry pieces together as a family. Workshops and jewelry-making celebrations are also offered at the studio for birthdays, wedding showers, and field trips for organizations. Each of these offerings are part of the larger dream of connecting people and helping them express the meaning and love in their lives by creating jewelry that forever marks their personal story.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

It is fundamentally important to me that the tradition of handmade jewelry stays alive. Losing the ability to make beautiful timeless pieces of worn art would be tragic, leaving us with only the desperate reality of this world. Teaching craft is one of my passions and in honor of my father who taught me, I teach each artisan and apprentice the specific way to make each jewelry component beautifully organic, with high quality craftsmanship. We have been so blessed in finding exceptional crafts persons that are now part of the legacy of the company and the art of jewelry making.

SUZAN jewelry is crafted using traditional hand tools with no large machinery or casting. All findings, clasps, and ear wires are handmade as integral and thought out components of each jewelry piece, intentional in proportion and design. I start creating with the clasp in my mind and all the connecting parts of the design, and the design flows from there.

All steps of the production process are kept in the USA with a vision to keep our country alive with creativity and the viability of small business success.

Given our community-minded philosophy, the company’s internal structure is continually being fine-tuned to accommodate growth and to maintain this goal. Networking is integral to the company’s success and we have been blessed with detail-oriented employees who share the company’s broader vision and with those from our community who so sweetly volunteer their time and talents. I would like to acknowledge all who have supported me with their encouragement, accountability, and love. Studio SUZAN is a place where people gather and share and participate in personal growth.

My goal as an artist in my community includes both the responsibility to create beautiful jewelry and to lead a business dedicated to excellence and service. In addition to detailed attention to the design and production of each piece of jewelry, every aspect of the delivery process and customer service is also carefully planned with specific attention to systems, packaging and communication. Our customers rely on the consistency and inventiveness of SUZAN pieces and our personalized approach to customer care. Our wholesale accounts rely on our ability to reinvent collection after collection to satisfy the constant desire for something new. Stores and buyers rely on our easy to use line-sheets, invoices, and well-documented inventory.

“We are committed to protecting the vision that our jewelry is always new, always rich in detail, always personal and beautiful.”

If you would like to talk with me in more detail about mentoring, featuring SUZAN jewelry in your store, or about workshops in our studio, please contact me at suzan@studiosuzan.com. Thank you