Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Novak.
Elizabeth, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started With Care as a reason to buy lots of deadstock jewelry findings, honestly. Prior to that, I was shifting around, trying to figure out an artistic practice post-college. I had made a few pieces of jewelry out of found-items and was invited to sell them at a local cafe/gallery.
The scarcity of the elements I was using encouraged me to learn more about jewelry production and how I could reproduce my favorite findings once the originals ran out. The more I’ve learned, the more curious I have become. History, tradition, and sentiment play a large role in my work. I never would have pegged myself for a jewelry. I really don’t care much about shiny baubles. However, there are so many deep, fascinating, and meaningful jewelry traditions to study and explore.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road is literally never smooth. Just start where you are, with whatever you have. You will inevitably grow.
There have been bad shows. There have been bad months but also bad years. There has been lot of silence, particularly when pitching to stores and clients. I feel like a phony-often. The best way to weather the hard times is to keep learning and growing. And to accept the hard things gracefully.
Having connections to other designers in the area (and also across the country. Thanks, social media!) Has given me a blessed support system of technical know-how, resource sharing, and-maybe most importantly- complaint swapping. No one can go it alone and a community-over-competition mindset is probably more important to me now than it was when I began.
We’d love to hear more about With Care Jewelry.
I am a deep romantic at my core. I specialize in beautiful, highly detailed jewelry that relies more on sentiment and history than flash and bling.
I am most proud of the handful of custom mourning and sentimental pieces that I have made this year. Each one has challenged me as an artisan while taking my relationships with my clients to places both tender and fulfilling.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think that the biggest barrier to female leadership is the need to present a flawless package, right out of the gate. Women definitely still need to give 150% to prove that they are competent, trustworthy, and able.
Contact Info:
- Address: 17 Sycamore St
Providence RI 02909 - Website: with-care.net
- Phone: 7326044582
- Email: elizabethnovak@gmail.com
- Instagram: @withcarejewelry
Image Credit:
Muffy Brandt, Emily R. Walter
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