Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda D’Addario.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a professionally trained artist. After teaching middle school art and a stint owning a bakery and chocolate shop, I was home with my children trying to figure out what to do next with my life. I overheard two women at the beach talking about a company in Marblehead that made ornaments. I looked it up, make a phone call, and the rest, as they say, is history. I have been with Hestia for 31 years, involved in all aspects of the product creation over time. Linda Macdonald, the original owner and designer, created an environment where mothers with young children could work at home painting ornaments. I was hired to do exactly that, but was fortunate enough to grow with the company, training and supervising all home painters, working on Nativity/crèche production; sketching and sculpting ornaments. Currently, I am responsible for determining and sketching the design for customer approval; sculpting, molding the ornaments, as well as painting all prototypes. I also create the Nativity/crèche figures and Hestia’s annual Santa. Being so integral to the entire production process, it was with great hesitancy that I had to call Hestia a few years ago with the news that I had broken my arm! Fortunately, or should I say INSANELY, I was able to keep working!
Has it been a smooth road?
Despite ups and downs, I thrived on the energy of my co-workers back in the studio days. Since I now work off-site in my home studio, I sometimes find it lonely. But the challenge of each new design keeps me going. This year, I created our 5,000th new ornament design….and counting!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hestia Creations, – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Hestia Creations is a custom art company. All of our ornaments and miniatures are completely made by hand: hand-cast and then individually hand-painted. Hestia has customers that commission a new ornament every year, ordering as few as 75 pieces, or up to 1,000! Our hand-cast, hand-painted, hand-dressed Companions Nativity Collection has about 60 pieces, including figures, animals and accessories. It can be compared to the French santons since there are a variety of figures, besides the traditional Biblical figures, that could have been present at the birth of Christ.
Hestia has faced many changes and challenges, but fortunately, has persevered. The quality and detail of the ornament designs, and the fact that they are completely made by hand, making them truly ‘works of art’ sets them apart in the industry.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I grew up here and I like the fact that whether you want beach, mountains, lakes, museums, especially history, it is all within reach.
However, I do hate the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13 Hawkes Street
Marblehead, MA 01945 - Website: www.HestiaCreations.com
- Phone: 781-639-2727
- Email: sales@hestiacreations.com
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HestiaCreations/
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