Meet Jane McCartney | Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jane McCartney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After having been in the women’s fashion business for 35 years as an evening wear designer, upon moving from Los Angeles to Delray Beach in 2016, I was looking for a creative outlet & started making jewelry as a hobby. A new friend hosted a jewelry party for me at her home, & after selling many pieces, I felt validated in my creativity & thought that this could develop into a business. I like selling direct to customers & have participated in many seasonal jewelry & holiday bazaars, plus I have a number of friends/customers who always come to me when they need gifts for family & friends (and self of course!). My business has grown steadily over the last 5 years, & I garner great fulfillment from the creative process.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was a fashion design major at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, & upon graduation, I created one of a kind fashions which I sold to private customers, small boutiques, & art galleries. I created custom evening wear & wedding dresses & often times used treasured textiles & trimmings bought by my customers in their world wide travels. I created a one of a kind patchwork coat for the iconic sculptress Louis Nevelson, plus many pieces for art gallery owners & artists in the Philadelphia area. I sold bridal wear & my one of a kind patchwork antique lace pieces (one which was bought by Cher) to the trendy boutique Henry Bendel in New York. After moving to Los Angeles, I worked as an evening wear designer for several different companies, did freelance fashion design, & owned my own business for 4 years. I was so fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to the fashion capitols in Europe to shop the stores & attend the large fabric shows in Paris & Germany. Designing jewelry was a natural transition from fashion, as I use similar design sensibilities in my jewelry design. I have incorporated elements & trims from my fashion design days into my jewelry designs-antique tassels, vintage dress buckles, vintage buttons & beads.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well we are so spoiled here in Delray Beach with beautiful beaches, unique small boutiques for shopping, fun & varied art galleries, trendy & delicious restaurants & bars, & great live music venues. There is so much to do right here in Delray Beach! I enjoy exploring the antique shops in West Palm Beach, the Norton Museum, & all the many cultural venues in Palm Beach. For a more fun & funky experience, I love going to Miami to the Wynwood Art District for a completely unique experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have many friends here in Delray Beach who helped me launch my business:

Denise Fox, a new friend made here in Delray Beach, held a jewelry party in her home to help launch my business.

Debra Somerville has photographed my portrait & shot the photos of my products for my website, along with hosting parties in both her home & gallery for me over the years.

Olga Adler, owner & designer at Olga Adler Interiors, has also helped to promote my business & brought me new customers.

And there are so many more ladies who have supported me over the years.

Website: www.janemccartneyjewelry.com

Instagram: @Jane_mccartneyjewelry

Facebook: @uniqueartisanjewelry