My littlest sister, who is oh so very fashion savvy, told me once as we were out shopping, "Jana, you have great style," (Yay! Approval!) "and you have a really good fashion sense," (Yay!) "but Jana, just because it sparkles, doesn't mean it's pretty."
And we have had to settle to agree to disagree.
Maybe it was my upbringing on the stage, but I love for anything to have a touch of sparkle, pzazz, romance, or whimsy. Being on stage gave me an opportunity to play with costumes, props, make-up, hair, accessories, sets...and I've taken all that experience into creating beautiful, memorable pieces in many different aesthetics.
I love making things for brides--!! Does it get more romantic, whimsical, beautiful, memorable, or sparkly that that? I love making unique statement pieces for the everyday, because I believe every day should be celebrated and have our stamp all over it. It's our day every day! It's my life every day!
A little bit about me: I have four sisters with whom I grew up playing "Princesses", "Fairies", and "Mermaids" (as you can see, my love of sparkle and romance began at an early age), a gorgeous Mother who lovingly let her children glitter up the house, and a wonderful Father who says he wouldn't trade his girly-girls for all the rambunctious, football playing boys in the world (not that anyone would want all the boys in the world...what a chore.)
My best friend Amanda is the owner of ArtisanMaskers on Etsy. We started making masks together in 2003 when we threw a fabulous Holiday Party: we invited all of our friends with fancy handmade (and glittered, of course) invitations, made them dress up and wear masquerade masks that we provided. Yes, and we danced to Phantom of the Opera's "Masquerade." It was epic. Wish you had been there. But our expensive crafting hobbies have, through Etsy, happily turned into hobbies that pay for themselves! Yes, I admit that when we make a sale, usually the next day we're at Hobby Lobby.
In my real life, I teach music/dance/theater to high school students, and they are my passion. High School students rock. They are amazing. It makes me so happy to see them choose to rise above their trials, and so inspiring to watch them grow into adults.
I'll sum up with one of my favorite quotes by the lovely Audrey Hepburn: “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.”
And above all, I believe that things that sparkle are beautiful; Especially people.
-Julianna (Jana) Young
