Archive
The latest installment of our Baristanet Profile series, where we get to know the people in our neighborhood:
Name: Mary Marino-Slous
Where do you live? Montclair
When did you move there? Six years ago. From Brooklyn. I met a great guy. We got married. My first marriage! We tried living together in Brooklyn but the commute was tough. He’s an attorney in Montclair. I made the big sacrifice. It came with a garage, LOTS of closet space and a back yard. I miss a lot of things about Brooklyn but I LOVE a lot of things about Montclair.
Where did you grow up? West Virginia. When I first moved here lots of people didn’t even know it was a state. They would ask me if it was near Virginia Beach. Over the last 10 years it’s better known. It’s all mountains and coal mines. And Italians. Yes. Lots of them. My people! Love it. Miss it. I visit often BUT I’ve been destined to be a city girl since I was three. READ More
I just LOVE to be a busy girl. Why do a show if you’re just going to sit there, then pack up your jewels and take them home? Jewels should only sit still if they are in a museum. Otherwise they should be worn by people who love them.
At my holiday shows I decided to lower my prices significantly and see if I could double my sales. OOOH! It worked! I’ve been a very busy girl.
Last night was the first of my two Human Needs Food Pantry events and WOW! It was a jewel fest! So this morning I went into my web site and slashed all my prices the same way. Check it out!
After all what good are fabulous jewels if they don’t make their way out into the world.
P.S. I’ve been making the bodacious African Tribal Collar necklaces. Definitely not for the unbold. Anyway, I always take 3 or 4 to shows as window dressing and I usually sell at least one. Last night I sold two!
YES! They can.
This month I’m making that happen right there in my home town. I volunteer at The Human Needs Food Pantry of Montclair. Once a week our clients come in to get bags of fresh food to help feed their families. The pantry is funded by generous donations from individuals and businesses in the community.
In addition clients get a monthly pass to “shop” in our “boutique.” They get bags which they can fill with whatever items are available that they need in terms of clothing, personal care products, bedding and towels. Volunteers sort and organize a steady stream of donations that keep the “boutique” happening.
This year I put together a trunk show to benefit the HNFP. No matter how much comes in we never seem to have enough of some things like sheets, towels, and blankets. If you live in or near Montclair stop by on Dec 4. If you bring in new or clean gently used towels, sheets and bedding I’ll give you a $20 gift certificate to shop for jewels. There will also be lots of treats, wine, and interesting people.
Click here for the details.
A portion of my jewelry sales will go to the pantry as well. AND I designed the foodie charm bracelets pictured here to benefit HNFP? They are on sale on my web site now, and they will be available December 4 at the event.