Thank you for the hits and making my 6th grade year awesome through your music. Rest well in Heaven!
Passion. We are all born with it. That certain calling in life that drives us to invest our time, money and even effort in hopes of transforming our dreams into a reality that we could be happy with. For some, passion could solely be career oriented either by climbing the corporate ladder or creating that innovative product. For others passion could be a personal need to inspire others to become the best they could be no matter what the endeavor. It’s very rare to cross paths with someone who's set out to do both. On today's edition of M. Renee's Closet, I sat down with jewelry designer, artist and motivational speaker Erin Paige as she shared her life's recipe for doing what you love while living life to the fullest. Whether it was stress, lack of sleep or combination of both, my nerves were uncharacteristically at an all-time high when I arrived to meet Erin at her studio in Overland Park, KS. With blogging comes the constant pressure of perfection and getting it right the first time is always on the back of your mind. However, the moment Erin greeted me and I entered her studio, I immediately began to feel an overwhelming sense of calm and I was about to find out why. Out of all the collections I have seen from previous runway shows, none has stood out to me more than Erin's. I first saw her remarkable work a few seasons back at West 18th Street Fashion Show, and was truly amazed. So when I finally received an opportunity to formally meet her at this season's Kansas City Fashion Week as well as interview her, I was eager to learn more about her brand as well as her creative process. What really drew me to Erin's work was the strong energy of confidence, assurance, and positive vibes. An uplifting message that brings a sense of calm and good feeling to the wearer wherever they go. "I believe in infusing love, kindness and positive energy in everything that I do from my jewelry designs, artwork, speaking engagements and workshops. What inspires me are people and human interactions." It was at that moment I realized that Erin and I had a great deal in common as her journey of becoming a talented designer and artist was like that of a gift bestowed upon her at birth. As a child growing up, Erin's mother did silversmithing while her father was a mechanical engineer with an extensive design background. "I was born an artist and grew up around very interesting pieces.” While studying Graphic Design at the University of Kansas, Erin also took jewelry making courses. She received her BFA in Visual Communications from KU in 1995, but it wasn't until 2003 when Erin had an epiphany. An epiphany that involved jewelry making. "I was inspired to begin creating and selling beaded jewelry in 2003 after shopping around for a gift for a friend, thus the Erin Paige brand was born." Of course at first glance, one would believe there is some sort of complicated brainstorming process that goes into creating these impeccable designs, but not for Erin. So how does she know when she has created the ultimate piece? "For me knowing when I have a wonderful creation is mainly instinctual. Often times I leave the pieces at my workstation overnight then return to it the next day. I also try on everything that I make to get a better feel for it. Once that inner spirit steps in, and I begin to trust that I am in a good place with that design is when I know I finally have something." So what does the future hold for Erin and her brand? The possibilities are endless, and that's exactly how she wants it. "I'm now in the process of doing a designer collaboration in New York City which focuses on energized momentum. I am also creating multiple jewelry pieces to focus on inspiring others." At this point of the interview it was as if all of my nerves and stress never was. Listening to Erin share her story really made me evaluate my own career path. Sometimes in life we all come to a point where we have to wonder whether or not if we're at a place where we could honestly say that we are satisfied. A place in our lives where we are satisfied with our health, personal relationships as well as careers. It was at that moment where I received a very valuable life lesson from Erin. Erin was so kind enough to show me some of the various art pieces that she has which all reflect a sense of calm, love, spirituality and positive energy. "At 39, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. My mantra for 2016 is 'I surrender and I am ready' which will evolve around more growth, more confidence while continuing to embrace who I am as well as my purpose. Not everyday will be great. We all need to stumble to grow in life. However, to do that you must stop putting limitations on yourself and be you." As I was making my way back to my office, I felt like a new person. I truly believe in what Erin stated earlier about certain people we meet in life that turn out to be a blessing from God, and my meeting with Erin turned out to be just that. It's ironic you go to conduct an interview, and leave with a well fed soul. A few really big takeaways we can all live by if we want to live at all goes as follows: Eliminate Self-Limitations - They will only hinder your growth & happiness. Be You - Quite frankly anything else will leave you feeling empty. And finally... Surrender and Be Ready - I took this to simply mean letting go or "surrendering" whatever fears you may have, and being ready for the positive outcome to follow. After all, as Erin so eloquently put it, "You owe it to yourself." So whatever it is you are after in life, go get it! Photos Provided By Mekaile Renee' Turner M. Renee's Closet © 2016
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November 2017
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