Sunday Brunch Special: Debby Arem Designs

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your indie business.
Well, ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted “ to be an artist” and took art classes as a child at the Rhode Island School of Design. In college, I got my B.A. in Fine Arts (concentrating in silkscreen design) and then was very fortunate to have a number of jobs using my silkscreen knowledge. I worked in a couple of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums as an Exhibits Specialist and then as the matter and framer in the National Gallery of Art.

Becoming my “own boss” however, didn’t come about until several years later when I met my husband (a gemologist and author of several books on the subject ).Thanks to my husband, I was introduced to both the world of beads and oddly enough to the inner workings of computers( as he owned a computer company at the time ). One thing led to another and through a lot of networking and creative processes, I developed my two lines of jewelry – Beadles and Three Ring Circuits! Before the birth of the internet ( wow that makes me sound old !) I did trunk shows in a number of upscale department stores like Bloomingdales and Famous-Barr in Chicago, and also had booths at juried craft shows. I also sold my two lines in a number of museum shops and art galleries. And now, like then, I still love doing custom work if someone asks me. I get a lot of pleasure out of that – creating that one special piece for someone.

2. Where are you located?
I’m located in Laytonsville, Maryland – about 40 miles NW of Washington, D.C.

3. How did you come up with your business name?
Beadles just popped into my head one day and at the time it seemed clever and a name people would remember.
Of course, I wasn’t thinking about the fact that when I had BEADLES as my license plate, everyone was always assuming it meant I was a huge fan of the Beatles!
The name of my other line ( 3RC-Three Ring Circuits ) was a family collaboration and very appropriate at the time as I was busy juggling 2 businesses as well as being a wife and mother to two little kids as well as being ‘owned’ by a couple of dogs and several cats!

4. Where do you sell your products?
Currently I am mainly selling my two lines from my own website www.debbyarem.com.

5. Do you belong to any local and/or web groups or affiliations?
Yes – I have joined The Switchboards and the Jewelry Artists Index. I find these online forums most informative -a great way to exchange information and gain knowledge. Again, it’s hard to imagine not having the internet now isn’t it?!

6. Read any good books lately?
A book I recently read which really had an impact on my life was
If The Buddha Came To Dinner – How to Nourish Your Body to Awaken Your Spirit by Hale’Sofia Shatz with Shira Shaiman
“A guide to healthy eating through listening to the body identifies the spiritual qualities of food choices, providing inspirational advice, practical suggestions, tips on how to balance personal energy…”

I’ve always been a ‘health nut’ and this book only helped to confirm many of my beliefs and also open my eyes to a number of things I’d never thought about before having to do with what we put into our body and why. There’s a great section devoted to whether or not you are a “sweet” or “salty” kind of person when it comes to your food cravings which I thought was fascinating! Good book to recommend since we’re having a Sunday brunch in the Indie Diner don’t you think? ;-)

7. When you’re not making things, what do you do?
Wow – there are SO many other things I do ……I’m an avid knitter and gardener. I practice yoga on a regular basis, love to cook and try out new recipes. I love to go antiquing and to flea markets looking for pieces of old furniture to refinish.
My husband and I also volunteer with two dog rescue groups:
www.allbreed.org and www.samrescue.com.
I do vet checks if someone wants to adopt a dog and home visits and my husband does the photography for one of the websites.

8. What would be your dream job?
I think I’m very fortunate in that I have already found my dream job and I’m doing it! If I had to have another career however, it would probably be as an art therapist or a vet tech.

9.What’s your favorite color?
Purple but specifically what would be referred to as the shade of “eggplant”.

Ok, now these two are mandatory and I have to ask (this being a diner, after all)

1. What is your favorite meal?
Probably anything Italian !

2. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Definitely coffee – and a very strong cup of it! I’m very particular about this first thing in the morning – just ask my husband!