Bright, cheerful earrings and stunning, breathtaking necklaces are the gorgeous items by New York based company Calico Juno Designs that we could not resist carrying for you. Bonnie Riconda, the creative head and lead designer of Calico Juno Designs, became passionate about different forms of the arts, but she always feared that she wouldn’t be able to pursue what she loved because it wouldn’t be financially secure. Her chance came when she entered a bead store and was instantly inspired by the exciting colors to start dreaming up patters and start making her own jewelry. As soon as she dived in head first with the passion she felt for creating something chic and fresh, Calico Juno garnered quick lasting success and the rest is history. Calico Juno has been extremely successful. Her customers can’t get enough of the gorgeous chic earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry, and the fact that each pieces is handmade either by the artist or someone on her team with her intentions in mind has increased their value tenfold. Read more about how she got started and where she finds her inspiration in this exclusive interview.
Max and Chloe: Have you always wanted to design things?
Bonnie Riconda: I’ve been creating pieces since I was very young, and drawing has been my passion since I was 2 years old. But I’ve always been very creative, it’s just a God-given talent, I guess, and I always have to be creating something, no matter with what material.
M&C: How did you decide to become a jewelry designer?
Bonnie: It actually happened by accident. Even though a life-long friend has been a professional jewelry designer, it didn’t occur to me until I found a bead store while I was in grad school (for painting and sculpture) and fell in love with all the colors and shapes of the beads. I bought some cheap beads, wire, and tools, and started experimenting. It’s been a long trial-and-error process, as I didn’t learn any techniques from anyone else. I’ve been totally self-taught.
M&C: What is your favorite creation?
Bonnie: My newest line, Luxe Bijoux…all the hammered designs, that are very curvilinear and scrolly, and then wrapped with precious gemstones like blue topaz and pink sapphire. The colors are so brilliant. I love how the linear aspect of the design is intertwined with bright colors.
M&C: How would you describe your jewelry?
Bonnie: All totally handmade…that’s an integral, very important part…it has the look of the artist’s hands on the design. All of my designs are original, many are organic shapes and hammered, which I think gives it an old-world ancient feel. Also all the brightly colored stones, most of which dangle and shimmy, give movement and life to the design.
M&C: How did you get started?
Bonnie: Once I had what I felt were enough designs that I could do something with it, I created a website to showcase my designs. Then I started contacting magazine editors to try to get my designs in the magazines, which I feel is very important, and I went about contacting stores all over, to open up wholesale accounts – we sell both wholesale and retail. Early on, when I got a design on the jewelry pages of InStyle, everything exploded, and we became very busy, and I had to hire on help, not only to help make the jewelry (which is very, very difficult to find anyone to do this type of jewelry!) but also help with PR and website creation and maintenance.
M&C: Who do you admire?
Bonnie: There are many people I admire, some have nothing to do with jewelry. Those figures who have started, created, built major companies…I can appreciate the work and drive involved. And there are some specific jewelry designers that seem to be doing very well, not only creating their beautiful jewelry, but also in the whole business of creating a thriving and profitable business out of something creative, which is not an easy task. On that note, I have to also say I admire and respect the people who work with me; they keep things running smoothly and are an integral part of Calico Juno.
M&C: Have you ever expressed yourself through another path apart from jewelry design?
Bonnie: Of course! It’s always been through something creative, whether painting or drawing, fashion design, music, ceramics, etc…The list is endless.
M&C: Where did you grow up, where did you go to college, and what did you study?
Bonnie: In the small town of Hanover, PA, just outside of Gettysburg. Too small for me though…I needed to move out as soon as I could. I’ve actually been to 6 schools including grad school at C.W. Post of Long Island University, with a focus on painting and sculpture in abstract-expressionistic figurative study. I only went to school for my own personal interests. I wanted to be immersed in the whole creative atmosphere, not because I thought I could get a good job with an MFA!
M&C: Can you describe your favorite piece of jewelry from your childhood?
Bonnie: I loved the leather rat-tail cord material, which I knotted to make simple bracelets. I made and wore a whole stack of them, and wore them until they literally fell off, which took over a year. That was actually before Madonna wore all her rubber bracelets!
M&C: When did you realize that this dream was something you could pursue wholeheartedly?
Bonnie: From the very beginning when I started creating the jewelry and selling a few pieces online, I realized the potential for a good profit margin. This was something new to me, because as with anything else I ever did creatively, I felt like there really wasn’t potential to make a living at it. But, I would certainly still be making my jewelry even if I weren’t making a living at it, as I’m totally enamored of the whole process and could do it 24/7.
M&C: How did you prepare yourself for the business and marketing aspect of your company?
Bonnie: I didn’t really “prepare”…I just started making jewelry, and anything I sold, I put the profits back into the business. I started out using my credit cards to buy materials, never taking out any loans from anywhere…but once I got going, I paid them off and just used the profits to keep expanding. I mentioned the marketing aspect before when I got started, how I contacted magazine editors, then paid a PR firm to handle all of that. Even now, we are constantly doing research, finding new places to send information to and open up new accounts.
M&C: Where do you travel to?
Bonnie: Usually just to my backyard or the nearby beach.
M&C: What inspires you in everyday life?
Bonnie: Definitely colors…and the organic shapes found in nature.
M&C: What is the most important thing you have learned about who you are since you’ve started to pursue your dream of designing jewelry?
Bonnie: That I can (mostly) juggle 10 plates in the air…there’s always something going on that needs my attention, many different tasks and personalities that one has to deal with on a daily basis.
M&C: How would you describe your ideal jewelry?
Bonnie: Calico Juno Designs…sorry, but I make what I love to wear!
M&C: What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
Bonnie: That’s a tough one…I’m proud of my “Tree of Life” necklace, but to wear, something along the lines of my new line Luxe Bijoux, with the curvilinear shapes and bright precious gemstones…
M&C: What is your favorite trend?
Bonnie: I don’t do/follow trends.
M&C: What do you hope to accomplish as a jewelry designer?
Bonnie: Just to keep growing and expanding my repertoire of ideas…I have too many ideas and too little time!
Tags: Calico Juno | designer interview
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