Of the approximately 40 art and neighborhood food and music festivals produced in 2016 by Amy Amdur Productions, “Bling” just might be the jewel(ery) in the crown. The second annual Bling: The Jewelry & Gift Show takes place Nov. 18-20 at the Highland Park Country Club.
The indoor event will feature almost 50 artisans from 10 states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, Washington and Florida. It was created primarily as a showcase for jewelers, but it will also feature accessories, wearables and other gifts.
The show coincides with the beginning of the winter holiday gift-giving season, but buying jewelry, Amdur observed, is a splurge for all seasons, and boy, do we need it now. “People like buying jewelry in good economic times and bad,” Amdur observed. “I equate it to the lipstick phenomenon during World War II. People pinched their pennies, but every now and then, they would buy lipstick as a little bit of a splurge. Things are tense in the world and I see people wanting to do something special for themselves and jewelry is a one-size-fits-all pick-me-up.”
As with Amdur Productions’ art shows, “Bling” will bring together different types of jewelers working in a variety of mediums. Just as varied will be the pricing which is expected to range from $25 to pieces in the thousands.
Another one of the allures is the opportunity to interact with the artists, hear about their process, and learn their often inspiring entrepreneurial stories. For example, Deerfield resident Debra Coe, a returning artist from last year’s show, started designing jewelry in college as a way to earn extra money. “It was a hobby,” she said. “I started with pins and broaches and went on from there. I did not major in jewelry design, but I was successful selling (my pieces) to sororities and to my peers.”
Morton Grove resident Renata Mikota, another returning artist, used to design parts for airplanes, but it wasn’t until she was laid off seven years ago that her hobby designing unique pieces of jewelry really took off. “I started out designing jewelry for myself that I wore to work and I got lots of compliments,” she said. “When I lost my job, designing and making jewelry became my full-time job, and I love what I do.”
Amdur, for one, is looking forward to staging an indoor event. “We were fighting the elements this year,” she joked, “everything from intense heat to torrential rains.”
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This year’s “Bling” will feature a “Shop ‘Til You Drop” lounge area with a view of the country club’s golf course that will dispense libations for those who either want a break from shopping or a place to wait for their companions to finish shopping. There will be a large screen TV to watch the weekend’s sporting events.
Bling: The Jewelry & Gift Show
When: 4-8 p.m. Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 19-20
Where: Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave. West, Highland Park
Admission: Free
Information: www.amdurproductions.com