It Is Too Hard To Say Goodbye

Dear Friends and Fans, 

I am announcing with a heavy heart that Jeanine Payer, Inc. as we know it will be closing on January 1st of 2014, which is the right decision at this time.

The poetry that surrounds us here has a magical effect.  We hear innumerable stories from you that are inspiring, trans-formative and moving; always so personal, as the work we create is to all of us.  I am and always will be uplifted by these stories, both happy and sad, and the fact that you chose to commemorate events, milestones and celebrations for yourselves and for your loved ones with just the right design and passage.  We recognize how meaningful this company and the jewelry we make are to so many of you.  It is very special to all of us as well and we will miss it terribly!

Love is where the art starts, and I am at a place in my life where, as a mother of a six year old, I want to put my heart and soul into raising my son.   I am not sure what the future will hold, and I am keeping the door open to possibilities regarding this work that I so love and to the poetry that inspires it. For the time, it is important for me to focus inward and on my family to create a space for future creative/artistic outlets.

As hard as it has been to write this, right now I am feeling a tremendous amount of gratitude for your loyalty and support and for all the incredible people who have worked here with me over these past 25 years.
 

With much love and my deepest thanks,

Jeanine Payer

300 Broadway Old School

Master printer, book maker and founder of Greentree Press, Jack Stauffacher is a American National Treasure.  Today he came in wearing a suite of camel linen,a  silk scarf and bowtie.  When I thanked him for wearing the fresh flower in his lapel he said, 'It really does make the difference.'  At 94 he is still thriving and working everyday in his space, full of ephemera, antique wood block lettering and his own type faces he designed in the 50's.  He is working with his team to archive his materials to eventually go to Berkeley. The day I  moved my studio into the building I poked into his space to introduce myself. He not only showed me around his space but he out of the blue gave me an original print from his show at MOMA and signed it, as a welcome to the building.  It is a treasure to me and I keep it up on my board where it serves as an inspiration. 

Currently I am working on a set of letters to be worn around the neck.  Lord knows there are tons of versions of letter necklaces but I am inspired by Jack's work and I am making them in the spirit of a time before digital fonts, a time when letters were hand drawn and hand cut.  I am looking to create a grain, a hand, imperfections not unlike the antique wood cut letters from antiquity.   The first few letters I have made are in the traditional and clean Gill Sans.  They are off to the caster and I cannot wait to get them back next week. 

Jeanine Payer Jewelry Studio From The Archives

Here are some shots of our studio that was in the historic jewelry mecca, The Phelan Building dating back from...who knows when. My studio and offices were there for 18 years.  We grew organically in that space- by just breaking through walls to add suites when we grew. It was a bit like a crazy rabbit warren at one point, but fun. Our new space is better organized, efficient and airy with big walls for artwork and a giant bookshelf.  I really love having people visit us here, but when I look back at these photos I feel nostalgic for the old days and for the people who worked there with us.

Mother's Day at Jeanine Payer with Abby and William

 










 

















Abby and William are little atoms that when joined together equal more than the sum of their parts.  I took them to be photographed by Sven in his Hayes Valley studio, and it was as if Thing One and Thing Two were let loose from their crate.  They felt instantly at home enough to jump on the couch and yell at the top of their lungs—they also ferret away Japanese yen sitting in a dish.  Soon they are on an adventure going from room to room, looking with wonder at tiny, unusual sculptures and figurines that were both mysterious and beautiful.  Abby’s mother and I are really happy to show them a glimpse into another world, a different aesthetic, which is all Sven, world traveler, accomplished photographer, and exceptional sock maker.  I love the part of his work that includes children. He captures that authentic child vibrancy, the moments betwixt and between-- they never look like they are in a ‘sitting’.  I have known Sven since we both lived together as warehouse mates in a very raw work/live space south of Market in the early 90’s. It is nice to have him take pictures of my son and his bestie, and have them become part of his work, and mine, it is a special connection all around.  When he meets the children he points to his Dogwood necklace and asks Will, ‘Do you know where this came from? Your momma's brain.'

I choose these two because of their relationship with not only each other but with us, their mommies—we are just off camera.  I want to capture an exuberance and love that they have for each other, their families and the generous dousing of joie de vivre that spills over, as everyone on our block can attest to.

The nosegay is from my own mom's garden which is a sweet touch.  One more thing.  A few days afterwards, William, finding a Mano necklace in a box that is to go to his school auction, decides to give it to Abby and after making this proclamation to his father, he scrambles over there and presents it to her.    Whether playing dueling harmonicas over the back fence or sending stomp rockets onto the neighborhood roofs, I just know these two will carry these sweet memories in their hearts forever

Adieu To Market Street

 In my desire to streamline and simplify my personal and professional energies I have made the difficult decision to close my little store on Market Street.  The last day it will be open is December 24th.  I thank everyone for supporting me and my business over the years by coming in and trusting us to help you find not only the right pieces , but also the right words.

 I also am especially thankful to the wonderful people who have helped me run the store over the years. As the world’s tiniest retail space in San Francisco, it is a little boat with a one man crew!  I know it was off the beaten path and not the easiest place to find, even in plain sight!  As those of you who have visited the store will attest, we don’t have room to have a proper party to bid adieu to the special little place we called our jewel box.   Again, thank you for your continued support for what we do.  Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives, as we continue to put our energies wholeheartedly into our wholesale business and website. 

Around the Studio

Our New Yearbook Shot

Picture Day at JPI!! Look at this good looking bunch!

In order of appearance from top:
Stephanie, Laura, Megan, Sonja
Bella, Izeta, Elvidina
Nina, Kazu, Ben

Goodbye Phelan Building

the view from our production window onto Market Street and the Four Seasons.

moving day...

We all were a little emotional.

It is easy to become attached to a space. I spent almost half my life working in this place.

Moving Sucks...And Rules!

Our new space in Jackson Square--the historic Barbary Coast area--was originally built to house an old printing press company. There is a lot of great energy in here and tons of light!

the guys are building walls, putting in the gas lines, sinks, vents, you name it. It has to be finished by this SUNDAY.

and all this has to be packed by Sunday as well!

We have accumulated so much JUNK over the almost two decades we have been in the Phelan Building. These huge orange tubs is where the junk is dumped and they are hauled away in multiples every other day!! yippee!

There's No Business Like Show Business

This is how our booth looked when we arrived... Mathew at Lost City Arts in the Bowery helped us pick just the right mid century furnishings. The flower petal tables were fantastic, along with the Kai Christiansen and Nelson credenzas. It felt like we were in a cozy library/salon.

After a day of organizing, merchandising and lifting poetry books we could take a breath. The gorgeous flowers from the Japanese artist, Katsuya Nishimori at Florisity were the finishing touch--it is hard to really see in this picture but notice the leaves are on the outside of the vase.

A good looking crew, despite the fact that I had my dress on backwards by accident for the first half of the day.

Inside the Javits Convention Center.

We had the good fortune to be right at the entrance of the show but the bad fortune to be across from the hulking Swarovski 'lounge.' Rap mashups do not create the best ambience for showing our wares. The good news: free bedazzling!

Our good friend and neighbor, jewelry designer Gerard Yosca, deciding what necklace to add to his collection.

After taking a break from trade shows for a few years it was wonderful to see our long time accounts in person again. Here is the mother and daughter team, Elaine and Shea, from Jambu in Marblehead. Elaine is a hoot and Shea is an opera singer in NY... who refused to sing in our booth.

Whitney and Robyn from Silverado in Saratoga Springs work with Kazu and Anton.

Doug from Silverado (wearing Chrome Hearts, what the heck?) and fellow jewelry designer and my long time show husband, Alexis Bittar. Alexis and I have standing lunch dates at the shows for over a century--that's in 'show years.'

Here we have the sexy MK, talented blogger and manager of Cursive, the amazing store on the ground floor in ABC Carpet and they also have an outpost in Grand Central. I am so proud to be featured in their ezquisitely curated stores. They have one of the biggest collections of our work in the country.

Goodbye New York! for now! We had a fantastic time!

JP

Behind the Scenes at The Trade Show

breakfast before the show in my room with Anton, Kazu.


my room in the in the West Village


the sitting room where I have had a few appointments in my day.

My secret place...is no longer a secret.

Kazu in front of our favorite magazine store in the village



breakfast before press appointments.

my trusty travel companion and wholesale manager, Kazu.


Anton just arrived the night before the show.


I got to stay with one of my best friends in Brooklyn for a few days and his art collection made me feel like I was staying in the Frick.

The view from his window...

We Had a Great Time

The owners of Twist started out as artists themselves before they opened their first store in Eugene in 1980. A weaver and a potter, they come from a place of nurturing and support of the artists represent. Not only world class retailers, Paul and Lauren are also tireless in their search for inspired, cool things. Kazu and I stayed in their beautiful home while doing a personal appearance in the store over the weekend (look for pictures of their home in the October issue of Architectural Digest) which was a treat in itself. Thank you Paul and Lauren and your impeccable team for having us for such a fun weekend.






The renowned retail architect, Richard Altuna, designed Twist in his dynamic and theatrical style. And in our own six degrees of separation, Richard was one of my first 'bosses' back in the day at the visionary concept store, Aerial, in SF in the late 80's, early 90's
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the main entrance of (the enormous) Twist

this little three year old girl has one of our bracelets on--so sweet.

'I choose all' is what this young woman carefully selected on her new necklace of a saint's hand.

perfection

more perfection....we had dinner at the super chic butcher shop, Olympic Provisions...