Local Designer Series: Wendy Nelson of Calendar Girl

Wendy Nelson has an adoration of vintage and history, and it all started when she was a little girl. She received a special gift of vintage treasures from her great-grandmother and she has been smitten with the past since that moment.

Fast forward to 1990: Wendy, who at that point had an extensive interior design background, just had a baby and was looking for a way to keep busy while at home with the newborn. She looked to her past, started Calendar Girl and hasn’t looked back since.

Each of her pieces are created in-house using authentic vintage jewels and other components, and she doesn’t just stick to designing jewelry: unique picture frames, elegant jewelry boxes, interesting belt buckles and exquisite handbags are other components of her collection. Wendy can create custom pieces for anyone looking for their broken vintage jewelry or old family heirlooms to become new again.

DG3 had a chance to speak to Wendy about her designs, plus we wanted to get in her head a bit to see what it’s really like to design for Calendar Girl.

DG3: How do you describe Calendar Girl to people who don’t know about your brand?

Wendy Nelson: Calendar Girl jewelry designs are an eclectic mix of vintage jewelry and components inspired by the grandeur and elegance of the past recreated into wearable art with a modern flair. Each piece is handmade and designed in my studio – using vintage pieces makes each piece one of a kind. I try to remain true to the unique representation of the pieces that go into each design.

DG3: Can you set the scene for your typical workday for us?

WN: My days are never structured. I work when I feel relaxed and inspired, never rushed. I love to work early in the morning with a cup of Starbuck’s coffee or late in the evening with a glass of Cabernet. My favorite place to work (when I am able) is the lake. There’s something about the color of the water, the sky and the fresh air that inspires me. Off-season, my studio is a quiet retreat filled with vintage handbags, photos, favorite quotes and my own collection of vintage jewelry.

DG3: Who or what inspires you?

WN: I have an assortment of vintage and antique pieces I’ve collected over the years that inspire my work. One is an extremely old sterling silver handbag (circa 1900s) that belonged to a young lady on her way to see her fiancé who was killed in a train accident. Another is a collection of old lockets that contain the pictures of their previous owners’ loved ones. I don’t know how I became the trustee of these very special treasures, but I feel they came to me for a reason. I look at them for inspiration. It reminds me of how each piece I create is composed of someone specials history and were once loved and cherished by them. 

DG3: Where can people buy pieces of the Calendar Girl collection?

WN: You can find Calendar Girl at select local art shows, online at calendargirlvintage.com, at The Village Fine Art Gallery in the Village of Rochester Hills, or you can commission work by calling 248.719.1392.

DG3: What is your favorite article of clothing in your closet, where did you get it and why is it your favorite?

WN: My great-aunt’s fabulous 1940s raccoon coat. She showed it to me for the first time when I was 14 years old. I tried it on and I fell in love. Not only did I fall in love with the coat, I fell in love with the glamorous women, the lifestyle and the fashion. It’s when I became obsessed with everything old. I am honored to have it in my collection and will cherish it forever.

DG3: What is the best advice you have ever received?

WN: “You can’t be everything to everybody so stay true to your vision.”  Love it. Live by it.

DG3: What would people be surprised to know about you?

WN: I have a unique collection of chickens.

DG3: Cats or Dogs?

WN: Dogs. Boxers in particular.

DG3: Smoothies or Milkshakes?

WN: Smoothies

DG3: Chanel or Versace?

WN: Chanel.

Save It: This Weekend’s Discounts, Freebies and Savings

Your guide to local savings—happy shopping!

Closet NV, West Bloomfield Township: Enjoy 20% off select designer fashions, shoes and accessories now through October 18.

Capricious, Grosse Pointe: Sidewalk sale on October 3 through October 4. Up to 85% off select shoes, handbags and jewelry and enjoy savings on new fall merchandise.

Rear Ends, West Bloomfield Township: Enjoy 20% off one item now through October 18.

Carson’s, Clinton Township: It’s you last chance to save 25% to 40% storewide including new fall arrivals and for each item you bring to donate will earn you a 25% off coupon for regular and sale merchandise. Offer valid until October 4.

Guys N Gals, West Bloomfield Township: Receive 20% off one item for the month of October.

Moosejaw, Clinton Township: Enjoy 20% off one full-priced item from October 2 to October 12.

On The Fly, West Bloomfield Township: Now through October 18, 20% off all hair care products with your full price blow out.

On The Town: Dancing with the Survivors

The Pink Fund’s Dancing with the Survivors took place last night and it was a night DG3 won’t soon forget. Guests were encouraged to wear pink, and as we walked into Art Van, the crowd of people was peppered with the hue, tables were covered in fuchsia tablecloths and even the furniture displays had rosé accents.

The dancers were dressed in their beautiful dance costumes and walking about for everyone to see all of the hard work our local designers had put into them. Guests were imbibing and patiently waiting for the showcase to begin. People were already in their seats well before the show started, and as soon as it did, it seemed like no one could take their eyes off the dance floor.

Each performance was preceded by a touching but fun video of the breast cancer survivor’s journey through breast cancer along with preparing for their dance, and once they got on the floor, they really gave it their all. The professional dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio were flipping their partners around the floor and it was so fun to watch! Sabrina Mayhew was the last survivor to get on the dance floor, and once her performance was over, it turned into a flash mob of dancing. About 30 people participated, getting down with their bad selves – it was really a perfect ending to a perfect evening of fun, dancing and awareness.

And, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, don’t forget to schedule your mammogram appointments, ladies! 

Down to Business: Build Institute Launches the 8th Season of Open City Detroit

The 8th season of Open City Detroit, a monthly networking event for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, launches this month. The first event of the season kicks off at Cliff Bell’s on Monday, October 20, with collaboration as the topic of discussion.

Open City was started in 2007 by two female, small-business owners and in 2012, it was passed on to D:hive and now Build Institute, an organization formed out of D:hive’s Build class and other small business initiatives. The events are free and will take place at Cliff Bell’s on the third Monday of every month from October to April. A relevant business topic, panel discussion and casual networking will happen at every event.

The first event is presented in partnership with Assemble Detroit, an organization that convenes people around rebuilding Detroit, so it should be something to which we can all relate. Each event will be recorded in partnership with Canfield Creative Studio in order to bring these discussions to a wider audience so, if you are not able to attend the first event, watch the video and you’ll be sure to clear your calendar for the next one once you see what it’s all about.

Cliff Bell’s is located at 2030 Park Ave., in Detroit. For more information on Open City, visit www.buildinstitute.org.

Do It: This Weekend’s Fashion, Beauty and Style Events that Are Not To Be Missed

This weekend is chock-full of fun and fashionable things to do, so if you’re itching to hit the town, these events will keep you busy!

Dancing With The Survivors | Thursday, October 2

Join a fabulous evening of dancing, cocktails, a strolling dinner and raffle prizes to benefit The Pink Fund. DG3 has paired up local breast cancer survivors with local designers to create beautiful dance costumes that will fit their dance and health needs. Also, the survivors have been working with professional dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio to create a dance ensemble to wow the crowd. DJ Mike Anthony will be playing music all night. The event is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Art Van Furniture in Novi, and tickets are $100 and can be purchased at the door.

Art Van is located at 27775 Novi Rd., in Novi, and pink inspired attire is encouraged.

Nordstrom Beauty Trend Event and Beauty Trend Show | Friday, October 3 through Saturday, October 4

This weekend Nordstrom Partridge Creek is hosting its seasonal Beauty Trend Event and Beauty Trend Show. Join Nordstrom Beauty for one-on-one time with savvy beauty experts who will share the latest beauty tips and tricks while you are pampered with a free makeup or skincare consultation. Once you are beautified and relaxed, you will have access to free deluxe samples and exclusive gifts with purchase. Don’t miss out – admission is free for the Beauty Trend Event! Top industry insiders will be on location revealing fall’s best beauty trends during a runway show, and don’t forget to grab a free Nordstrom tote on your way out. The show will start promptly at 8 a.m., so you’re going to have to get going early but it will be worth it! Tickets for the Beauty Trend Show are $20 and for more information about these events or to purchase tickets to the show, call 586.203.4360.

Nordstrom Partridge Creek is located at 17310 Hall Road, in Clinton Township.

West Riverwalk Grand Opening | Saturday, October 4

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is going West and they are throwing a party for it! From 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, enjoy food trucks, live music, a beer garden and family activities. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will be putting on various nature programming, including a rock climbing wall and a free fishing clinic for children under 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. Music will be played throughout the event – the lineup includes Mariachi Juvenil Detroit, Obed Succari and Corktown Popes among a few others. Street parking is available on Jefferson and adjacent cross streets, and admission is free.

The location of the grand opening will take place at 1801 W. Jefferson at Rosa Parks in Detroit. For more information, visit www.detroitriverfront.org.

Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival | Saturday, October 4 through Sunday, October 5

Do you love rummaging through tons of vintage pieces to find the one thing you realized you couldn’t live without (until you saw it, of course)? Or does the thrill of the hunt and negotiation get you going at antique and vintage shows? Well, if that’s you, or you just like a good festival, the Michigan Antique & Collectibles Festival is the place to spend your weekend. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, shop shabby chic, industrial, primitive and unique treasures from the hundreds of antique and vintage dealers who will be onsite.

Admission is $6 and the festival is at the Springfield Oaks County Park at 12451 Andersonville Road, in Davisburg.

Ladies Night Out in Downtown Milford | Thursday, October 2

Hey ladies (around the Milford area)! Clear your calendar and grab your girlfriends and head to downtown Milford for giveaways, discounts, storewide sales, complimentary snacks and beverages at participating stores and eateries downtown. Plus, get your exclusive look at the area’s newest skincare boutique, Green Envy. Don’t forget to collect your stamps at the various businesses because 10 stamps on a postcard will be entered to win one of 40 gift cards. Attendees are encouraged to bring new women’s hygiene and beauty products to be donated to Community Sharing and donation boxes will be located along Main Street in downtown Milford.

On The Town: West Elm Opens in Birmingham

Launched in 2002 out of Brooklyn, NY, West Elm’s mission is to help customers express their personal style at home, and boy, did that come across when walking through the doors this morning. The store is beautiful and is set up with public living spaces in the front (living and dining rooms) and bed and bath towards the back. The furniture and home décor is like something out of your dreams and it seems like every item in the store can be styled with other items in the store even it they aren’t from the same section.

The color palette is mostly cool tones from greys to muted blues with pops of white, metallic and fur to warm up everything. One thing they do very well with their staging is mixing metals and metallics, which is a great home décor (and even fashion) trend, and will work especially well for holiday decorating. Overall, the brand is rather affordable, and the little home décor items scattered around the store would make for great gifts, holiday or otherwise.

One great thing about West Elm is that they have a service called “Home Stylist” that is free of charge. The stylist will help you with design ideas, recommend other great stores for certain furniture or décor items they don’t carry, and even come to your house (free of charge, again) to look at your space and set up a floor plan for you to use when decorating.

For those of you who love to shop local, you’re in luck! West Elm has a shop local section with products made by Michigan designers. Each product has a card next to the display, noting the designer and a little about them so you can be really familiar with whose item you are purchasing. If you are a home décor designer or gift maker, who would like to be considered to have your products sold at West Elm, you can speak directly to management at the store or email westelmlocal@wsgc.com. Some lucky local designers’ products may even make it to their website, for more selling opportunities!

The store is located at 211 W. Maple, in Birmingham, and the website is www.westelm.com. Happy decorating!

A Letter from DG3's President: Elle Magazine Phoned It in with Recent Detroit Fashion Shoot

The September issue of Elle magazine included a fashion shoot photographed around the city of Detroit, featuring model Carolyn Murphy (who also appeared in Shinola’s campaign and is now the company’s Women’s Design Director), under the guise of our shifting economic landscape, and our endeavor to make a comeback.  I say guise because, while the intro paragraph of the fashion editorial certainly made it sound like the Elle folks saw the incredible changes happening in the city, specifically in the downtown and Midtown areas, the photos tell a completely different story.

The 11 pages of photos had two obvious focuses: the dilapidated Michigan Central Station – the once glorious and now common ruin-porn image used in negative press about Detroit – which was shown not once, but twice, and tons and tons of graffiti. Does the graffiti make for interesting backgrounds? No doubt. If the location theme was cool graffiti, the bulk of the editorial would have been a success. But that wasn’t the theme.

The majority of the images, with the exception of the obvious Michigan Central Station, show absolutely no sense of place. We only know where they are when they bother to note it in the credits on the page. And within the graffiti-backdrop images, we see cracked cement, overgrown grass, stickered-over traffic signs, empty streets, rusted-out light posts and colorless skies. Save for the presence of young people clad in black riding by on Shinola bikes – a too-easy prop placement – the city looks empty. Dead.

As long as Elle was bringing its crew to the city, would it have been too difficult to put together an inventory list of the many exciting, vibrant backdrops that tell the positive story of Detroit’s comeback? (Once again, that WAS the theme.) The beauty of Belle Isle. The jaw-dropping magnificence of the Guardian Building. The installation of the M1 Rail. The hustle and bustle of Midtown. The glory of the DIA. The excitement of Comerica Park. The colorfulness (and yumminess) of Mexican Town. The hip, cool vibe of Corktown. I could go on and on and on.

Elle, you sold us short. Does Detroit still have issues? Yep. Tons. But we can’t discount what is happening. How it’s changing. Sure, it’s going to take time for more and more of the city to experience what is happening in downtown and the surrounding areas. But we’re making progress. And that’s what this fashion shoot was supposed to be about.