Some would say that the stars have aligned for a certain Old Town resident, jewelry designer Melissa Emerick. Self-employed, Emerick is the mastermind behind Bella Designs, a custom jewelry business that began in 2002. The business is thriving through trunk shows, select store presence and strong online support.

Knowing that my jewelry makes people happy is enough, said Emerick, whose designs are sold at the fashionable women's boutique Periwinkle of Old Town. Bella Designs features a variety of styles for the everyday woman, said Emerick, whose jewelry ranges from $10-$200. Periwinkle owner Elizabeth Mason added, Customers comment everyday on the uniqueness of Bella Designs and how it is like nothing they have seen.

My pieces include semi-precious stones, crystals, vintage beads and Italian glass. Each piece is original. I would describe my style as classic and sophisticated with a feminine twist, explained Emerick. Re-working vintage jewelry or heirlooms is also very rewarding to Emerick.

The vision
I hope that my jewelry brings a special spark of life or color to someone's life, said Emerick, and indeed bringing beauty to others influenced the choice of business names. I began most of my early pieces with Italian Murano glass and thought that [Bella Designs] was appropriate since bella means beautiful in Italian.

Old Town resident and Bella Designs client Torra Yianilos said, Every time I wear a piece of Bella Designs - which is virtually every day - people stop me to comment on the beauty of the jewelry.

And Emerick's mission to spread some beauty has been well-received. I just recently was commissioned to create a piece for Lynne Cheney, and I have designed the jewelry for women who have attended galas at the White House, she said. In 2004, Emerick was commissioned to design a Murano glass earring for the Azalea Ball; she made 300 pair, one for each attendant. This year, Bella Designs jewelry adorned the Azalea Queen.

Keeping up with the latest trends and styles is a constant job, Emerick said. She relies on the latest style magazines, and weekly fashion up-date emails from all the top boutiques and department stores to stay on top of style trends and color. Color definitely influences my designs, Emerick emphasized.

Emerick's gems and beads come from a variety of shows, online shops and distributors; but for her signature Murano glass shapes, she leans on a Floridian supplier who buys directly from the Isle of Murano, Italy.

A Bella design meets the customer through any of three venues: retail; private home shows; and art shows/bazaars. Emerick said that home trunk shows usually attract between 15 and 50 people, depending on the location and the time of year.

There's a palpable sense of gratitude in Emerick's business ethic. One of my most exciting trunk shows was one hosted by a good friend in Rowlands Castle, UK. I traveled there to help support a fundraiser for the UK Breast Cancer society and we gave proceeds from the jewelry show back to the cause, said Emerick. The amount raised was roughly $8,000.

I have also participated in fundraisers for other organizations such as the National MS Society, the National Leukemia Foundation, and the National Hospice Foundation. Emerick is very active in the Junior Friends of The Campagna Center.

A creative soul
I have always been a creative soul, Emerick said, and clearly she was born into a creative home. Emerick describes her mother, a small business owner specializing in custom curtains, as a Martha-type: very creative; industrious; full of energy; and hard working. Emerick said that everything she knows about running a business came from her mother. Emerick's father, whose hobby is woodwork, taught Emerick another kind of creating. He and I spent many hours in his woodshop working on school projects together, said Emerick.

Today, Emerick continues finding strength in the home: Tom [husband] is incredibly supportive of me owning my own business.

Emerick's relaxed nature, polished presence, and warm southern drawl all serve to hide the fact that the she works long days. By 9 a.m., Emerick has taken Tom, a US Coast Guard attorney to his D.C. office, worked out at the gym, walked their black lab Dewey, and is in her home-based studio working on filling orders. Those who know her will testify that Emerick usually has a Starbucks venti at hand. I don't work well unless I'm buzzed with caffeine! Emerick said.

Life was not always this way. While preparing for law school, Emerick, a paralegal, began designing jewelry and one thing led to another and soon she was taking orders from coworkers. She juggled her law firm job with jewelry designing for two years before leaping into the business with both feet.