Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Drake

Hi Michelle , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

CREATIVE FORCES
Rich and Michelle Drake’s partnership is not new…They have been together for 40 years and have created some pretty cool stuff together over the years, including a beautiful family and a home filled with Rich’s woodworking and Michelle’s paintings. Rich, the craftsman, has always been creative, working in both wood and metals to produce furniture, cars, as well as renovations for the family and customers. Michelle, the artist, has been her own creative force, an artist at the core of her being. Her paintings hang in prominent homes and churches and public spaces throughout the east coast.

NEW LIFE FOR RECLAIMED MATERIALS

Over the years the couple had saved end cuts of exotic woods from projects. They committed to using every piece of the lovely wood; they just didn’t know what they would create. In November of 2022, Michelle took a basket weaving class and came home knowing what she wanted to do with the end cuts: she wanted to make jewelry. Working with local weavers, the couple perfected all of the componentry and launched their jewelry line in January 2023 using the basket weaving techniques combined with the beautiful wood components.

MADE BY HAND

Rich’s background as a craftsman and process engineer positioned the couple to manufacture the bulk of the jewelry componentry in the Stonington Designs woodshop in Connecticut. As Michelle’s creative handwoven jewelry designs became popular, the distribution for the jewelry shifted to online retail and wholesale. As the business grew, it became clear to Michelle she would need help with weaving.

WEAVING PROGRAM

The weaving program began with a lively dinner table discussion with the extended Drake Family. Their daughter-in-law, Donna, is married to their son, Michael, an Air Force pilot. It was Donna’s experience at a far away base that sparked the idea for the now robust Military Spouse Weaving Program at Stonington Designs.

The program offers military spouses free training, earning potential, and the opportunity for a flexible at-home work schedule. These families are often far from home and family support and are single handedly managing all of the household responsibilities while their spouse is deployed and serves our country. It offers an opportunity to learn a new skill while contributing to their family’s bottom line.

COMMITMENTS TO VALUES AND QUALITY

Stonington Designs is committed to creating and supporting product lines that are made in the USA and are aligned with supporting military families.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

As woodworkers the jewelry and the fashion industry is new to us. It has been interesting learning about the industry and figuring out where we fit with wooden jewelry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

As a husband/wife–craftsman/artist team each bring talents and perspectives to Stonington Designs product lines. Rich creates all of the wooden jewelry componentry so that SD touches and creates everything except the bamboo. Michelle is the designer and in charge of dreaming up the designs and weaving. Because we manufacture all the componentry we can customize collections for shops in a very quick turnaround,

As the business grew with wholesale opportunities presenting themselves Michelle needed help-this need launched the Military Spouse Weaving Program. This program gives the spouses of deployed servicepeople an opportunity to learn a new skill and earn some money while staying at home. As Air Force parents we are so proud that as the business grows we are able to help others who so selflessly sacrifice for our freedom.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?

We launched our business during the pandemic and after long careers in Corporate America we both feel like this move was the best thing we ever did. Not that it isn’t hard…with all the risk, it surely isn’t for the faint of heart. It just feels so good to have our hard work building something that our families can be involved in and that can help others. Having control over our mission and vision gives us tremendous satisfaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stoningtondesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoningtondesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoningtondesigns