Trash to Treasure

A while back I sent out a request on my Instagram for my followers to send me their old jewelry. There is nothing more I love than picking through old broken pieces, seeing them in a different way and then recreating them back to life. So I've decided to call this series - trash to treasure. Here is what I first received. Watch as I transform a small batch of useless items into 6 separate pieces, 3 necklaces, 2 earrings, and my very own first hand bracelet. All seaglass inspired of course.

Before:

After:

Time is very limited these days. When I first started Ability I had no idea how it was going to turn out or how much of my time I would be spending on it. All I new is that I loved what I was doing and my creations just felt right. Now I'm currently more busy than I was over the summer. Different things feel right that I want to explore and I have other obligations. But once I get going on I'm taken right back into my zone and time flies by. If only there was more hours in the week.

If you want me to transform your old broken items I'd love to show you what I can do. Email me abilitybyalyssa@gmail.com for my address.

More on my instagram - www.instagram.com/abilitybyalyssa

Xo,

Boulevard of Chic

Baltimore's first fashion truck rally, Boulevard of Chic (BOC) was a success! My excitement for BOC had been continuously rising since January when I found out I would be working behind the scenes for this event. On Saturday April 26th down in Federal Hill on Key Highway we celebrated the trend of mobile retail, entrepreneurship, and artists with a mission to bring everyone together to promote a "shop local" experience. Fashion trucks from the MD, DC, VA, PA and DE came together for an event and shopping experience first of its kind!

What's even more exciting is that Ability by Alyssa was showcased with the truck that I teamed up with Side Dish - Baltimore's first accessories only mobile jewelry boutique. I was working behind the counter but I was happy to see the success of how this this event turned out. After months of preparation it was rewarding to see the outcome. More BOC's to come!

Big thanks to my girl Victoria Laurey from Beleza Amor Magazine for coming our and showing support!! See more about BOC below.

www.facebook.com/blvdofchic
www.boulevardofchic.com

www.twitter.com/blvdofchic

Xo,

Misson of Ability

With the release of my Baltimore Times article, I wanted to explain the mission behind Ability.

During my junior year in college I was the developmental intern for Abilities Network, a non-profit organization that provides individualized services to children and adults with disabilities. I assisted the department by researching ways to promote their events to the community while obtaining in-kind donations from local companies.

Working with Abilities Network, and being surrounded by their logo "seeing abilities, not disabilities" implemented what I want to achieve. Being told I once had a learning disability made certain situations difficult in school, and continued into college. Having to put more time and effort into my work than other students never seemed to get any easier, however having this once disability granted me the ability to see my situation differently. By turning this negative into a positive I began to see myself as hardworking, determined, and motivated.

I started to see my ability for jewelry art evolve into something more. I realized that what I was doing at a young age when I was frustrated with school was something more than just stringing beads onto a string - I was taking apart old jewelry and learning ways to put my own creations back together. I didn't know it then, but I was learning my own way.

At a certain point near the end of college, I believe it was after one of my long all nighters, it all clicked. Now at 22 I have a college degree, a full time job at a marketing agency, and of course my jewelry. I can only hope people in similar situations who are told they have a disability will learn ways to figure out what that really means. It doesn't make you weak or any less than everyone else - it only makes you stronger. It requires strength, commitment, and determination to overcome obstacles that other people do not have - and that builds character within yourself.

And that 's my mission, helping people find their ability. By turning negatives into positives and turning old jewelry & neglected material into new creations.

The Baltimore Times Newspaper

Excited to say myself and my jewelry was featured in the Baltimore Times newspaper! I've never had a full page spread written about me or had any big mention in a newspaper at all, so I'm happy to see Ability moving in a positive direction. I've watched both my sisters been featured in the newspaper for either sports, academics, admiration reasons and this just another way I am following in their footsteps. 

Xo,

The Wedding Jewerly

When I received an exciting order for bridal jewelry, I new I was going to put a lot of effort into this project. Being apart of a wedding is an honor whether it's internally or externally. Helping the bride, Shira, create her own envision of "wedding jewelry" was a big exploration of creativity for me. With the bride's request, I was able to use this creativity and imagination I have and create pieces that only her and I were able to imagine. I can only hope the collection I made for her wedding lives up to what she had envisioned. Big thank you to my sister for passing my information along to the bride!

The collection is a mixture of natural material of seaglass, druzy, and fluorite, that I use in my work that the bride requested. The overall process took longer than expected, my workbench was my drawing board for over a week. She wanted each piece to be unique and different but overall tied together by being in the same collection. 

Xo,

Red Statement

I wanted to make a special piece for Valentine's Day so I gathered some red beaded material as well some chains and I went to creating. I decided on a high statement piece with a red lip to match. There's no limit as to what I'll strand together next, but for this piece I wanted to keep the piece simple, yet a special statement.

                              
                                                                       Xo,
                                                                 

Valentine's Day showing

When an opportunity arises - I'll always take it.

One of my good friends Dave, who actually helped push me to pursue jewelry, has been a huge positive supporter of Ability. I believe he has the same level of inspiration and motivation for his music as I carry for my jewelry - which is why I know we connect so well. 

Being the person he is,  I wasn't surprised when he told me about the recent connection he made at work. He’s the bartender for M&S Grill which is also where I used to work. He had the owners of Tami’s Table stop in for a drink one night and got to talking and somehow my information about my jewelry business was passed along. I connected with the owner and he invited me out for open mic night to set up and sell my jewelry to their customers.

I took the offer and set up Friday evening and had such an amazing time. There's no better feeling then standing behind your own business and allowing people to admire, try on, compliment and buy the work you've done. 

                                                                               Xo,