and a nice designer or trendy watch on the other, and your look has instantly been transformed. It truly drives me nuts when I see a woman in a nice outfit and she isn’t wearing any jewelry!”
So what advice does Lombardo offer to other women that find themselves struggling somewhere in their own lives? Well, she says it like this. “You can do anything that you put your mind to, but you have to be purposeful.” She warns. “If you do something just to do it without a deeper meaning or purpose behind it, then I don’t think it works the same.” She explains. “I created a business that doubles as therapy, and at the same time it created a little village around myself. When you do things from an organic place in your soul, things just seem to line up.”
Lombardo’s business is definitely like a little village. Her friends still help her manage her retail displays during the busy holiday bazaar season, and they still help her market her brand as well. Since each and every piece of her jewelry is handcrafted, things can get a little hectic at her workshop at times. When things get a little too crazy, she brings in her family and they all sit around a big work table and put things together like an assembly line. “It’s like Santa’s workshop during his Christmas rush!” She laughs. “They are all my little elves!” Even her 88 year old father gets into the act sometimes. “So one time during the holidays I was just swamped with several large orders.” She recalls. “When in through the door walks my little spirited Italian father (who just recently retired from cutting hair at the same barbershop for the last 54 years) with a jeweler’s headband magnifier on his head looking like a crazy scuba diver, and he plopped himself down at the table with the rest of the crew and started stringing beads. We were all laughing hysterically. But as the laughter died down, I found myself quietly glancing around the table at everyone as they were working so hard for me. It was nothing but love all around. I felt so blessed.”
As her jewelry line continues to expand and grow, Lombardo has made it her mission not to lose sight of the most important piece of her business puzzle… her customers. She has a very clear vision for what she wants her customers to feel and experience when they purchase one of her pieces. “I want them to feel Beautiful! I want them to feel protected!” She exclaims boldly. “I want my jewelry to surround them with good energy like a force field and make them smile and feel wonderful about themselves. How amazing it would be if my story could help inspire someone to follow a dream or passion that they have and turn it into their own business or something positive in their lives like I did with mine.”
Her closing advice to living a happy and fulfilling life… “Be a good person! Make a difference! Live, Laugh, and Love!” She enlightens. “It may sound quite cliché, but don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too short and hard enough to waste energy on things that really don’t matter. So… my friends… when life gives you lemons make lemonade! (or Limoncello depending on the situation!)” She grins and winks slyly. You know what Maria Lombardo, I think we will do just that! (Hiccup hiccup!)
To find Maria's jewelry collection go to:
riasbeadedblessigns.com
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