idesigns

All my life my name was spelled wrong and I found myself constantly saying “Ilene with an I.” There was never a keychain nor license plate with my name in the stores and I think it was then I would forever appreciate all things personalized.

When I was thirteen, I made pink & purple ribbon barrettes and sold them to a local children’s boutique. The owner wrote me a check for $30 and I thought I was rich! My father actually gave me the $30 later that day and framed the check. He wanted me to remember my very first business deal (how awesome are dads?). By sixteen, I was busy bedazzling every sweatshirt, t-shirt and sneaker I could get my hands on (it was the 80’s after all). Only back then it wasn’t called a Bedazzler and you could only buy rhinestones by making a trip to New York City. Everyone wanted me to make something for them and they were willing to pay.

I grew up in a very small suburb about 20 miles outside of New York City. I didn’t grow up longing to be in the bright lights or big city, although I did want to see the world beyond my small town limits. So it was no surprise that I chose to go to a college in the midwest and study abroad in Italy. I came back to the states begrudgingly and soon after graduated with a BFA. Like most creatives, I loved to do more than one medium—make jewelry, snap photos, and learn this new thing on the computer called graphic design. It was an exciting time to be in the world of design.

Celebrities like Sheryl Crow, Samantha Harris, Laura Dern, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Rosie O’Donnell, Jessica Seinfeld and Tori Spelling are just a few moms who love their idesign + co products.