Meet Mary Abbott Hess and Bonnie Arkin of MaryMade Jewelry in North Side

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Abbott Hess and Bonnie Arkin.

Mary Abbott and Bonnie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At the time my late husband, Peter, passed away suddenly in 1998 he was Vice President of the McCormick Boys & Girls Club in Chicago’s Uptown community. As a teenager he received a scholarship from the club allowing him to attend the University of Illinois. He was the first in his family to attend college and ultimately became a successful attorney and mortgage banker. A fitting memorial was to create similar scholarships in his memory.

I was invited to join the McCormick Board of Managers. As a dietitian and nutrition educator my contribution was the creation of a food and nutrition program for the club. The focus was, and remains, teaching kids to cook as a life skill, to prepare healthful foods, exposure to the various cultures through food, and opportunities to taste and enjoy a wide variety of foods, many from the organic garden we created.

To support the special programs, I organized annual Evenings of Jazz as fundraisers for over a decade. The costs of such events rose so I endeavored to find a new way. About that time, I was taking jewelry making classes at the Chicago Botanic Garden from Bonnie Arkin, a renowned jewelry artisan. I created much more jewelry than I could ever wear or give as gifts to friends. The creative process inspired me, and my hobby became a passion. Marymadejewelry was born. It is great fun to make one-of-a-kind necklaces and bracelets and jewelry from broken jewelry, found objects, vintage buttons, beads, sterling spoons, tiny toys and more.

To keep this a wholly charitable venture, I purchase all the supplies, handcraft each one, then sell with 100% of the sales revenue donated to the Pedersen McCormick Club Peter A. Hess Scholarship Fund and the cooking and gardening program. Many pieces are sold on Etsy or at local art fairs, professional meetings or special events. Bonnie Arkin continues to guide and teach me. There are now special lines of necklaces with food, wine, garden, bird, animal, travel or kid themes. Many supporters have sent interesting trinkets buttons and supplies to further my creations. All are made with much love.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Both the food and scholarship programs have had challenges. The Boys & Girls Club of Chicago has very limited staff and funds and the food and garden programs push the club requirements. Fortunately, Les Dames d’ Escoffier Chicago chapter provided cooking and demonstration equipment for the Uptown club classes. (Les Dames is an organization of women executives in the food, wine and hospitality industries, and I am a member.) Now, there is enough equipment including convection ovens for classes of 25 children. Finding volunteers to teach the weekly 90 minute classes of 8-11 year-old members can be challenging. A dedicated group of friends, professional colleagues and Les Dames d’ Escoffier members volunteer but I am always looking for more good cooks as there is still often not enough instructors. I end up teaching classes, with the help of Patricia Dailey, rather regularly. Securing and orienting volunteers is an ongoing challenge, but a very rewarding experience once they come. Donations to support the cooking and gardening program pay for food and garden expenses.

As to funding the scholarships, I have found it very difficult to reach audiences to see and buy the marymadejewelry. There is a lot of competition for jewelry sales online and being a charitable venture, we cannot detract from donation for advertising or marketing. We need a larger customer base to reach our goals. We give four scholarships a year, far beyond the revenue generated by jewelry sales, and I make up the shortfall as a personal donation.

MaryMade Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Two things set us apart from others. First is uniqueness – each item is handcrafted with vintage elements to be fun, playful, and beautiful. Second, everyone who buys our jewelry knows that the money that they have spent is supporting the scholarship fund.

Hess scholars are academically talented young adults graduating high school who have distinguished themselves by community service and leadership. They use the scholarship funds to buy college textbooks, computers, supplies and equipment so that they can achieve their educational goals. I am immensely proud that in the 18 years there are now many scholarship recipients who have become teachers, nurses, psychologists, computer engineers, exercise physiologist, social workers, speech pathologist, dancers, and more. Several have earned doctoral degrees. Almost all remain committed to community service and are active volunteers for a variety of social justice causes.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe that I have been very fortunate in so many ways and grateful for the opportunity to help others achieve their goals. Sometimes it is through money, other times by educating children and teens to be healthier and more self-sufficient. I see success in the enthusiasm of the club members, their willingness to try new foods, to develop skills and enjoying eating and learning. The food and cooking program expands their horizons, especially with the focus on ethnic foods. The gardening program teaches them responsibility, care, biology, and pride in growing delicious healthful food. The Pedersen McCormick Club is an extraordinary place where children get support in a safe and loving atmosphere. At the club they have extraordinary science, art, computer, reading, swimming, sports, leadership, and other programs that encourage positive life values as well. Many of these kids have very challenging personal environments and the club helps them survive and thrive. I am honored to be part of this.

Pricing:

• Marymade Jewelry is generally priced from $25-$100. Proceeds from all sales are donated to charity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marymadejewelry.com
• Email: marymadejewelry@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lookgoodwhiledoinggood/
• Other: Direct donations to the Peter A. Hess Scholarship Fund of the Pedersen McCormick Boys and Girls Club, in any amount, are both encouraged and welcomed.

Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.