About Elise Marie DeSigns
Hi, I’m Elise!
Growing up on a small island, I spent most of my days at my parents' boatyard where I remember rummaging around and sourcing materials for my early creations. Whether it was rope, old electrical wires, or shells, I would always find ways to transform these into interesting jewelry. Little did I know that one day I would have my own woman owned and women run jewelry business!
My passion for working with my hands to design something new and creative continued throughout my teens and inspired me to complete a degree in Textiles, Merchandise & Design at the University of Rhode Island. After graduation, I moved to Portland, Maine and got started on my entrepreneurial journey. I worked multiple jobs while also hustling through hundreds of craft shows, fairs, and pop-up events with my hand-made jewelry and building partnerships with local shops along the way.
Then, in 2018 my hard work culminated in the opening of my own brick and mortar shop. Having this storefront allowed me to feature local artisans, and working with other female-owned businesses inspired and sparked my creativity while helping me cultivate a space of collaboration and support. In the store I was also able to interact with customers and design or redesign pieces on site for a truly personalized experience. I have since moved the business to a custom built studio space that has allowed me to fulfill orders while also creating a beautiful and calming environment for shopping experiences.
In 2024 I decided to venture into hosting and leading workshops both from my studio in Windham and from other venues with folks who share the same spirit of creativity, inspiration, and collaboration as I do. These classes have allowed me to not only share my own artistic passions and expertise, but also receive inspiration from the amazing students I have had the pleasure of working with. These workshops allow for people to come together and access their creativity and artistic abilities in a safe and supportive space free of judgement. If you are interested, please come join us in one of my upcoming workshops. No prior experience is necessary. We would love to see you there!
I have always loved the “design your own jewelry” approach so I try to preserve that experience and make it available online as well. On the website you can custom build the perfect piece for you (or your lucky gift recipient!).
Many customers have a specific outfit in mind when they are looking for jewelry; whether that’s a wedding, festival, work event, travel, or simply those jeans that they know fit them just right! I know that building jewelry “from scratch” can be overwhelming, so I am always here for guidance and inspiration. I also created my "stones guide" to help you get to know the stones I work with and choose the perfect one every time. Let’s create!
I hope you find what you’re looking for! If you want to learn more, feel free to drop me a note anytime at hello@elisemariedesigns.com or send me a message on instagram, facebook or tiktok.