Behind The Counter- March 2025

Welcome to Behind the Counter. Take a glimpse behind the scenes at Thistle & Bess to connect with people who inspire, hear the thoughtful stories behind the goods that I love and find out what is currently sparking joy in my life. This month is focused on something I am very passionate about- JEWELRY. Read about a supportive community for jewelers, a new jewelry designer coming to T&B soon and my favorite place to peruse antique jewels. 

Liz Kantner is a jewelry enthusiast and business consultant specializing in helping emerging indie jewelry artists define their voices and thrive in the modern market place. She not only offers private consulting services, but she also started the Stay Gold Collective, which is an online space for jewelers to connect and learn from others in the industry. Liz recently asked me speak to the Stay Gold Collective about how I choose jewelry artists to carry at T&B. Once I got over my imposter syndrome and the feeling that I wouldn't have anything of value to contribute (this still plagues me after over 10 years in business!!), I decided to share with the group. 

It was actually really beneficial for me to slow down and think about how I choose artists for T&B. It is a really personal process, as I usually just choose items to sell in the shop that I would personally want to buy, but I am also attracted to artists that have a clear, distinct and unique voice and point of view. They know who they are and are not trying to fit into the trends of the day. If you are a business owner looking for ways to better find your own voice and define your story, I recommend reading Story Driven: You don't need to compete when you know who you are by Bernadette Jiwa (warning- there is a section on Elon Musk and Tesla, yuck). It is so hard to make your voice stand out these days and this book was really inspiring. I would share my interview with Liz here, but it is only available to members of the Stay Gold Collective. 

If you are a jewelry enthusiast, I encourage you to follow Liz Kantner on IG. I have learned about so many amazing new designers from her, a couple of which I now sell at the shop (and some new designers coming to the shop soon)! She also has a podcast called Success With Jewelry where she interviews different people in the jewelry industry. If you are a jeweler, I highly recommend joining the Stay Gold Collective. There is something so comforting in finding a community of people going through similar things as you and I am so happy to have connected with Liz and the Stay Gold Collective. 

We are so excited to start carrying the work of Chicago-based jewelry designer Dallas Maynard at T&B. As a certified Gemologist, Dallas's work is a stunning collection of unique, hand crafted treasures. Inspired by nature and the romantic beauty of bygone eras, Dallas’s pieces lend a nod to traditional design elements while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of color, composition and balance. Gorgeous colored stones, unexpected settings and asymmetrical clusters are just a few of Dallas Maynard Jewelry’s signature design elements.I recently chatted with Dallas about what is currently inspiring her.

What does jewelry mean to you? 

Little mystical tokens or amulets. I have such a special connection when I’m working with people and translating their stories into these wearable objects. When you wear a piece of jewelry, it holds so much energy and really takes on your own personal meaning. Jewelry creates a link– whether that’s between you and the person that gave it to you, or you and yourself or the memory of a special event or person.

What led you to start making jewelry? 

When I was growing up, my family owned an antique store. And you know, diamonds are the oldest antique! So I’ve always been drawn to them. I loved art, and I started taking metalsmithing as a teen. The woman who taught that class was a GIA alumni and was one of three female gemologists in my hometown at the time. She became a close mentor who supported me through the years until I went to study at GIA myself in California. I loved it even more because it was perceived as this male-dominant industry, and that pushed me to want to pursue it even more. I saw these inspiring, powerful and artistic women in my family as entrepreneurs, and it wasn’t until I was older that I realized society doesn’t see it that way. I love proving all that wrong.

You are a certified gemologist. Do you have any personal favorite gemstones or favorite stones to work with in general? 

Sapphires, duh! Hands down. Oh my god, they are just so mystical. They come in an insanely wild spectrum of colors, and they are tough enough that you can wear them everyday.

Your one-of-a-kind pieces are so special. What is your favorite part about working with clients to create a OOAK piece?

The connection of working one-on-one with folks and learning their stories. The fact that folks trust me with their stories is such an honor. It can be such a vulnerable experience, whether they’re creating an engagement ring for someone they deeply love or bringing in an heirloom stone that holds meaning for their family. These objects are passed from generation to generation, and sharing that journey is immensely special.

What is currently inspiring you or bringing you joy? 

The awakening of spring! I always always go into nature, it’s my biggest inspiration. The earth is unveiling a whole new color palette, blossoming and bright green leaves of new growth and tulips coming up through the soil. The sky looks different, the sunset looks different– it’s a whole new season.

Dallas will be traveling to T&B from Chicago for an extra special jewelry Trunk Show on Saturday, April 12. She will be bringing her core collection, as well as some stunning one-of-a-kind pieces. We hope you join us to meet her and try on some of her gorgeous jewels in person. 

It is no secret that I am a history nerd and adore antique jewelry. Erica Weinercombines both of these things, by selling some incredible antique jewelry and giving us a history lesson at the same time. I love perusing her website and reading about the different treasures that she finds. She has recently started doing IG Live sales and they are so entertaining. She gives so much info about the unusual jewelry that she sells and it is wild to see how quickly people snatch the items up. Even if you are not in the market for a new piece of jewelry it is worth a watch. Erica's newsletters, Weiner World, are also one of my absolute faves. If you like antiques and quirky things you will love it. 

I recently couldn't resist myself and bought a pendant made from an English silver penny from the Elizabethan times, minted between 1584-1586. Despite its age, you can still distinctly make out the portrait of the Virgin Queen herself, Elizabeth I. It is insane to me that this tiny thing has survived all of these years and that I now wear it around my neck. Jewelry is such a beautiful, personal and enduring way to bring history to life.