What do chainmaille jewelry, art handling and fashion design have in common? They are thriving local creative businesses that have utilized the Women’s Business Development Center. Learn from Carmella Saraceno (Methods and Materials), Rebeca Mojica (Blue Buddha Boutique), and Chogie Fields (StalkDenim) as they discuss how they started and grew their creative businesses.

Bring your questions about your creative business and about mentor/mentee relationships. This event is produced by the Womens Business Development Center. Meg Herman, Director of Entrepreneurial Services at WBDC will facilitate the discussion and share services and upcoming events to help you sustain your arts for the long haul.

Place: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago
Date and Time: August 30, 6-7:30pm

More about the panelists & moderator:

Rebeca Mojica is an author, instructor, award-winning chainmaille jewelry artist and a Chicago Craft Mafia member. She is the founder of Blue Buddha Boutique, one of the world’s largest supplier of chainmaille components for artisans and hobbyists. Rebeca is the author of CHAINED (North Light Books, 2010), the top-rated instructional chainmaille jewelry book on Amazon.com. She is a contributing editor to Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine.

Carmella Saraceno is a sculptor and founder and president of Methods and Materials, Inc., a 20-year-old international fine art/artifact rigging and installation company. Saraceno is currently starting an new unrelated business—a corner store for a beach community.

Chogie Fields is the founder of StalkDenim, a Chicago-based fashion line specializing in one-of-a-kind jeans to fit the shapes of curvy women.

Meg Herman is Director of Entrepreneurial Services and a Professional Certified Coach who has coached, trained and outreached to emerging and established businesses for the past four years at WBDC. Prior to that she was a free spirited consultant to nonprofits, corporations and career changers for over 20+ years.