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| SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30 | SUNDAY OCTOBER 1 2017
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
NEWS
Broken china becomes heirloom jewelry at Vintage Bliss
CAMP Continued from PG 1 $475,000 to benefit the camp. Many of the board members rely on skills developed in the corporate world to plan the event. “It’s a great network of women,” said Tina Barr of Winnetka, another of the Gala’s co-chairs. The year 1936 marks the founding of the North Shore Board to exclusively support House in the Wood. While initially the board raised money by selling members’ own handiwork, over time the fundraisers became more sophisticated. Eventually North Shore Board’s main fundraiser became a large event held at the Four Seasons known as the Glitter Ball. The name was changed to House in the Wood Gala to connect the event to the camp. This year, for the first time, House in the Wood Gala will be held at Morgan Manufacturing. “Like the camp, the event always evolves and stays on trend for our guests,” Kastory noted. Morgan Manufacturing is “industrial chic,” with rustic wood tables that play up the gala’s camp theme. The farm-to-table menu will include Wisconsin cheeses and local produce. Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts band — son of Rick Nielsen of the popular 1980s’ band Cheap Trick —will entertain guests with music influenced by rock ’n’ roll and 1960s’ soul. “It should be a fun band for the venue,” said Gala co-chair Melissa Corley of Winnetka. The black-tie optional event will include a silent and live auction, as well as a fund-a-need program that will allow supporters to sponsor a camper. For the second time, the board is offering packages with an all-inclusive weekend at the camp
BY JULIE KEMP PICK DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM
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The women behind the North Shore Board of the Northwestern Settlement’s House in the Wood Gala, from left: Co-chairs Vicki Kastory of Northbrook and Melissa Corley of Winnetka; Board President Amy O’Donnell of Winnetka, and (seated) Tina Barr of Winnetka, also a co-chair. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
for up to 50 guests. The beautiful setting on a lake with cabins, outdoor activities and a new nature center makes House in the Wood ideal for family reunions or corporate getaways. In addition to organizing the House in the Wood Gala, board members also visit the camp and lead activities throughout the year. One board member taught an art class, another board member who is a caterer held a cooking class,
while other members held pilates and yoga classes. “There are so many women (on the board) with gifts and talents that they share,” Kastory said.
House in The Wood Gala will be held on October 21 at 6 p.m. at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 North Morgan Street, Chicago. Open to the public, online reservations and an auction preview are available at www.northshoreboard.org.
gust of wind pushed jewelry designer Nancy Gissendaner’s career in a new direction. A few years ago, Gissendaner was working at an antique show next to two sisters who had a large collection of highend vintage china. As the ladies were packing up for the day, wind knocked the plates to the ground. The women were upset, especially because the china belonged to their mother. They noticed that Gissendaner was selling jewelry made f rom vintage keys and vintage silverware, so they asked her to Owner and designer Nancy Gissendaner at her store, Vintage Bliss & take the broken china in the Co., in Highland Park. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER hope that she would create cubic zirconia, and dragon’s ers ranging from teenagers to something out of it. The broken china sat in the eye. Gissendaner said she finds women in their 70s.” Vintage Bliss also offers a box for a year before Gissen- a lot of the material at trade chic collection of women’s daner decided to “fiddle shows. “The charms slide right on sweaters, jackets and sportsaround with it.” The result was an expanded line of vintage and people can tell their own wear. Gissendaner originally jewelry that now included stories,” said Gissendaner. pendants and brooches made “One customer said her sister’s planned on carrying a smaller f rom china as well as other a gardener who also likes clothing selection, but the vintage material. When she music, and we found the summer items are almost soldbrought her designs to the perfect charms for her. We out so she stocked up on fall antique fair a month later, the have everything from rustic to clothing. glam.” Gissendaner also owns items immediately sold out. She added that many of the Queen Bee Artisan Market in “Everyone loved the recycled concept, and I made brooches necklaces can be adjusted to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and for the ladies” who had lost the different sizes. All of the has a wholesale line that sells china to the wind, she said. “It charms and bracelets cost to over 60 stores in the began with the silverware, then $5. Some of the plain chains Midwest. She lives with her family in the dishes, and now it’s chan- are $10 and the vintage charm deliers, keys, buttons, what- holders are between $10 and Gurnee, which is halfway between the two stores. She ever I can get my hands on.” $20. Vintage Bliss also carries can often be found tinkering And recently, she opened a new store in Highland Park trendy, casual clothing that in her studio in the back of called Vintage Bliss & Co., to travels well. Gissendaner de- Vintage Bliss & Co. Gissendaner never realized sell her eclectic mix of vintage scribed a popular multi-funcjewelry designs as well as tional skirt by Zand Amster- that her love for Alice in Wonclothing. The store opened at dam that has been “selling like derland would help launch her career. “When I was 12, I had 1822 Second Street in July and hotcakes.” Each item is two skirts in a collection of old china cups had a grand opening in early one, because you snap it where that I bought at yard sales,” she September. Gissendaner came to High- it fits you. There’s also a recalled. Now she can turn almost land Park because several of feature where you can take the her customers are f rom the belt off with the purse and use any china cup, chandelier piece North Shore and she loves the it as a separate fanny pack. The or family treasure into a oneskirts are available in several of-a-kind pendant, and thankarea. She designs 90 percent of colors and patterns and feature fully like Alice in Wonderland, the merchandise, which fea- three different lengths from Gissendaner continues to grow “curiouser and curiouser.” tures a unique selection of mini to below the knee. Gissendaner added, “Each necklaces, earrings and a deskirt is one-of-a-kind and Vintage Bliss & Co. is located sign-your-own charm bar. The chandelier pieces in all you’ll never see the same one at 1822 Second Street, Highland shapes are the most popular. twice. We’ve sold 65 to 70 Park. For more information call Stones include labradorite, skirts in six weeks to custom- 847/926-7091.