Who Am I?

I know that title seems very existential, but it kind of is.  For the past 11 years I've designed for Bellissima By Moschitto Designs.  Many changes and struggles occurred for Bellissima in the past few years like so many companies, and when an offer on our building presented itself, we decided to sell.  Many of you who read this know that we were a third generation family business, that was originally created by my Grandfather, Augie Moschitto, a tough, fearless, extremely hardworking, generous but mostly creative man. 

Augie's daughter, my Mother, Lenore and I decided one day that we weren't done with our jewelry line, so with me as the designer and Lenore as the operator, we formed Lisa August Inc.  Lisa for me, August for Augie, and it's just a coincidence that we unveil ourselves in August.  Lenore and I  think we make a great pair, both loving the part of the business that we're responsible for respectively.

This brings me back to the question: Who Am I?

Right now, I feel like I'm Bellissima in limbo waiting to become Lisa August.  We are still here, in Jamaica Queens cleaning out the factory I sometimes feel I grew up in.  Spending school vacations here as a kid, working hot NY summers here as a grouchy teenager, a couple of summers as a broke college student, and finally as a more broke, scared and lost post-college photography major.  My current feelings are more bitter than sweet, throwing out old samples of mine (there are just too many to keep), coming across some scribblings, old press in magazines, elementary school projects my mother kept at work, etc...the factory is almost like a family member in itself, and it's so hard to say goodbye.

Becoming Lisa August is the next big chapter of my (and my Mother's) life, perhaps the most uncharted, most mysterious and definitely the biggest gamble I've taken.  I'm comforted in the knowledge that I've got 11 years experience of designing a jewelry line, Lenore has 30 years experience in operations, and we both have what feels like a lifetime of memories to see us through.

Next stop: Woodside!