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Jewelry business is a gem for Glenview mom
Sabrina Briggs gets most of her business as a vendor at jewelry shows for charity. Jackie Pilossoph~for Sun-Times Media
Sabrina Briggs Design
Glenview
(847) 877-7863
Hours: by appointment
Article Extras
Updated: January 14, 2013 6:33AM
GLENVIEW — Sabrina Briggs started making jewelry eight years ago. The Glenview mother of two bought some stones and began creating necklaces, earrings and bracelets. It was a hobby for Briggs, a source of enjoyment, and she would give her pieces to her friends as gifts. But Briggs said it didn’t take long before her hobby turned into her business, Sabrina Briggs Design.
“People started seeing the jewelry on other people,” said Briggs, who came to the states from Iraq with her family in 1980, and who has lived in Glenview with her husband and children for more than 15 years. “I started getting calls from women asking me where they could buy it.”
“Sabrina’s jewelry is original and sophisticated,” said Karen Hitzeman of Glenview, who bought 15 pieces for Christmas gifts this year, “It’s unique, it’s understated, it’s just so pretty.”
Briggs uses gems, crystals, fresh water pearls, sterling silver, and gold filled chains to create her designs, and said she goes to different shows around the city to find the best quality materials and the prettiest stones. As far as labor, she said it takes anywhere from an hour to half her day to make one piece of jewelry.
“I love going to the shows because I enjoy looking at and feeling all the stones,” she said, “Quality is very important to me.”
Bari Fradin is a frequent customer who heard about Briggs from some friends. She owns about five pieces of the jewelry.
“She has a knack for finding unique stones and beads you don’t see everywhere else, and the pieces are different than something you’d find at a store.”
Briggs doesn’t have a store or a website. Most of her sales come from charity vendor shows in which she participates, including the Friends of Youth Services Girlfriend’s Breakfast, The Holly Fair, Willow House Holiday Bazaar, and shows in people’s homes.
“I’ve been doing several events per year for six years,” she said, “It makes me feel good to donate my time and money to such good causes.”
Briggs said she has met most of her regular customers at those shows.
“I’ve seen her at events,” said Sue Swaringen of Glenview, “Her jewelry changes all the time, and she’s really good at knowing and anticipating trends and then designing this beautiful work that is completely fashionable.”
Aside from participating at events, Briggs works by appointment at her home.
“People will call me and say, ‘I have a wedding or a Bar Mitzvah, can you make me something to go with my dress?’” Briggs said.
“I have this one piece I love so much,” said Swaringen, “It’s this giant red stone with some brown smaller crystal stones around it.”
Jewelry from Sabrina Briggs Design ranges from $22-$120, prices Briggs said would be three times as high in a department store.
“I’ve never paid more than $70 for a piece of her jewelry,” said Fradin, “And for what you’re getting, a handmade piece that’s one-of-a-kind, it’s really a great deal.”
“I think it’s underpriced by half,” said Swaringen.
“The best part about my business is when I run into people and they’re wearing my stuff,” said Briggs, “I just love that.”
Sabrina Briggs Design
Glenview
(847) 877-7863
Hours: by appointment
