Michelle Vidro Graphic Design

The Back Story

artisan jewelry, Dead & Company, Grateful Dead, handmade jewelry, Michelle Vidro Graphic Design, On The Bench, Tell Me A Story, turtle

Once upon a time in Brooklyn, New York…
… a baby was born.
I thought you might like to learn a few things about me. I was chatting with a new jeweler friend the other day and telling her the story about how I got “here”. I realized you may like to know these things, too.

  • As a young child, I learned to draw by sketching cartoons while watching TV. I had a thing for The Flintstones.
  • When I was around 7 years old I sent in the Draw Winky drawing from the TV Guide. They accepted me into their art school. My parents were shocked! No, I didn’t go.
  • Was VERY fortunate to go to a high school with a big art department. I practically lived there. That is where I learned metalsmithing, but I practically lived in the ceramics studio.
  • Attended my first Grateful Dead concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1974. #mindblown Maria Muldaur opened the show.
  • Went to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena to study graphic design and illustration.
  • Lived in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. Started and grew my art career on Madison Avenue; ad agencies, publishing companies, New York Times.
  • Moved to San Francisco (I’m a California girl at heart). I moved around a lot in my lifetime, actually. Lived on a kibbutz in Israel, Eugene Oregon, and Kauai, to name a few.
  • Learned Desktop Publishing (among the first) on a Mac and worked for MacWorld, PC World, and Publish magazines (IDG) in San Francisco.
  • Made a baby!
  • News Artist on the Marin Independent Journal in San Rafael, CA.
  • Rediscovered my passion for making jewelry in 2000. Took a few refresher courses and built out my home studio. Made a website, did retail and wholesale shows. Landed in museum gift shops and galleries.
  • Co-owned the Marin Jewelers Guild in San Rafael, CA for around 12 years.
  • Covid. Changed everything. Need I say more?
  • Currently I’m the webmaster and on the Board of Directors at the  Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco.
  • Still selling online at meeshka.net and various retail locations.
  • Now I continue learning, playing, and exploring the edges of my creativity. See below.
  • Constantly looking for joy.
  • Still dancing to Dead & Company.

Sterling silver and amethyst pendant. Coral reef.

Following my creative heart, these remind me of a coral reef. Sterling silver and Amethyst pendants in progress.

Etchings from drawings and an agate pendant

Experimenting with etching some of my drawings to turn into jewelry. Also a sterling silver  Agate pendant in the works.

 

Gift Cards Now Available Online

Gift Cards Available
You asked, we delivered. Any denomination available.