Karen McClintock didn't set out to become a jewelry designer. In fact, no one could be more surprised by her success than McClintock herself.

"I still can't believe this is happening," the 43-year-old Ottawa-based designer said repeatedly during the week we shared in Paris recently with Canadian fashion icon Linda Lundstrom.

"How did I get here? It's surreal," she said, her utter amazement -- and delight -- evident.

 

Things just seem to keep falling into place for McClintock, who has quickly become known as one of Canada's hottest up-and-coming jewelry designers.

It all started about two years ago -- as a bit of a fluke, actually. While getting ready for a garage sale, McClintock came across an old necklace, which she was convinced she could "improve".

"I knew nothing (about making jewelry)," she admitted.

So she headed over to the craft department at her local Wal-Mart and picked up what she thought she'd need to re-string a few necklaces for the garage sale.

They sold like hotcakes. And she was hooked.

At first, McClintock used stretchy string -- at the recommendation of a shopper in the department store's crafts section -- and beads.

"What did I know? I had no idea what I needed. This was all new to me," she said.

After a bit of kidding about the stretchy string, a friend with experience in the jewelry business steered McClintock in a more professional direction -- using wire and crimp beads.

McClintock started using sterling silver, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals and antique silver coins to create hand-crafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Her necklaces range in price from $200 to $400.

Impressed with McClintock's natural talent for combining colours and textures to create jewelry that makes a statement, her friend encouraged her to pursue her new "hobby".

The timing was perfect. A divorced mother of two, McClintock was now married to a Cambridge, Ont. businessman, also with two children. Their "complicated" living arrangement -- commuting between their two homes (hers in Ottawa and his in Cambridge), and their vacation home in Florida -- made it impossible for her to commit to a 9-to-5 job.

But she wanted to work.

"It was more for my self-esteem," said McClintock, who gave up a successful career running a consignment shop to raise their blended family.

So she decided to re-invent herself, and create a job that would work with her current circumstances.

"There was no intention to start a business," she said frankly.

But one thing just kept leading to another. And in no time at all, her creations were being showcased in six of the nine Holt Renfrew locations. (Her designs aren't in Holt Renfrew's Toronto Bloor Street location, Vancouver or Montreal -- yet.)

Marlene Shepherd, co-owner of an upscale ladies' clothing and accessories boutique in Ottawa, also carries McClintock's collection  www.shepherdsfashions.com  .

"She has a good sense of colour and a good sense of balance," Shepherd said in a telephone interview from Shepherd's Fashion and Accessories.

"She takes direction well and criticism well. She's not too proud or too snobbish to accept some ideas. That's a wonderful thing about her -- you can work with her, and give her suggestions," Shepherd said.

"Combine her creativity with my (30 years of) experience, and we are able to come up with something that we are both happy with."

Shepherd praised the new designer's versatility.

"Everybody has their status handbag -- the Prada or the Gucci. Her necklace is sort of along the same line -- the status necklace that you can wear for a couple of seasons," Shepherd said.

"It's the necklace of the season, and you wear it with lots of different things, depending on how you combine it. She even has some that have detachable pendants."

That sentiment was echoed by Kate Chartrand of Holt Renfrew. "Her work has the potential to evolve and stay fresh with every season, which is what will keep our customers coming back for more," she explained.

"Karen takes elements of bohemian trends and develops them into more tailored and sophisticated designs that really resonate with our clientele and offer them longevity," Chartrand said.

Not having any formal training in jewelry design seems to have worked in McClintock's favour.

"I absorb everything. I'm like a human sponge -- I suck up ideas and direction," the tenacious former competitive athlete said.

No one could ever accuse McClintock of lacking determination.

While in Paris recently, she got pointers on production from veteran fashion designer Linda Lundstrom, who introduced McClintock to Miles Socha, Paris bureau chief for Women's Wear Daily. When McClintock mentioned she was hoping to get her designs into the U.S. market, Socha arranged a meeting with his friend, Mindy Prugnaud, a fashion merchandising specialist for Saks.

"I'm excited," Prugnaud said as she viewed samples of McClintock's collection in the lounge of the Paris hotel where McClintock was staying. Conveniently, the hotel was located in the fashionable residential area where Prugnaud lives.

McClintock was asked to supply photos, within days, which Prugnaud said she would include in a booklet she'd put together to pitch the collection to Saks.

"How amazing is this," McClintock said, beaming after the meeting.

The incredibly rapid rise of her career still has McClintock pinching herself, wondering if this is really a dream.

"If it comes gradually, you work into it," she said. "When it comes fast, you keep questioning 'when is it going to stop?"

No time soon, if demand for her designs continue at the current rate.

When described as a successful Canadian jewelry designer, McClintock smiles.

"I still can't believe people actually call me that."

"I really have no idea where this is going to go, but I am enjoying the journey," she said.