Getting to Know Stacee Gillelen, Owner and Founder of dragonfly designs

Dragonfly designs began in the Bay Area, and in the summer of 2010, the company expanded far south to San Diego, yet another richly creative and artistic region of California.  How, we wondered, did Stacee get started in the first place, and how did she choose this area for this brave and exciting expansion? 

Q: What inspired you to establish a company like dragonfly designs?

A: My passion for beading began one day while I was 'making jewelry' with my three young daughters. I discovered how to attach a clasp, and a love affair was sparked! I started taking classes at local beading stores and couldn't stop practicing my new-found skills. Soon, I was dreaming about beads and patterns that I would make into jewelry. With beads, I found yet another artful way to express the beauty I found in nature and in my imagination. In February of 2005, I launched Dragonfly Designs.

Stacee and her three daughters

 Q: “Jewelry with a conscience”; what a wonderful notion.  Tell us more!
A: I feel immense gratitude for the abundance in my life and for the opportunities I have been given. I also feel a personal responsibility as a global citizen to give something back to the community, which is why I am choosing to donate a portion of each sale of Dragonfly Designs jewelry to an organization that works to improve the human condition (especially for women and children), promote equality, and protect the environment.

Q: Of all the areas in California to expand your company to, how did you choose San Diego?

A: I had been thinking about expanding the business, and wanted to see if I could manage dragonfly designs when the instructors weren't in driving range from the home studio here in South San Francisco. My husband is from Southern California, and grew up on the beaches of Del Mar.  His family is still in San Diego, and we spend lots of time during the summer in the area! In fact, my three girls do Del Mar Junior Lifeguards each summer.  

The Gillelen girls soaking up the sun in Del Mar, summer 2010

What I love about the San Diego area is its athletic, outdoor feel! Children play outside so much, and that fits right in with our natural, whole approach to camps and classes.  Our company values the importance of being out in nature, experiencing life, beauty, creativity, art and yoga.  Because I'm already familiar with the area, and I spend a portion of the year with family in San Diego, I knew it was the perfect location to try an expansion.  My family and I still fantasize about moving to the area one day, and it’s been a good market to broaden the reach of dragonfly designs.

I've met the most incredible instructors and am so proud to have them representing dragonfly in San Diego.