Frankie Golick: to the bead of her own drum

Francesca BillingtonStaff WriterWhat started as a hobby and a couple of friends ordering custom jewelry turned Frankie Golick (’14) into a 16-year-old jewelry designer and businesswoman.“I always thought that it was something that [interested] me,” Golick said. “I like working with my hands, I like creating things. I like having a style and being able to use that to express [myself].”Golick began making and selling jewelry after her friend inspired her to take apart and redesign pieces she already owned. She then branched out, started ordering materials online and creating original, wearable works of art. She began by selling her artwork to close friends, then at flea markets and finally at a local boutique called Artful. Golick became a businesswoman at age 14.“[My business] turned out to be really successful and I just branched [out] from there,” Golick said.Golick initially began creating pieces that she would want to wear herself. She is constantly inspired by jewelry that appeals to her and that corresponds with her style.“Sometimes when I’m shopping, I’ll look at different pieces and think about how overpriced something is and [I’ll think]: ‘I could make that,’” Golick said.In August of 2011, Golick was introduced to the owner of Artful, a small boutique located on Ocean Park Blvd. The owner was impressed by her work and quickly incorporated Golick’s pieces into the boutique.“I showed her my pictures and the next thing I knew, I was in store, receiving checks once a month,” Golick said.According to Nancy Lombardi, the owner of Artful, Golick presented her work, as well as herself, exceedingly well.“I was very pleasantly surprised at the level of skill, style and creativity exhibited in her work,” Lombardi said. “I immediately liked her and was impressed with her business sense and confidence.”Though her pieces are selling in Artful, Golick continues to sell jewelry occasionally at flea markets and holiday fairs.“It’s really cool to talk to people who buy [my] stuff right there,” Golick said. “They are really surprised that a [teenager] made this.”Golick’s pieces range anywhere from $8 to $70, depending on what the item is made of and the amount of work spent creating it. Golick uses a variety of materials including pearls, coral and sterling silver. She attends gem fairs and shops in downtown Los Angeles to find unique materials to incorporate into her pieces.“Sometimes I’ll get a reused bullet-shell-molded charm, mother of pearl that I picked up in the Philippines or something hand-carved in Israel,” Golick said.According to Annie Quine (’15), Golick’s friend and softball teammate, Golick puts intensive effort into ensuring that her materials are well up-to-par.“She even ties it into her personal life by buying pieces from where she travels,” Quine said. “I always hear [Golick] talking about all the places she goes to find the best deals for getting great things and [she] puts a lot of energy into this.”According to friend and customer, Orly Raveh, Golick’s jewelry is interesting in its design and materials.“[Golick’s] jewelry is down to earth and natural. I like the variety of styles and boldness in every piece,” Raveh said.Golick spends anywhere from two minutes to five hours on one piece. Her talent is completely self-instructed, Golick always teaches herself new things without the help of a book or lesson. According to Golick, continuing to be original and creating different pieces is something that is important to her.“I sit down and make each piece individually by hand,” Golick said. “I usually don’t make more than one of the same piece.”Golick describes herself as a shopaholic, and according to Quine, Golick’s style is clearly evident in her pieces.“As a very trendy person, she creates a unique style shown within her jewelry line,” Quine said.While selling, Golick is regularly asked for business cards or an online web site. Currently, she is striving to create an Etsy account, a commerce web site focusing on homemade or vintage items. However, working for her business as well as being a high school student is not easy.“It’s really hard to manage APs, varsity sports [and] extracurricular [activities] on top of this,” Golick said.Aside from jewelry making, Golick plays on the Samo varsity softball team and is heavily involved in the Jewish community, specifically in the North American Federation of Temple Youth of Southern California. In her free time when she is not making jewelry, Golick enjoys taking photographs and doodling in her sketchbook.Golick carries parts of her personality and hobbies throughout everything that she takes part in, especially in her business.“Every part of my life is where I pull my inspiration [from],” Golick said.Though creating jewelry started out as a hobby for Golick, she has concluded that business is what she would like to pursue as a career. In the future, she hopes to attend college to major in business and ultimately own a store of her own.“I want to have my own business when I grow up: have my own clothing store and carry independent designers and handmade pieces,” Golick said.According to Lombardi, Golick has the ability to be successful in a career similar to jewelry making due to her aspiring business qualities.“I do see her in a field where artistic creativity is valued,” Lombardi said. “She has a very good business sense and sense of herself that I think will serve her well in the future.”Golick’s striking business qualities and passion for her interests is what will motivate the young entrepreneur to work with people that share her love for creativity.“[I] want to work with people that love what they do,” Golick said. “I want to major in business for that reason.”According to Golick, the business that she strives to have in the future is something that she works towards every day. Who she is and what she loves is how she creates such one-of-a-kind pieces.“What defines me is what inspires me. Making jewelry is like a puzzle except the confines are left up to me,” Golick said.fbillington@thesamohi