Homemade Jewelry Leads Hopkinton Designer on Lifelong Trip

Sometimes unwanted change can lead you to a career you never thought possible, and sometimes a trip to a bead store to feed your love of shiny things can turn into a lifelong obsession.

Tricia Kozub, owner and founder of iDazz creations, experienced this first hand when her husband was asked to relocate to California. Kozub went reluctantly and her life changed.

“iDazz started 12 years ago in California as a trip to a bead store that rapidly turned into an obsession,” Kozub said. “I was not happy about moving, but I loved that store and people were always amazed when I said I made my jewelry myself."

Soon people began asking Kozub for her creations, and upon returning to Hopkinton after the Internet bubble burst, Trish found it impossible to say no to requests for more of her handmade stuff. Soon, she was giving her creations away as gifts, but when demand outran supply, she decided she needed to do more.

“I love putting color and texture together," Kozub said. "I crafted as a kid, and I was happy to make jewelry for others, but it soon became clear that I needed to do more."

After trying the home party circuit, it became clear to Kozub that her one home party a week model was simply not enough and booking six months in advance wasn't working.

“The answer was the Internet," Kozub said.

“iDazz™ captures the fun and excitement of a jewelry party without needing to book six months in advance,” Kozub’s website reads.

Today, Kozub works 12 hour days and travels all over the country to showcase her handmade, often one or two of a kind wares.

“I am a one woman show,” Kozub said. “I visit the largest bead show in February in Tucson, Arizona and from there I work 12 hour days creating as much as possible to get me through the spring show season. I then split my time between my studio and the road from August until Christmas.”

Kozub can whip up roughly a dozen necklaces, three or four bracelets and 20 to 24 pairs of earrings in a 12 hour day.

“I separate by color,” Kozub explained. “So today may be a teal day.”

With 40 spring and summer shows lined up, Kozub needs to be prolific in her designs or she would not have enough product to sell.

“I love the daily interactions that I get on Facebook as well,” Kozub said. “Facebook is crazy successful and I love to interact with my customers. Before iDazz, I worked for IBM. Their motto was that the customer is always right, and I still live by that.”

Kozub creates all types of pieces, but her very favorite is her vintage line.

“If you see something that you like at one of my shows, you should grab it,” Kozub said. “I tend to create one or two of a kind only, particularly in the vintage line.”

Kozub will be at the for her SpringBling Open House this Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to the public.

“I am very blessed to have such loyal customers,” Kozub said. “My sales rose in this bad economy and I am very blessed that folks want my jewelry and think of me when looking for gifts. I take my business and my customers very seriously, and it means a lot that they come back.”