AA Necklace: Q&A with Nails to Nickels

Making necklace with Alcoholics Anonymous chips is so clever, especially with the recent trend on rehabs and getting to AA in SUVs with dark tinted window. I think it has a great humor value, but it's pretty controversial. When I found AA necklace by Nails to Nickels, I had mixed feelings of surprise, heartache (it reminded me of someone) and smile. Then I came to a realization that humor is the single most important thing to get through tough time. Thanks to Robin of Bittersweets New York, I was able to get in touch with the designer, Caroline Freedman. She's super witty and also the funniest jewelry designer in town.

Q1: I'm sure people always ask you why you made them. Can tell me how you came up with them?
My friend who had briefly dabbled in AA a few years back still had her 90 Days plastic chip on her keychain. She and I thought it would be funny to cast it in silver so I made the very first one for her as a one-off christmas present. People responded so well to it that I started making more, as well as expanding the range of "time" I offered. Though people sometimes get upset that I am not actually sober, I explain that making sobriety "cool" or "trendy" is not the worst thing someone can do. As for the recent rehab trend, two of the celebrities who have gone into rehab in the past few years have seen them, and one liked the chips a lot, and the other thought it was vaguely offensive.

Q2: What are the typical customers who buy them? Not AA folks I assume?Actually, several people who have been through AA have bought them from me. They always ask if I have their time sober. I started off just selling the necklaces to my friends, some of whom were sober, some of whom were not. Serenity Shops (stores that sell items relating to AA and sobriety) sell a lot of jewelry, but most of it is so ugly. Sober people like to be reminded of their commitment to AA.

Q3: New York by New York magazine¹s article "Happiness: A User's
Manual" says to join a church, AA and a fight club. What do you do to keep yourself happy?
I just got a dog, a beagle/chihuahua mix I named Lazy. She is my 11lb fan club, so it's hard not to be happy when I'm with her. I really like waking up early and going to Trader Joe's. Not waiting in the checkout line for 45 minutes makes me really happy.

Q4: What are you addicted to?
I have been addicted to buying books my whole life. I'm also obsessed with Annie Chun's Noodle Bowls. They are sooo cheap at Whole Foods - only $2! I have stacks of them in my cupboard. For some reason, they are much more delicious (and healthier) than any other instant noodle soup bowl.

Q5: Do you run?
Only if I am on fire. Otherwise, I stick to my bicycle.

Q6: Which ones are your favorite bars in the neighborhood?
I don't have much disposable income, so I'd rather buy some beers from the deli and sit on my roof. Otherwise, I like to order really tacky drinks from silly restaurants. I get mai thais and banana daquiris from Tacu Tacu (I discovered the banana daquiri while on a mission to order the most embarrassing drink on the menu, but I ended up really liking it) and blue hawaiians from Dallas BBQ on 2nd Avenue.

Q7: What's your favorite neighborhood restaurant/food place?
Pies & Thighs makes the best burgers, but their ambiance is pretty lacking, so I prefer to get delivery. Dressler is great for fancy meals, and Bonita's fish tacos are unbelievable.

Q8: Favorite galleries, museums or stores almost like museums?
Checking out the new Mythic Creatures exhibit at the Museum of Natural History is a pretty high priority. I love dragons and unicorns and those type of creatures. Barney's is my favorite store and also favorite museum.


Q9: Any new style you'd like to try?
I've started wearing a lot of metallic clothing, which is supposed to be a big trend for the fall. I was tired of having blood red fingernails like every other girl my age, so I switched to silver for my fingers and toes. I just like looking like a robot. I'd like to wear trapeze or bubble dresses, but they are so unflattering on me that I just can't do it.

Q10: Personal interests at the moment?
I wanted to put cute flower boxes from Home Depot in my windows, but I couldn't make them stay, so I've turned my fire escape into a little garden.
I bought geraniums and african violets at the farmer's market in Union Square and replanted them because I am too impatient to grow anything from a seed.

Thanks, Caroline!

AA Necklace can be purchased at www.bittersweetsny.com

See more Nails to Nickels Jewelry Collection
Check out Caroline's site at mylifeissoawkward.com(hiralious!)

Special thanks to Leigh from Catbird for giving me wonderful tips.