A D’Zine and Make Your Mark[et] Podcast

Melissa Panszi Riebe of A D’Zine and Make Your Mark[et] Podcast

We love learning more about the many makers and craftsmen in Westchester. Many of whom started creating as a hobby that blossomed into a local business like Melissa Panszi Riebe, the founder of A D’Zine. A former clinical social worker, Melissa turned her hobby into a business where she takes old pieces of jewelry apart and redesigns and creates new pieces. This has extended to starting the Make Your Mark[et] podcast and the holiday pop-up, Make Your Mark[et] New Rochelle. Read on to learn more about Melissa and her second chapter as a jewelry designer.

Westchester Family: How did the idea for A D’Zine come about and what were you doing before you started your brand?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: I wanted a name that represented our family. A D’Zine (pronounced a design) represents both my sons, Aiden and Devin. My husband actually came up with the name, which truly makes it a family affair.

In my past life, I worked as a licensed clinical social worker at a cancer center in New York City. I started making jewelry as a hobby. I loved taking old jewelry apart and redesigning and creating new pieces. Not only is it sustainable, but I love that there are memories associated with what you wear during those memories. When I did it for fun, it morphed into making for fun, and then creating a business.

Westchester Family: Why was it important for you to start this company?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: I believe that what you wear is powerful and how people react when you wear something eye-catching is important. Hearing kind words is important. I see jewelry as a vessel to make this happen.

I love making things that not only have meaning, but make people feel good when they wear it. As I transitioned into this new career, I didn’t want to walk away completely from my social work values. This is why 10% of all of my sales is donated to a featured nonprofit. This is also why I focus on the people who wear the jewelry I make.

Another important factor that happened which I never expected was for my family to see me start something from scratch and build a company. Since this was a second chapter, having them see me doing what I love has been so special. I hope that their takeaway is that it is never too late to do what you love.

Westchester Family: Tell us about some of the pieces from the line?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: My pieces constantly change every season. It depends on what I find in my hunts for vintage pieces and what come from taking those pieces apart. Since my nonprofit is becoming more known, more people are also donating pieces that they are not using. It is a true pay-it-forward incentive.

A few pieces that are a constant offering are the lava bead bracelets with essential oil spritz. One of the reasons I love it is because it is a collaboration project. I add a focal vintage bead to the bracelet and add an essential oil spritz made by Jar Worthy.

Another one of my favorite projects is my You Are Write collection, which I collaborated on with a maker-friend, Wade Trefethen from A Sign of Success.. We create jewelry from the handwriting of a loved one. It is always fun to see what messages people want to wear. To me, this is two of my favorite things, a collaboration and creating something that is priceless. Priceless not in the sense of monetary value, but priceless in the sense of sentimental value.

Westchester Family: What was your background like before A D’Zine?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: I am a self-taught artist. This is my second or third chapter. In my past background, I have two masters in Social Work and Nonprofit Management. I am still licensed in NY state with my LCSW. I worked so hard to earn it that I didn’t want to give it up. Being a social worker actually influenced the values in my business–community, giving back, listening the community are just a few of my missions.

The other important part of my background is being a mom to two amazing boys who are actually young men now. It is actually so weird to think that they are that age, and I am of “that” age, too!

Westchester Family: You also just launched the new podcast Make Your Mark[et]! Tell us what that is about?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: Make Your Mark[et] is a podcast where I have the privilege to share the stories of local makers by talking to them directly. Not just what they make, but why they make it and have them share how they got to do what they do. One of the best things about maker items is that there is an actual person behind the creations. Many times people don’t get a chance to tell their story and I wanted a platform for the makers to share.

Westchester Family: Why was it important for you to create the Make Your Mark[et] podcast?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: Everyone has a story. I truly believe this. It is just about asking the right questions and listening. Learning about other people helps us understand the people around us. I never thought I would have a podcast. However, when Amy Cole and Clay Bushong from Tipsy Picnic came to me and said they wanted me to have my own podcast, the seed was planted and I got very excited about this project.

Interviewing people and understanding who they are was a big part of what I did as a social worker. I am so excited to be able to interview these extremely talented local makers. My hope is that people are inspired when they hear the stories and will follow their own dreams like these makers have. I also want to interview people who are underrepresented in the maker community.

As a Latine female, I recognize that representation matters. It is so crucial in all fields of study. I wanted to be part of the solution.

Westchester Family: You are also involved in the New Rochelle Holiday Market. How did that come about?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: Since Covid, the store inside the New Rochelle train station was empty. I love train stations. The various stories about the people who travel through there. These people are from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and they are all brought together at the station. I put a proposal together to create a pop up store for the holidays in 2022 and shared it with the city.

I figured, the worst thing they could say is “no.” If I didn’t take this chance, I would never know. To my surprise, they said, “yes” and Make Your Mark[et], New Rochelle was created. I was able to showcase over 30 local makers in my store. It was great because the city had their second year for their holiday market outside so the train station was truly a magical makers’ space for the holidays.

The New Rochelle development department and city saw the value of having a market with a maker’s perspective so they asked me to consult with them for this year’s outdoor market.

In addition, I had a great time with the Make Your Mark[et] shop. This year, consumers can enjoy the pop-up store for two months in November and December as well as online shopping options.

Westchester Family: What do you like to do in Westchester when you aren’t building your brand?

Melissa Panszi Riebe: There are so many great places in Westchester. Whatever mood you are in, you can find something to do. I love seeing live music. So you can find me during the summer at Hudson Park on Wednesdays for NRCA’s (New Rochelle Council on the Arts) summer concert series. It is so beautiful there and fun. I love hanging out with friends and spending time together. You can find us somewhere in the Rivertowns or the Sound Shore area. HudCo always has some kind of fun event or I will explore local shops like Swan House or eateries like Cafetero.

There are so many places to shop and walk around in the county. We are so lucky. Secretly, but not so secret, I am a cheese-holic where you can often find me at Bloomy Cheese getting something for dinner.