Door County Perspective: Diamonds In The Rough – At First Glance

It was a typical, beautiful day in paradise. Door County, at the epicenter of Fish Creek, the corner of Hide Side, C&C Supper Club, and The Bayside Tavern. You know, where the traffic doesn’t have to stop making a left on 42 South, and it’s hard to make a move from any other direction? It’s the end of August, and the idyllic setting is now full of the last hurrah before summer is over.

People are everywhere. Shoppers shopping, window shopping, people watching, and people watching the people watching. A guy playing music outdoors to lure shoppers to hang around. On the other side of the street, some balloons and some arranged chairs. A birthday party perhaps? Seemingly innocuous unrelated events. Right? Wrong!

As was published in the Pulse in the Aug. 28 – Sept. 5 edition, "That Guy" playing music was none other than Eli Mattson, who has since made a name for himself by finishing in the top two of "America’s Got Talent." Say what you will about David Hasselhoff or Sharon Osbourne’s judgments, this piano player was really, really GOOD! People crowded in front of J. Jeffrey Taylor and stayed until the end. A polished gem. But the perfect circle, or "ring" upon which exists these diamonds in the rough, is just beginning.

Turns out Jennifer "Jen" Hough, (pronounced as in “rough,” coincidentally), who works for J. Jeffrey Taylor, was also in the same Pulse edition. It also turns out that those balloons across the street were not a birthday party, but rather a fashion show. The show was at Brilliant Stranger, where Dawn Patel, the owner, was raising money for Jen and her Habitat For Humanity International mission trip. She’s on her way to “Pondicherry India” on Halloween to build a home, for a mere $3,000, for an entire family! And Wisconsin is the "Cherry State"…off to Pondicherry India? Leaving on Halloween? Spooky coincidence? I don’t think so!

I learned about the fashion show by "accident." I saw a girl riding her bike. When I stopped into a Bayside Shop, Wink, to visit a friend, the same girl on the bike showed up. Turned out Kira Grebel worked there. (Small world, smaller peninsula? Or a perfect circle coming full circle?) Kira told me about some fashion show. So, I went.

When I arrived with camera in tow, I sat back and saw cool and unique outfits, one after another, each with something special that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I learned that they were all inspired by Dawn’s brainchild of fashion – using vintage clothing and making "Refab" (the name of her line and company), which are one-of-a-kind garments. The models had made some of their own pieces themselves, but Dawn started this two years ago by using paint, embroidery, beads and unique concepts to alter "old" clothes in order to be earth friendly and artful.

Dawn had learned that only 21 percent of clothes are kept and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American throws away 68 pounds of clothes a year. And that’s after we send the raw cotton to China and get it sent back to us. Dawn Patel, making brilliant gems out of "old" clothes. Dawn is another gem herself. Stop into Brilliant Stranger and see for yourself.

During the fashion show, the emcee Kalen was wearing a hat. After Jennifer Hough talked about her mission trip, a gentleman in the crowd handed her a $20 dollar bill, before she was even finished with her synopsis. Then, as Kalen took off his retro black hat, the same gentleman suggested he "pass the hat." I guess if anyone could suggest it, he could, having already given. Indeed, the show went on and the hat filled up. By the time Kira modeled the last piece (a cool blue jean vest made out of blue jean pants) the black hat was full. Magic! The inspired act of giving was magic. The people’s smiles don’t lie.

And learning that Jen worked at J. Jeffrey Taylor’s was the completion of this ring coming full circle, with a number of brilliant polished gems atop. It’s easy to walk through a day-in-the-life and just pass through. But this is what I learned: it made me feel good to help out Jennifer Hough, a talented, artistic and giving person. If you want to help her (and the people in India who will be very appreciative) please send what you can to Habitat For Humanity International, attention Jennifer Hough. From my own mission trips I’ve done, I know she is spending quite a bit just to get to India and stay there. Jen is no mere diamond in the rough, but where she is going, it will be a bit rough. I know I felt great helping out. It only took me a little time, $20, and a well-timed suggestion about a hat. Merely my part in completing the circle, an "offer"-ring, if you will.

Or call J. Jeffrey Taylor at 920.868.3033, or Dawn at 920.868.3420, and ask them what else might work, or help. Maybe you’ve got some clothes you don’t think have any value! See the amazing jewelry Jen has displayed at J. Jeffrey Taylor’s and buy a piece knowing your money will find a way to India.

Jeff Deane has been a summer resident on Kangaroo Lake since 1955, though he was still in "the oven" until Sept. 14. That’s "near" local status!