Renaissance Woman

Liz Martin manages two businesses on the same block in .  The first is Downtown Nails salon.  Just 32 steps and four doors up is Pink Depford Costume Design Studio, specializing in Renaissance and Shakespearean garb.  Liz also does costume consulting for the Dickens Fair. She is a woman of many arts, but how does she do it all?

How did you start sewing? I had to take the pre-requisite sewing classes when I was in junior high and high school.  It was probably another 6 years before I really started sewing. I decided I wanted to be a Theatre major and you had to do half a semester in the costume shop. It worked out because I already knew how to (sew). I finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre at Sacramento State.

 How did you start doing nails?  I took the summer off before I graduated and got my manicuring license, because I wanted to have something to fall back on.  Theatre people are notoriously under-employed.  So I got my manicuring license and just did nails for the next many years. I found that I really had a talent for it.  I really enjoyed what I was doing, and I was making money.

 How did you end up with two businesses? Around 1997-1998 my family got involved in doing Renaissance Fairs. So I started sewing again, making our costumes, and costumes for other people. It grew from there.

How did you end up with two locations on the same block? I moved into the nail shop, and everything from about (one third of the space) back was the costume studio. Shelving went all the way up to the ceiling. It became apparent that I couldn’t contain the costume stuff (within the nail salon). I had to find a new place. So when the other space came open I went and talked to the management and we hashed it out.

What is your favorite part of costuming? Making my customer happy and being able to create what they have in their mind…to be able to take a picture or idea they have and really bring it to life.

What is your favorite part of doing nails? When doing fingernails, it’s creating an artificial nail that looks real.  The second thing is doing pedicures. I really enjoy doing pedicures because I know how good it feels and how much good it does for your whole body. It really helps to boost your spirits.

How do you do it all? I have my friend and partner Kathleen MacKay, who comes in and works with me. She is my organizer; the one who keeps me on track and keeps me on schedule. And then out of the blue we started getting interns. We have students that go to Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco as well as students from .

Downtown Nails is located at 704 Alhambra Ave. in downtown Martinez.

Pink Depford Costume Studio is located at 716 Alhambra Ave. 

For information about either business call Liz at (925) 788-4080