Meet the Makers: Love & Creation
In 1999, Gail Warner, the owner of Moon Essense Designs, which would eventually become Designed by Distraction, showed up for a support group meeting for lesbians over 30, only to find the door to the building locked. Determined to get into the meeting after a 50-mile drive to do just that, she tossed little pebbles at the window of the meeting room so that someone would let her in.
In the meeting room, Kimber Blum heard the little taps. Before she even met Gail face-to-face, Kimber knew she’d like the persistent, assertive woman who wouldn’t give up on what she’d come for. Kimber had dated enough to know those were rare qualities in one person, and after the meeting, she worked up the nerve to ask Gail out.
One date turned into two, then three, and before they knew it, Gail and Kimber were a couple. Together, life led them to creation and artistry – each balancing and motivating the other to make something beautiful from nothing. Over the years, Gail’s affinity for color coordination and handmade jewelry and Kimber’s love of art and advocacy collided in the most beautiful way.
The Origins of Designed by Distraction
Often, the most rewarding careers of our lives are also the most difficult – those roles that enable us to lift up other people in their darkest hours and advocate for their well-being. Gail Warner, Co-Owner of Designed by Distraction, knows better than anyone just how taxing this paradox can be. In the early 90s, Gail was an advocate and teacher serving underprivileged children, who often faced abuse and neglectful homes that left them feeling unsafe and unwanted.
It's nearly impossible for those in this line of work not to bring home its stress and difficult realities, and Gail was no exception. She found herself in need of something, anything – a positive outlet to help manage her feelings and redirect those heavy emotions into something beautiful. Gail was also living with undiagnosed ADHD, which added another layer of mental stress to an already difficult reality.
Then, an unlikely savior presented itself – offering a creative, artistic, colorful outlet to stress relief: handmade jewelry. Gail quickly found her untapped passion for creation, finding the color, texture, and arrangement of the beads and stones, to be an amazing stress reliever. As she continued to create, her artistic confidence and inventory grew together. Gail’s journey as a maker didn’t begin with dreams of scaling to grow or even selling her work but instead with the basic human need for distraction and balance in the trenches of life.
Stress Relief Becomes Something More
After discovering her talent and love for handmade jewelry, Gail began to take small steps to sell some of her pieces. She found herself at music festivals, local events, and community shows with a very simple motivation – “to buy more beads!” Gail wasn’t concerned with making a profit but instead on continuing her jewelry creation. Then and now, her love was in the making of the pieces she produced.
In 1994, Gail established Moon Essense Designs. At the time, she shared space with another artist, Kim (not to be confused with Kimber), in a shop called Artspace. Kim painted and taught painting lessons. Gail sold beads and taught jewelry making. Kim eventually left Artspace, and Gail became the sole operator of the shop, a role that she would hold for over two and a half years. The building that housed Artspace was owned by Tonya, a community member and activist with a passion for art and theater. Tanya was a major facilitator of the artistic success and longevity that made Moon Essense Designs possible, even dropping the rent in months where sales and foot traffic were low.
In 1999, Kimber began helping Gail at the shop and learning to create jewelry. They soon set out on a new journey in their artisanship – selling their work at juried art shows. Both greatly enjoyed connecting with their customers and meeting other artisans, and this further fueled their love of creation. But, after years of shows, the pair found the jewelry market’s competition growing. Soon, the majority of vendors alongside them at shows were also jewelers; it caused consumer fatigue and a drop in overall sales.
They could have thrown in the towel then and there, and for a moment, they considered it. But in the end, their love of making won the day. Instead of giving up, they did what they always do – they adapted, overcame, and repositioned themselves to compete in the modern world of handmade goods. A transition to online selling was in order, and thus began their journey into the digital marketplace.
The Truth Behind the Name
As Gail and Kimber transitioned into the digital marketplace, they found themselves at a crossroads – not just in how they sold their work, but in how they defined it. For years, they had operated under the name Moon Essense, a title that carried meaning in its early days but had begun to lose clarity in a crowded and evolving marketplace. Between frequent misspellings, duplicate names, and the natural progression of their work, it became clear that the brand needed something new – something that felt more like them.
The name Designed by Distraction didn’t come from a branding agency or a strategic exercise. It came from lived experience. Both Gail and Kimber share a diagnosis of ADHD – something that, for much of their lives, had been framed as a challenge to manage rather than a strength to embrace. But in their creative world, distraction was never a weakness. It was the spark.
It was the reason Gail could sit down with a single bead and hours later have a fully realized piece in her hands. It was the reason Kimber could shift mediums, explore new techniques, and bring entirely new forms of art to life. Their minds didn’t follow straight lines – they wandered, explored, connected, and created in ways that could never be forced or manufactured.
What others might call distraction, they had unknowingly turned into design.
The name became a declaration – not just of what they create but of how they create. It reflects a process that is fluid, intuitive, and deeply personal. There are no rigid formulas or mass production lines at Designed by Distraction. Just two artists following their instincts, wherever they may lead.
Different Creative Processes, Same Beautiful Results
At the heart of Designed by Distraction is a process that can’t be replicated – not because it’s complex but because it’s deeply human. For Gail, creation often begins with a single point of inspiration: a pendant, a bead, a color combination. Something that catches her eye in the moment.
From there, the piece unfolds naturally, guided by intuition rather than instruction. Color and texture are everything. The way materials interact and the way a piece feels in the hand before it ever reaches the wearer are critical. Each design is built not just to look beautiful, but to feel right.
Perhaps most importantly, every piece is created with longevity in mind. These are not accessories meant for a single occasion or a fleeting trend. They are designed to last – constructed with strong, reliable materials that can withstand time, natural wear, and life’s chaos.
Kimber’s creative journey, while rooted in the same foundation, has expanded into new dimensions. What began alongside jewelry has grown into bead mosaics and functional art – pieces inspired by animals, nature, and a deep respect for the world around them. Her work invites interaction; it's meant to be touched, experienced, and lived with rather than simply observed.
Together, their creative processes don’t compete – they complement one another. At times, they challenge each other in the best ways. Other times, they collaborate closely. While that collaboration may occasionally come with differing opinions, it always leads to something stronger, more refined, and ultimately more beautiful than either could create alone.
Built to Stand the Test of Time
In a world increasingly dominated by fast fashion and disposable products, Designed by Distraction stands firmly in contrast. Every piece created by Gail and Kimber is built with deep intention – not just in how it looks and feels but in how it endures. They have never been interested in creating something that lasts for only a season. Their shared goal has always been to create something that becomes part of a person’s life, home, and style.
Over the years, that commitment to durability has revealed itself in the most meaningful ways. Pieces worn for over a decade are often still intact. Customers return not to replace their jewelry but to repair and continue wearing the same pieces they’ve worn for many years and have grown attached to. They’ve heard stories of their items traveling thousands of miles, only to find their way back to the hands that made them at a random show or passing meeting.
Their expansion into functional art reflects this same philosophy. Items like handcrafted ceiling fan and zipper pulls offer a way to bring artistry into everyday spaces. These pieces are not only decorative but practical. They exist to be used, not just admired.
Designed by Distraction’s commitment to longevity and function speaks to a deeper belief – that the things we surround ourselves with should matter. They should last. They should carry a story.
Who Are We Creating For?
Since its founding in 1999, the audience of Designed by Distraction has grown and evolved, much like the brand itself. What once began with younger buyers at local shows has naturally matured into a loyal customer base that values quality, individuality, and authenticity in what they purchase. Their customers are not looking for mass-produced accessories but something that feels personal and stands apart.
Gail and Kimber don’t design with trends in mind. Instead, they design with people in mind. They think about how a piece will feel when it’s worn or displayed, how it will hold up over time, and how it might become part of someone’s story.
Whether it’s a statement necklace, a subtle bracelet, or a custom piece built around family birthstones, the goal is always the same: to create something that resonates and is remembered. Because at the end of the day, they don’t just want customers to like what they make – they want them to feel connected to it.
Looking Ahead: A Future of Possibilities
As Designed by Distraction continues to grow, the vision for the future remains grounded in the same principles that started it all. There is a desire for stability: a steady rhythm of orders, a growing base of returning customers, and a business that supports itself without sacrificing its soul.
But beyond that, there is also curiosity. A curiosity to explore new mediums, expand into additional forms of art, and continue evolving creatively without limitation. Whether that leads to new collections, new materials, or entirely new artistic directions, one thing will remain unchanged: the heart behind the work.
Designed by Distraction, Defined by Intention
What began as a simple outlet for stress has grown into something far more meaningful over its 27-year history.
A brand built not on strategy but on instinct.
Not on scale but on substance.
Not on perfection but on authenticity.
Designed by Distraction is, at its core, a reflection of two people who chose to follow their creativity wherever it led. In doing so, Gail and Kimber have created something that resonates far beyond themselves. Because sometimes, the most beautiful things in life aren’t the ones we plan meticulously. They’re the ones we unknowingly build along the way.
