As a little girl, I loved to “play jewelry.” I was
fascinated by the sparkly bits and pieces that were handed down by the women of
our family. Each piece came with a
special story about the giver, the occasion being celebrated, or the place it
was purchased: oh, yes, your grandfather
bought this for me when… I carry
with me the preservation of years of our history because beautiful pieces of
wearable art are part of our family story.
As an adult, my early
vocational passion focused on the promotion of fair trade and sustainable
practices, working in companies created for the common good. As I regularly encountered the stories of
women entrepreneur-artisans in the developing world who created stunning pieces
from found objects, a dream of mine took shape.
Inspired by the beauty of my own family pieces and the commitments of sustainable
artisan practice, my signature statement jewelry line was born.
What I now call one of
a kind vintage resurrection is really my confession that I see the potential
for beauty in what is broken or discarded.
In my designs, powerful vintage jewelry components receive a sustainable
and fashionable new life. Every piece I
create embodies a story of a wearer, a giver, a finder, or a creator, which I
am always glad to tell.
At times, the story I tell is your story. Custom work, where I refashion your vintage
family pieces or found objects into beautiful designs, is an experience of deep
artisan joy. One of my favorite custom
experiences was creating the gifts for a wedding party using a fabulous cascading
strand of pearls that the grandmother of the bride had worn in the 1940’s. The pearls continue to testify to the story of
a family over time, now being told anew by a group of women friends scattered
across the globe.
One of a kind vintage
resurrection embodies sustainable artisan practice and honors the beauty
found in the created order. This work
reminds me of my own family and our jewelry stories. I am deeply grateful each morning for the joy
of waking up to “play jewelry”.