The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry...

• Rose Velvet Collection: FW 2013

  Published Aug 31 2013 in My Story, New Collections

  

   

  I’m a romantic at heart.  My most romantic gift from my husband was a poem that he wrote while I was attending school out of the country.  He had to send down my winter boots and tucked away in the box was a little piece of paper with a, well, unforgettable poem written on it.  It read our lives at that time.  Quite a few years later I framed that poem and re-gifted it to my husband as a wedding anniversary gift.  He was...speechless.  

   The feeling I get from my rose bronze and rose gold swarovski crystal pieces is romance and tradition (just like that poem). I’ve taken my rose bronze and rose gold to another level...a level of casual modern with a hint of elegance. Subtle touches of rose gold are found in my Rose Velvet Collection just to show how special it is.  I’m letting the rose bronze and rose gold swarovski crystals speak for themselves, because it does it so well. 
  

  Nothing but the best for my rose hued pieces; nothing but the best for you.  I want to make you speechless.

  Enjoy

  
  

• That Which Inspires Me...

  Published Jul 08 2013 in My Story

   

  

   

   

   

  People often ask me where I get my inspiration for my jewelry from.  I like to take my bike in the trails of Edmonton’s river valley system and go for it.  It is my little treat to myself.  It is also where I find my mind will travel and become the inspiration for many of my jewelry designs.

   

  This year I was so lucky to spend a week long road bike trip discovering the endless roads of southern France with my family.  I engrossed myself in everything that I saw, felt and smelled.  It was love at first sight.

   

  I feasted my eyes on the vibrant orange poppies in Mirepoix, the unexpected mixes of colors of hand painted shutters & doors in the little villages like Limoux, and the curved archways in every building. The grandness of riding the Pyrenes, fighting the winds in the gorges and gazing upon castles was humbling.  But even the littlest things like the everyday walk up and down a circle of 22 cement stairs to our room, and the french road signs inspired me each day.  We covered 450 km in 5 days; a lot to see in so little time!  A work of observation will become little works of art. 

   

  Thank you to Chris Georgas, Fabien, Isabel, Heather, & Nicolette from Le Monastere for making my family & I want to pack our bags and live in a little French town called Limoux. For now I will make little pieces of precious metal jewelry with a hint of France in them.

  
  

• My Starfish Story

  Published Jun 02 2013 in My Story

  

   

  I am sure that every child has a teacher that touches their lives so much for the better. We were so blessed as a family to have benefitted from such a teacher. For me, Mrs. Shuster is the one teacher that made a difference in my childrens’ lives.  As a family, we were so lucky for both of our kids to have had the gift of her teaching and insight when my kids were in grade 2.  The details are personal how she touched our lives, but let’s just say that she was the one that looked down upon each of my little starfishes and threw them back into the ocean.  My kids are now in grades 8 and 10; oh how time flies.    But the memories will always remain and the effects will last a lifetime. 

  Thank you Mrs. Shuster, we love you.

   

  The Starfish Story

  An old man was walking down the beach just before dawn. In the distance he saw a young man picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea. As the old man approached the young man, he asked; "Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?" The young man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. "But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish, exclaimed the old man. "How can your efforts make any difference?" The young man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea, he said;

  "It makes a difference to this one."

  
  

• Not Just a Necklace...

  Published Mar 29 2013 in Custom Pieces

  
  

  This story is both sad and happy.  I was contacted by a family to make a simple silver name necklace on a simple leather strand.  They are adopting a child from a third world country.   In this third world country a mother is putting her daughter up for adoption due to circumstances of culture and inequality. The adoptive family is giving this child an opportunity to live as an equal to all others.

   

  I received this email:  

  “When we were told that we were allowed to give her mom a small gift after the adoption...we immediately thought of one of your pendants. We want her mom to be able to keep her daughter’s name close to her heart. We need to somehow communicate to her that we will keep her daughter safe and frequently tell our child about her brave mom. The gift that kept coming to mind was the pendant…as long as we could somehow make sure the pendant was hung on an inexpensive rope or piece of leather that she can hide in her wrap to avoid being robbed.”

   

  It is a heart wrenching story, although I am quite sure common in this third world county. The new parents of this story are, however, uncommon.  I am honoured and humbled by this gesture.  I am also grateful for my family and I to be able to live as we do in this country.

  
  

• The Sweetness of Life: Safari Collection

  Published Feb 13 2013 in My Story, New Collections

  

  

  Two years ago I talked about my trip to Kailua, Hawaii.  I spoke of runs along the Hawaiian backdrop with my son and collecting shells with my daughter.

  This year on our trip to Kailua I discovered little gems that would bring back memories of our time there. I found and coveted cone-shaped shells, rough cut quartz, beach glass, limestone and wood.  Just a handful of pieces; just enough to compliment my bronze links and brass chain.  These are components that have an earthy feel that remind me of sunshine, flip flops and sand between my toes.  

  Momentos for my Safari Collection.

  Which brings me back to those runs and collecting shells.  This year I ran BEHIND my kids.  We ate fish every day, whale watched in Kaneohe Bay and wore flip flops all day long.  I treasure those trips to Hawaii with my family.  

  It’s not going to last forever.  Although I wish it would.  

  This is the sweetness of life.