Why I Love Jewelry (and Why I Make It)
Why I love jewelry
Why do any of us love jewelry?
Because the right piece at the right moment makes us feel great! We feel like ourselves — who we truly are — and who we hope the world will see.
But the jewelry we cherish is so much more. It can honor a special event, represent an expression of love, or be a gift we give ourselves just for fun.
Another reason to love jewelry — it’s sensory — tactile as well as visual, and reflecting the work of the hand.
Jewelry is my mood mirror
Jewelry is also a mood mirror, and a mood enhancer.
When I'm feeling flirty, I reach for long dangles. When I need a boost of confidence, I go for stackable “power” bracelets. And when I'm up for an evening of romance or a night on the town, I layer modern classics like fine chains with pearls.
After all, none of us are only one thing. Like gemstones, we're multifaceted. Shouldn't our jewelry reflect that?
Why I make jewelry
As much as I always adored jewelry, shopping for it was frustrating. As a petite woman – petite and “curvy” — most of what I liked just didn’t work.
Statement necklaces were too long or too chunky. Earwires and posts were too thick for my piercings. Necklaces and bracelets rarely accommodated my diminutive stature much less my small hands and tiny wrists.
I had a few one-of-a-kind, go-to items purchased on business trips to Paris. And from time to time, I designed a unique piece and had it custom-made. Yet what I dreamed of was building a jewelry wardrobe. A collection for my every whim.
My jewelry-making journey
Fast-forward to the fall of 2019 — past two careers, raising two boys, and more than 20 years as an art collector. To mark an approaching milestone birthday, I designed a necklace and had it custom-made. That experience reawakened the delight I take in design.
But I wanted more. I wanted to do the making.
So began the Modern Whimsy Jewelry journey — in studio classes, in online classes, and on my own — exploring materials, processes, and varying ways to bring my vision to life. I quickly discovered that the art I love was leading me to some of Mother Nature's most remarkable creations... colored gemstones.
Designing with intention
Because many of us love to accessorize by mood, I embrace color, reveling in its psychological power.
Because many of us insist on quality, I hand-select every pearl and gemstone in every design, and I work with lifetime materials.
Because many of us believe that comfort is non-negotiable, I test new designs for all-day wearability, and I use only "friendly" metals.
Because I understand the complexities of a woman’s life, I design for sizing options and versatility.
And I always design in the hope of creating something you will find beautiful.
Materials made for generational jewelry
The choice to primarily work with natural, untreated colored gemstones is an explicit one. While they're more costly to source, they’re far rarer than their treated counterparts, and I am awed by the perfectly imperfect elegance of nature’s palette.
I choose sterling silver and 14 karat gold fill as my metals. Not only are they “friendly” to our skin (no lead, no zinc), but combined with quality stones and meticulous craftsmanship, I’m creating generational jewelry for you to wear or gift with confidence.
