...For me personally... Jewelry is a way of keeping memories alive. Ever since I was young girl, I’ve had an appreciation for jewelry. Blessed to have both sets of grandparents living in my hometown of San Antonio, I was fortunate to spend much time with them. My grandmothers were always so kind to let me peek into their jewelry boxes, answering questions about the dazzling pieces. I wanted to know what was real or costume, type of gemstones, what were their favorites and why. Imagine my enjoyment as my eyes beheld such an array of jewels!
My Scottish grandmother was kind, slow to speak, a well-educated woman whose preference was to invest in fewer pieces of fine jewelry. Her fondness for pearls was passed onto me, as well as her love of history. I learned the pearl itself is the only gem material formed in a living creature and only one in several million shellfish to yield a pearl. It is also my birthstone and she gifted me with my very first pearl ring on my 16th birthday. My Irish grandmother was sweet, friendly and everyone loved her pizazz! She wore the latest fashion, stylish jewelry and invested in fine pieces as well. They were no other pieces I loved more than her Opals. As I held them up to the light, I would marvel at the fiery displays of color changing before my eyes. She explained how these beauties shined from within by refracting and bouncing light off the silica chips in each stone. Throughout the years, she gave me many of her Opal pieces and said, "I want to see you wear my Opals while I'm living, to see you enjoy them, rather than after I am gone." My father was a very thoughtful man and enjoyed helping in the design of precious gemstones created into beautiful pieces for my mother who was his high school sweetheart. It gave him great joy to see her wear these special pieces.
For many years, I had my own public relations company in Dallas, Texas, until my three sons were at such a busy stage I became a stay-at-home mom. During the time I was working, I had a wonderful and diverse client base. One of my clients was a well-known jeweler in town. When he hired me, I asked him if instead of a monthly retainer, could I design my own jewelry? During that time, I was given the opportunity to design some of my own pieces continuing to fuel the enjoyment I had as a young girl. Now into my sixties, I find a preference for certain jewelry and gemstones because it somehow keeps my childhood alive with memories shared with my loved ones.
I am in a season of my life where I have the time to create classic, colorful jewelry which satisfies my creative nature, and gives me great enjoyment in assisting clients looking for special pieces. Some clients desire the newest, trendy or designer accessories in their wardrobe, but I try to direct them into buying more timeless jewelry, regardless of their budget so they can get more wear with each piece.