How did I get started doing this & why I love it!
People ask me all the time how I got into what I do. It all started with one of my dearest friends turning a monumental birthday (let’s just say it starts with a 5). We got a bunch of our girl friends together to go downtown & watch a local sports team on a roof top on a fabulous summer afternoon. As party favors, I made each of the gals bracelets adorned with a few charms (gems the color of the clubs team, mini animal mascot, a tiny 6 pack charm & a “friends” charm). They were whimsical, the gals loved them & we had a fun memento of the day.
It got me thinking, so I made a bracelet with a bunch of team/club inspired charms to wear during my two sons’ travel soccer games. Other moms asked me to make them for them, and then others asked if I did other sports, & then other activities and then it evolved into “do you have an elephant charm?” and so on! My answer was always, I’ll see what I can do! So now, after about 4 years, it has morphed into a bit of an obsession and I now have over 700 DIFFERENT CHARMS TO CHOOSE FROM!! Of course that doesn’t include the custom charms I can make. =).
So why do I love it? It’s the people and the stories. A lot of people pick out jewelry for themselves, but there are just as many who buy something for others. I always ask them to tell me about the person so I can get a sense of what charms they may like and I can point them out. I’ve heard the most wonderful stories of family, perseverance, love and hardship. The stories of loss and grief are devastating, but I am always so honored to be part of someone who is reaching out and trying to ease their pain. And then there are the happy, proud family members showing their pride or expressing their love. It’s so cool to hear about who they are cheering for or what team they are passionate about. And I love to do the fun ones celebrating times together or memories of the past.
Every piece of jewelry is different. Each tells a story of a person who has their own passions, beliefs, friendships & hardships. It’s a way for people to connect & I get to be a small part of it. And I just love it.
It got me thinking, so I made a bracelet with a bunch of team/club inspired charms to wear during my two sons’ travel soccer games. Other moms asked me to make them for them, and then others asked if I did other sports, & then other activities and then it evolved into “do you have an elephant charm?” and so on! My answer was always, I’ll see what I can do! So now, after about 4 years, it has morphed into a bit of an obsession and I now have over 700 DIFFERENT CHARMS TO CHOOSE FROM!! Of course that doesn’t include the custom charms I can make. =).
So why do I love it? It’s the people and the stories. A lot of people pick out jewelry for themselves, but there are just as many who buy something for others. I always ask them to tell me about the person so I can get a sense of what charms they may like and I can point them out. I’ve heard the most wonderful stories of family, perseverance, love and hardship. The stories of loss and grief are devastating, but I am always so honored to be part of someone who is reaching out and trying to ease their pain. And then there are the happy, proud family members showing their pride or expressing their love. It’s so cool to hear about who they are cheering for or what team they are passionate about. And I love to do the fun ones celebrating times together or memories of the past.
Every piece of jewelry is different. Each tells a story of a person who has their own passions, beliefs, friendships & hardships. It’s a way for people to connect & I get to be a small part of it. And I just love it.