The Journal
Rocks, Sky, & Sea
Living on the coast of California, I’ve been lucky to have an intimate understanding of where the Pacific Ocean meets the land, but nothing prepared me for how deeply I would be inspired by my recent visit to Hawaii.
Bold in Gold
Gold is recognized as the oldest precious metal known to humankind. Today, all around the globe, it defines wealth and luxury in the form of jewelry, art, currency, and more. There is so much history, myth, and meaning associated with this metal that it has become legend. This magic is one of the many reasons we are drawn to it.
Meet Vitrine
I’m proud to introduce the Vitrine ring, a marriage of contrasts that showcases its stone from all sides in the form of a V-split shank. From every angle the stone shines and refracts the light, reflecting from within. Encased in precious metals of gold or silver, each ring is as unique as the stone it holds.
The Vitrine ring is an homage to my mother, who inspires me to embrace the beauty of boldness and the power of being seen in my fullness. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Women’s Strength & Power
We all know women who champion other women. They lift us up, encourage us, celebrate us. We need them! Witnessing women’s strength reminds me that I, too, possess resilience, strength and power. And in this way, they inspire me to be my very own champion.
Years ago, I had an idea. I wanted to design a piece that spoke to my inner power, to be a talisman to help me remember, even when I doubted, that I was strong enough to continue forward. I created a ring, the first piece in a series I’d come to call the Power Series.
Romancing the Stone
Often I find the process of my custom work surprises me in both unexpected and delightful ways. I recently started working with a client who discovered she had a stunning 4 carat Colombian emerald in a delicate setting that had been lost to the depths of a drawer, rarely worn. So she came to me wanting to transform it into something more her style that she could wear every day.
When Going Remote Is Personal
I’ve worked remotely with some of my clients for many years, so when the pandemic hit I was already comfortable working virtually with the creative process.
Over time I’ve cultivated the CED custom process to be what it is today – an ongoing collaborative conversation that gets us from a dream to a meaningful, powerful piece.
Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is coming up on Sunday and it has me thinking about parallels. The balance between light and dark, between emotional and rational. There is a perfect tension that holds harmony between opposites, a balancing contrast.
The Enduring Power of Love
June is Alzheimer’s Awareness month and as Father’s Day approaches, I think about the enduring power of love – particularly how we can express love without words, with our mere presence. A tender squeeze on the arm, some quiet time spent together, sustained eye contact, or a selfless act of service. So much can be expressed without ever uttering a word.
The Resilience of Mothers
I saw this flower yesterday and it reminded me of my mom. She actually prefers pink to orange, but this little beauty had pluck, thriving amongst the concrete. When I think of my mom, I can’t help but think of her resilience. I think of all the challenges I’ve seen her face and overcome.
Inner Jester
The arrival of Spring and its gift of renewal has made me realize how ready I am to unburden myself from the heavy mantle of Winter. I completely forgot to have fun or play any practical jokes on April Fool’s Day. Talk about missed opportunities!
Ways of Seeing
This week I have noticed the trees coming back. Spring is on its way. Soon the time will change an hour forward and the days will get longer. These once-barren branches, stripped to their bones for Winter, are already sprouting tiny leaves, the buds of green fruit, and the promise of an explosion of color in the cherry blossoms.
Power Through Self-Care
We all know the importance of self-care, but do we truly believe in it? To believe something is to be transformed by it.
Unexpectedly Inspired
Never one to be too fond of purple (more on that below), I have found myself seeing this color in a new light. It has captured my attention when taking walks about the city. It demanded my attention when visiting Monet’s Water Lilies in Paris last year. It has captivated me when watching the colors change on clouded wintery sunsets. Purple began to whisper to me that we are on the verge of a brand new relationship.
Happy New Year
Change is constant, never sitting still. Its companion time waits for no one. The days and years rush by bringing things we have no control of or over. But even in the face of all this, we can choose to hold our own.
Precious Objects
Her observation inspired me in many ways – most poignantly how to discover possibility in unlikely places. One might think that this tree had done its job and is now done. But if I look a little closer, I see something greater...a legacy of possibility. Its seeds are possible beginnings, more trees, another thing of beauty. Fascinated by the pod’s spiky and otherworldly surface, of course I took some home and went to work.
The Power of Collaboration
Collaboration with my clients becomes a shared vision. Input and inspiration, as well as a connection with the journey result in a feeling of joy as we realize that neither of us is alone in making this vision come alive.
The Power of Possibility
A while back I shared about this cross I created for my friend and client, Nancy. She had me engrave it with the word, ‘Possibility.’