Michelle

Michelle's handwriting is unmistakable; she dots I's with little bubble-like circles, adds curly tails to the letters at the end words, and always uses purple ink. Michelle, herself, is an unbelievable beauty; with her soft blond hair and brilliant blue eyes she sparkles like mid-day sunshine. She is also unapologetically perky; she is as sweet as peaches and has an easy sort of kindness about her. Some might dismiss all of these feminine details as a weakness but such a oversight would be unforgivable. You see, Michelle's girly splendor is the way she stays positive even through a life-changing, world-crushing, dream-dashing event. Michelle is unbreakable. This cheery cherry necklace celebrates Michelle and her resilient optimism.

Elizabeth

Do you remember your senior prom? Did you plan every detail: shop for the perfect dress, dye satin shoes to match, and make a salon appointment so you could wear your hair in hairspray crisp curls pinned to the crown of your head reminiscent to Audrey Hepburn in "A Roman Holiday"? We may all have had illusions of the perfect prom night, but in reality how many of our prom nights played out exactly like our dreams?
This necklace is for one of my very best high school friends, Elizabeth. The day of our senior prom, she was driving us to get our manicures when she was pulled over in her white Volkswagen Rabbit for not making a complete stop at a traffic sign. Parental drama ensued and the kibosh was put on her after prom festivities. I'm so sorry Liz. I wish it would have turned out differently for you and I feel like in some way I was partly to blame, especially because I think you were distracted by my singing along to your mix tape.
Maybe we all have a secret hopes to relive prom. Not to worry though, you can definitely be the prom queen everyday wearing this butter yellow satin and tulle corsage necklace.
Three asymmetrical, beaded rosettes are hand sewn tightly on a felt and lace backing (almost as pretty as the front). The length is adjustable: just hook the lobster claw clasp anywhere along the opposite chain and a glass pearl and a yellow rose pearl counterweight will dangle elegantly down your back. Wears adorably with a crinoline and chiffon party dress but also just as easily with a scoop neck T-shirt or soft cardigan.

Leslie

A mother will drop off your forgotten swim suit at summer day camp on her valuable lunch break because it will crush her heart to think of you sadly sitting poolside all day while your friends splash and play in the deep end. A mother will also stay up all through the night to finish her law school assignment and not regret for a moment that earlier in the day she took the time to help you make valentines for your second grade classmates. Leslie is mother who does this AND looks fantastic in a beautiful gray suit and pointy-toe, suede stilettos. A modern-day super woman; her beauty, intelligence, and success are uncompromised by her motherhood. In fact, her beauty, intelligence, and success are made more remarkable by her motherhood.
This necklace is comprised of three clusters of fresh water pearls on a silver tone which represent Leslie and her two children. The clusters are blushed with gray and pink and accented by nuclei of large glass beads and pearls. All are sewn onto reinforced felt and backed in velvety pink fabric for wearable comfort.

Sr. Joan Marie

My fifth grade world was ruled by the "Iron Habit" a.k.a. Sister Joan Marie. As harmless as I appeared in a green and white plaid uniform pinafore, I seemed to be in constant trouble in Sr. Joan Marie's class. Some of my most serious offenses: 1.) sneaking a library book about chimpanzees into the girls' bathroom and forgetting to return to the classroom and 2.) copying gross words like "hemorrhoid" out of the dictionary. She was a stern disciplinarian but fair. For example: if you were playing kick-ball in front of the convent garage and she came roaring through the parking lot in her behemoth sedan, she would give you the courtesy of exactly one blaring honk before you better get your plaid-a$$ out of dodge.
She was an "old school" nun even back in my day and taught her students to fear Satan. She said that if you ever see him coming around the corner you should say "Jesus, Mary, Joseph!" and pray the "Hail Mary" every day. Well, maybe this necklace will offer a little more protection. It is a wooden tile painted white and bearing a transferred image of the Holy Mother. Iridescent turquoise glass beads, cobalt blue wooden beads, and vintage silver tone rosary beads hang amidst wired layers of white stone chips.

Reyna Sisters

I have four sister-in-laws and perhaps it would be a better story if I told you that gaining acceptance into their close knit family was chaotic and challenging, but it was quite the opposite. They welcomed me with open arms from the very beginning. And as I fell deeply in love with their brother, space in my heart for my new sisters also grew. Caring, compassionate, kind, and generous are just some of the characteristics of these truly queenly women. I count my blessings everyday and among them are Silvia, Mabel, Carmen, and Erica.
This regal necklace was inspired by my sister-in-laws. Three opulent strands of large white faux glass pearls are arranged on shaped wire to perfectly encircle the neck. The traditional images on wood tiles are repurposed from a handcrafted Mexican jewelry and have been framed with acrylic gemstones. A silver tone chain finishes the back of the necklace for comfort.

Lisa

Everyone respects Lisa; not because she demands it but because she earns it by treating people with value and kindness. She taught me that the best way to get to the top is not by stomping on the backs of others but having others lift you up.
Natural turquoise color stone cushions are lifted by glass pearls in these earrings inspired by Lisa.

Brenda

Acceptance is a pivotal goal of human existence. It is the driving force behind virtually all behavior beginning in early childhood. Biological anthropologists believe infants are inherently beautiful and attractive with large eyes, round faces, symmetrical features, and soft skin (characteristics more commonly known as "cuteness") so that they are accepted by their mothers and receive more attention, thus, increasing their chances of survival. The need for acceptance seems to be at its greatest peak in the teen years. Behind the popularity contests, clique formation, and bullying that perhaps tortured us all at some point of our young lives, is the hunger for a sense of belonging. However, if this need is somehow left unrequited during development, it is ever so much more achingly painful in later life -- it can turn into dangerous self loathing or deadly self destruction.
In the need for acceptance, we desperately ask the question "Who am I?" It is answered by our families, our peers, and our communities before we can answer it for our selves. In our membership among these groups, we see reflections of ourselves and learn the language of self expression. Sometimes membership does not come easily, as individuals we are all unique and are required to relinquish ourselves to some degree of conformity for acceptance. I cringe every time I tell my three year old she must stay in line at dance class and not spin around or pretend to be a butterfly when all the other girls are following directions. I know there's a time and place when appropriate behavior is necessary but I hope my reigning in of her free spirit does not extend outside the dance studio walls. I know some of the other little girls (and their parents) get a little annoyed when my daughter strays outside her line or pulls her t-shirt up over her head and bumps around. But then, there is another little girl who laughs at her antics and makes funny faces with my daughter in the mirror. During a break, I was helping my daughter fix her dance skirt and telling her to "follow the other girls" when this pure-hearted little girl, no more than five years old, said to me, "Don't be mad at her, she's my friend."
I looked into her big brown, concerned eyes and was reminded of Brenda. I too, have someone in my life who has stood up for me, Brenda. She was my friend when I was different from everyone else and for that I am grateful. This headband is for her. A single flower with light and dark brown leather petals and accented with white mother-of-pearl beads.