Mothers Day Chat with Our Jewelers

Just in time for Mother’s Day we recently sat down for a chat with three of our jewelers to learn about how their moms and other family and friends helped empower them to become the talented makers they are today. Jewelers Christina Nicole, Sarah Greenberg (of Sarah Swell), and Corey Egan also give us their Mother’s Day picks!

A mother can be anyone who helped give you strength and encouraged you to pursue your dreams. Has there been any woman in particular who has inspired you?

CHRISTINA NICOLE: I’m extremely blessed to have numerous women in my life who have all consistently pushed me towards my goals. My mother, grandmothers, aunts and friends. They reiterate an ongoing theme of hard work, grace, kindness and never giving up on your goals. My mother specifically has been a defining role of excellence and hard work. She’s a natural leader and has passed on a small morsel of her grace and wit.

SARAH GREENBERG: Well, I’m going to have to say my Mum! She taught me that hard work and following your dreams have equal value. She always encouraged me to pursue my creative passions knowing full well that a career in the arts is not an easy path. Seeing how hard she fought to give me the best chance of success in life inspires me to push myself everyday.

COREY EGAN: When it comes to my art, my mother is my biggest promoter and number one fan. But it was her career and business savvy which I feel so fortunate to have had in my life. She is a strong, educated woman who became a very coveted project manager. She never let me lose sight of my potential. She’s been an invaluable resource as I’ve grown my business—I’m still always going to her for advice!

Did you know you had a knack for jewelry design and creation when you were a young girl?

CHRISTINA NICOLE: My mom has really great photos of me dressed like a crazy person, because she let me dress myself, sitting at the kitchen table painting when I was 2 years old. She’s the type of mother who pushes you towards any interest, knack or curiosity. That gift in my life stirred independence and confidence to go out on a limb and try something, whether it failed or succeeded. Thanks to her, I’ll always try and give an endeavor my best effort.

SARAH GREENBERG: I have been drawn to the arts as well as entrepreneurship as far back as I can remember. Perhaps I didn’t always know that I’d be a jewelry designer specifically, but I did know that I’d be running a creative business of some sort. Finding jewelry was a very happy accident!

COREY EGAN: When I was younger I dabbled in nearly every other art form. The closest I got to jewelry design before college was crafting friendship bracelets with my friends. Come to think of it, they were quite business savvy too. For my 10th birthday they sold bracelets on their front lawn so they could buy me a pet turtle.

When did you learn how to use the machinery required to fashion your jewelry? From whom did you learn?

CHRISTINA NICOLE: I went to college for metalsmithing and sculpture.

SARAH GREENBERG: I first learned to make jewelry while working in retail jewelry sales and became completely infatuated with the process and possibilities. I continued on to learn from various different teachers, mentors and designers until I felt I had honed my craft enough to launch my own business.

COREY EGAN: I studied metalsmithing in college and it was there I got my first taste of tools of the trade. But being “at home” in a workshop came from years of working on projects with my father. He was always building and problem solving. He taught me to plan and execute my ideas as well as learn the machinery. To this day, working alongside him is one of my favorite things to do.

What pieces of yours do you think are perfect for moms this Mother’s Day?

CHRISTINA NICOLE: We wanted to craft something that could be passed from generation to generation with life events particularly in mind. The beautiful images of mothers passing on handcrafted heirlooms to their daughters for graduations, 16th birthdays or even first dates. As a girl, I’d watch my mom style and do her own hair, always amazed at how beautiful her hair was when she twisted it up with hair sticks. She was effortless but when I’d attempt it without her, I ended up with a knotted ball of hair with a stick poking out the center. Our hairpins are a nod to those memories, we’re wanting to carry on the elegance and grace of our mothers to the next generation.

SARAH GREENBERG: I’d choose the weathered droplet necklace with diamonds or the mini stargazer necklace. Both are sweet and special pieces that mom can wear everyday and be reminded fondly of the gift giver.

COREY EGAN: My mother has her staple favorites which she never wants to take off. It makes me so happy each time I see her wearing them. If your mother is the same, she will love wearing the tiny fragment necklace or the tiny fragment stud earrings. The little diamond set into the surface of each is really something special.

Mother’s Day is May 10th!
15% off for early purchases until April 26. (code “mom15″)