August 2016: New Beginnings {Earrings-of-the-Month}

Years ago, I captured this photograph of a nest while hiking in Modoc National Forest. And it popped into my head as I prepare to send my eldest off to high school in August. New beginnings. Big beginnings.

R is a bundle of excitement and nerves. He will be part of a pilot group, forging ahead to bring the International Baccalaureate program to the high school level here on the Monterey Peninsula. He's been immersed in the PYP and MYP programs at his other school, but this is a new beginning.

I still see him as this soft, little boy – most of the time – but I catch glimmers of his teenage self, with harder edges and a wee bit of tween ‘tude. He's gangly and awkward right now, but I am embracing each stage because it passes quickly. So, I’m facing this change and growth head on and enjoying the person he is becoming.

New Beginnings

The August 2016 EcoChic Designs’ Earrings-of-the-Month selections are made in the shades of these eggs, with turquoise, amazonite with flecks of earthy brown, and other gems...all handwired with sterling silver.

'Food has a story' Necklace and Earring Set {Donation}

I am donating this set to MEarth for their Earth Day Silent Auction fundraiser.

‘Food has a story.’ 

I located an artisan in southern California who was able to turn my handwriting into a pendant. I chose this sentence because I believe it’s something people need to remember and embrace – and it seemed an appropriate connection to MEarth’s FoodConnect programs. “When people gather around a table to share food, magic happens,” I read on MEarth’swebsite. I couldn’t agree more.

A ‘Food has a story’ pendant, in sterling silver, is the focal point of this one-of-a-kind necklace. The pendant is handwired in sterling silver with faceted light and dark smoky quartz rondelles, faceted moonstone rondelles, tiny turquoise nuggets, and an up-cycled sterling silver chain. It closes in the rear with a sterling silver hook-and-eye clasp. 

The coordinating earrings are made with up-cycled sterling findings and faceted pale sapphires they hang from sterling silver earwires.

The Start of Something...

During a hike in Modoc National Forest, we came across this nest and it got me thinking about fresh starts and new beginnings. So much potential. My eldest son started middle school this school year. Not a lot of change, in that he’s on the same campus with the same classmates and many of the same enrichment teachers, but a change nonetheless. I still see him as this soft, little boy – most of the time – but I’m beginning to see glimmers of his teenage self, with harder edges and a wee bit of tween ‘tude. As I recently told my cousin who is about to have her first baby: enjoy each stage because it passes quickly. So, I’m taking my own advice. I’m facing this growth head on and embracing the person he is becoming. Enjoy!

The Start of Something…

The SEPTEMBER 2013 EcoChic Designs’ Earrings-of-the-Month selections are made in the shades of these eggs, with aquamarines, amazonite, turquoise, smokey topaz, golden pyrite, blue recycled glass and more...all handwired with sterling silver.

These will be in the mail early next week...just after the Labor Day holiday. Hope the gals enjoy!