Behind the Jewellery
How Shells Became Jewels
Today I'm taking you behind the scenes in my process. What started as beautiful memories on the beach turned into precious jewellery in my design studio.
Quality Time on the Beach
Since having my daughter, Arden, I’ve experienced the beach in an entirely new way.
Before becoming a parent, I would walk and talk with friends on Elbow Beach, do photo shoots at Stone Hole, or float on the waves after a rigorous volleyball game at Horseshoe.
And then I had a baby at 40.
Admittedly, I've been exhausted and pretty much half asleep for the past 4 years. With her, I often find myself lying on a beach blanket, in that state of awake-napping with my eyes 26% open (endlessly trying to keep sand out of her mouth/eyes/nose).
This is how I ended up spending so much time within arm's reach of Bermuda's most exquisite shells.
As you all know, I've been a sand fanatic for decades, but it's as if inspiration tapped me on the shoulder. These shells found me.
Shell-fies: Seeing Beauty Up Close
I never set out to turn those shells into jewellery. Usually I have an intention when I design a collection. But not with these tiny pretties.
Each little handful of shells was gathered on a different day. Each carried a memory of its own: the morning we ended up at Clearwater Beach in our pajamas, that seemingly endless sunset at Hog Bay, and springtime sandcastles at Shelly Bay.
Each time, I would pocket a shell or two, only to find them weeks later, still tucked into my jacket.
At first, I added them to my "Curiosity Windowsill" where I keep feathers, rocks, crystals, and little love notes from Arden. All tiny things I enjoy seeing glow in the morning light.
Eventually, that little bowl of shells found its way into my studio as props for jewellery shoots. Then they drifted over to my bench, and I began to mold and sculpt them.
Sculpting in the Studio
Transforming Shells to Wax
Those shells were waiting for the right moment. I began molding them, pouring molten wax into those molds, then sculpting and refining each one by hand. At first, my intention was simple: to use the shells as components - textures embedded into rings, earrings, and other pieces, a way to bring the intricate lacework of the ocean into wearable form.
But textures have a way of sparking new ideas. After returning from the Tucson Gem Show, I was brimming with inspiration and eager to test a new gem setting technique. That experiment turned into something I hadn’t planned: a limited-edition series of one-of-a-kind shells, scattered with gemstones and diamonds, each one sprinkled like stardust across the ocean’s surface. They sold out in a flash - some within minutes - and I realized that these shells wanted their own story.
Transfroming Wax to Silver & Gold
Stories You Can Wear Forever
Which brings me here: finally releasing them not as rare one-offs, but as a ready-to-wear collection for all to enjoy. Pieces you can slip on every day, that carry the ridges and curves of real Bermuda shells, cast not just in silver and gold, but in memory, texture, and story.
Because this collection isn’t really about me. It’s about you. It’s about the moment you felt the sun on your shoulders as the tide rolled in. The joy of spotting a shell glistening on the shoreline. The kind of memory you wish you could hold onto forever. These pieces are here to do just that. To become the keepers of the experience that mattered most to you.
When you slip into your shell pendant, may it carry you back to the exact feeling you want to remember - whether it’s a walk along Horseshoe Bay, laughter with someone you love, or the peace you found listening to the waves. Each curve and texture becomes your touchstone, a way to bring a piece of Bermuda with you, wherever life takes you next.
P.S.
With a Heart Full of Thanks 💕
The other day I filmed a little moment that felt like the heart of this whole collection: Arden was learning new words, ("lim-pit"), discovering the world, frolicking in the tide pools off Hog Bay Beach, and I was reminded how something so small - a shell, a moment, a memory - can ripple outward into something bigger.
That’s what this collection is for me: a personal story transformed into something universal. I feel so lucky to create wearable art that holds joy, memory, and place all at once. My hope is that these pieces bring that same feeling to you. Little keepers of the experience, ready to carry your own story forward.
The Shell Collection will be live online and in-store on Friday, October 17th. Stay tuned! I can’t wait to share it with you.
TINY TREASURES FROM THE SEA
These beautiful designs are available in-store and online. Visit us in-store to feel their gorgeous textures for yourself!