Coming Home
I’ve loved jewelry since I was tall enough to peep over the edge of a jewelry counter.
From as early as I can remember, whenever I accumulated a few dollars, I would make a beeline straight to the local dime store. I would sort through the displays of rhinestone jewelry designed for grown-ups and agonize for hours until I found the necklace, bracelet or ring with the perfect amount of glitz and sparkle. (In other words, the most over-the-top piece I could find.)
I genuinely had no idea that I was supposed to wear dainty, tasteful jewelry designed specifically for children. I just assumed that the other little girls had a really serious lack of imagination. For instance, I was pretty easy to spot in the group photo taken of my kindergarten class on our field trip. I was the one in rhinestone cat-eye sunglasses, multi-strand pearl choker, spaghetti strap sundress and carrying a gigantic straw tote covered in faux fruit.
My poor parents showed an amazing amount of patience with me. I know I must have been bewildering to them, but they humored me and my wacky outfits. The only negative comment I ever remember my mother making was when I was about six years old. We were going to an afternoon wedding. When I came out dripping in rhinestones as usual, Mama looked me over and simply said that “it just isn’t considered good taste to wear rhinestone rings on the outside of your gloves.” I must have looked mortally wounded, because she paused a minute, smiled and then added “before six in the evening.”
Anyway, as I’ve grown up my tastes have changed somewhat, but I’ve never lost my love of jewelry. After working in graphic design and marketing for years, I’ve come full circle and back to my original love.
It feels like I’ve finally come home.
