Decades ago (in 2003) I was working full-time for the Department of Health here in Hawaii. I loved my job. I loved the people I worked with. But I was bored. So to engage my brain, I decided to pursue a master's degree. And then, in the midst of being swamped with work and school, a coworker introduced me to the art of jewelry-making. I was most definitely no longer bored.

Not one to quit, I completed my degree program in creative writing, and I've been making jewelry ever since. It's a passion. It relaxes me. And my stash of supplies is probably worth thousands. I'd prefer to think I'm not a hoarder though. :D

Prickly Pear Designs, LLC was born in January 2018. It's still in its infancy, but here you'll find high-quality, hand-made jewelry. Components include sterling silver, natural stones and a lot of Swarovski crystals. See something you like but you'd prefer it in gold or with a different stone? Send me a message and I'd be happy to price it for you.

Much of the jewelry you'll find here is beachy or made with Southeast Asian or Arab vibes. My Egyptian heritage plays a large role in my taste in jewelry.

Prickly pears have figured in my life in one way or another while I was growing up. As a teenager while visiting Alexandria, Egypt one summer, our mom wanted to buy us prickly pears off of a cart on a street in our neighborhood. Good plan, except that the street seller's knife was dirty, and mom decided she'd rather peel the fruit for us herself. If you've ever (accidentally, I'm sure) touched the outside of a prickly pear, you know that the thick skin is covered in small, almost clear spines that quickly embed themselves in your hands. Let's just say my little sister and I spent most of the evening holding our mom's hands up to the light so we could see the little spines and pull them out with our nails.

In my undergrad years I wrote a poem about prickly pears. It featured a man that ate too many. He swallowed the seeds and had terrible constipation. I'll be sure to post the poem here if I ever find it.

Prickly pears grow in Hawaii too. You'll see them on the side of the freeway if you drive to the west side (or the east side!) of Oahu.

I'm always adding new pieces to the collection. Check back soon!