HEART OF LOVE

  
The story of how the Heart of Love pendant came about is quite lovely. I have always loved heart-shaped things—rocks, jewelry, heart everything. What’s not to love?

Sometimes an artist experiences a dry spell creatively, where the genius within just needs a time out. There doesn’t seem to be anything stirring the imagination, and maybe that is as it should be. When one is silent or still, a visionary process can still be occurring inside, on some level. But tell that to the loud, outer mind that keeps shouting, “Get to work!”

I was fortunate enough to be raised by a mother who was a gourmet French chef, so food and cooking are in my blood and are a real passion. I poured this passion into part-time catering. One day when I happened to be in a creative dry spell with my jewelry work and was feeling frustrated that nothing was inspiring new designs, I had catered a fine meal. I was cleaning the kitchen, sweeping the floor and listening to some discussion of spirituality on a cd, when I heard, “Heart of Love,” in reference to our heart’s purpose to love unconditionally in life. That’s all it took for me to visualize a tiny silver heart, meticulously crafted with a top bale shaped like a tear drop (Tear of Joy) and a heart imprint on the backside.

Moral of the story: At the most unexpected times, life, inspiration, and art can flow beautifully through us. We just have to open our hearts and allow it in.

Jewelry Making from Ecuador

My youngest daughter Julia went to Ecuador last year, where she lived with an indigenous tribe for a month. There she learned their art in jewelry making.

He turned into a Prince, but she left him there.

Awhile ago I had asked her if she could make me a pair of earrings, much like the style she had learned in Ecuador.

A few weeks ago I had received a birthday package from her with a beautiful pair of earrings she had made me, exactly like I had pictured from what she had learned in Ecuador.

My birthday gift.

What I find most amazing is a culture of people who live in the most simplest of ways, to create something with so much detail and complexity.

Moral of the story:  Everything we know comes from a place within, which has no limits, no matter what our outer conditions are.