It’s all about surf, sparkle and the story.
Once upon a time, I spent my summers on a sailboat. I’d pass the time reading, exploring, and beading; and then sell my sparkling creations to friends on the dock. As I grew up, it became obvious that my skills were better focused into one creative avenue, and I’ve since followed the old adage: if you can’t do, teach. Well, in my case, it’s more of a Write About It and wear as much jewellery as possibly by other, far more talented artists.
So, in an effort to further explore this enigma to me that is blogging, I’ll occasionally be featuring jewellery designers whose pieces are an expression of story themselves; and always inspiring to the designer and wearer alike. Because it’s usually the story one doesn’t see that makes a piece sparkle even more in the eye of the beholder.
My first sparkling subject is Vancouver-based Karenjess Jewelry
The What: Silver and bronze cast bracelets, necklaces, and rings
The How Much: $40 – $150, Custom pieces by request
The Where Can I Get It?!: Online, and retailers around the West Coast
The Story
Karen Hendry’s classic West Coast beauty infuses her simple, chic designs of silver- and bronze-cast shells and other found objects from the sea. Together with her water baby twin sister and marketing half of the business, Heather, they’ve taken KarenJess beyond it’s craft fair roots to a brand-new online presence and partnerships with Surfrider, Ocean Gybe, and Rip Curl. What makes the line unique, and appealing to these organizations and clients alike, is that to Karen, “it’s not just about the jewellery: it’s people’s stories.”
The Inspiration
Beach combing for the perfect shell or wave-polished rock starts the process and inspires Karen’s vision of a necklace, bracelet or ring. She uses not only the object itself, but the place it came from, to determine how the piece of jewellery will turn out. First inspired by shells while vacationing in Mexico years ago, she’s created pieces with shells from all over the world, and is now launching a line in tribute of her childhood home in Deep Cove featuring pebble bangles and driftwood necklaces. Karen also created the trophy necklace for the ladies of the Rip Curl Pro Tofino surf competition;. It began with the place the competitors surfed, then the perfect shell, and ended with a keepsake trophy the winners will never forget. From time to time, clients will entrust Karen with a treasured vacation find that she turns into a custom piece for them.
The Sparkling Result
It’s the line’s timeless aesthetic; an all-ages appeal that comes from placing importance on her clients’ story to take precedence over the trend-of-the-moment that makes KarenJess Jewelry stand out from all the other wave-makers out there. Choose from the Washed Up core collection of shell necklaces or the new Deep Cove collection, and watch for more tribute collections with each season. Or, immortalize your own story with a shell sparkler of your very own.
X♥, Karin
