I was recently asked what was one of the most memorable experiences I have had as a fashion designer. Creating this jewelry line ranks up at the top for sure. 

When I met the family who carves the gourd, I was overwhelmed not only with how creative and kind they are, but also with the incredible attention to detail. There is so much love that goes into each piece not to mention, the sheer amount of time it takes to carve one story in dried gourd, let alone setting it in silver. 

We have named the collection Paraiso. Each piece, a work of art in its own right, has a scene from paradise - paraiso in Spanish - depicting song birds, trees of life or our signature zinnia flower. Sustainably made, these pieces are hand carved, hand painted gourd, laid in sterling silver and then beaded by women in Asia. We cross pollinate artisans from two cultures that share many of the same beliefs. Each piece is one of a kind and as we add to the line, no two will ever be alike. These are slow fashion, sustainable designs and fair trade. 

Here a few of my favorites: 

Champagne Pearls and Garnet Zinnia Necklace

Here I am with the cute family that beaded the necklaces in Asia: 

All the paint for the charms is made of all natural sustainable pigments from nature as photographed below: