Name: Elise
Location: Vermont
Style philosophy: Why not?
I’d describe my style as: People say it is tasteful. On the conservative side but I have a tendency to do very good matching with jewelry. I put my clothes out the night before and see what jewelry (mostly by Saskia, my youngest daughter) matches.
I always get compliments–even the church choir waits to see on Sunday what I’m wearing! And I always dress for the occasion. I will never go out at night without changing.
The best style advice I ever received: I used to be a Brooks Brothers dresser–plaid, turtlenecks, and ponytails. My second husband, Gene, got me a magazine with modern outfits and it changed my style. I took it to the store and showed them what I liked. It’s a more modern look, more Neiman Marcus. I’m freer with my taste, before it was more of my first husband’s taste. My daughter Marijke says, “Mom has learned to adapt her style of clothing to Vermont living but it’s still elegant.”
The style advice I like to give is: I usually don’t give advice–it’s hard to tell someone to do something different than what they are doing, but from my husband I learned “Why not?”
Pack light or pack it all, what’s your travel style? Pack light, always. I am known for having a small suitcase with choices that go together. On my last day in Thailand, I had a clean white blouse and the others traveling in the group were shocked I had so many outfits in such a small suitcase.
My favorite SASKIA is: Mint!
Our first real adventure on the Mekong began while taking the slow boat from Thailand to Laos. There were two options to get there. The slow boat was very slow and would take a day and a half. The speedboat option was a little bit more expensive, and we thought it was going to be a bit more dangerous. We totally should’ve taken the speedboat. Instead, we spent 40 hours sitting uncomfortably in a tiny raft packed with people meandering slowly, extremely slowly, down the Mekong River.
I met a bunch of boys selling rather intricately and creatively knotted thread crafts along the Mekong in Cambodia. I was so impressed with both their skill (woven fish with gills and tails in 10 colors!) and their English and started talking with one of them. He soon became my embroidery knot teacher and showed me how to make many different knots. In return, I offered to take him shopping at the local outdoor market (a maze of stalls miles long) where he helped me purchase more thread at the non-tourist price! Then I asked him what I could give him in return for his lessons. He took me past many vendors until he reached the one he was looking for. He chose a pair of black jeans and told me he was saving them for a celebration and called them his “Happy New Year pants” ––never have I had so much joy buying a gift!
The knowledge he shared with me lived on. Our next stop was at an ex-pat run guesthouse along the water called Sabadi Corner (means a resting place). Scott and I met several other travelers and within hours I was teaching them how to make bracelets with the thread and knowledge I had received from my friend.
After many months abroad I was feeling super homesick, and my mother treated us to a three-day boat trip down the river. The entire boat was made out of mahogany, and, by chance, we were the only passengers! Our incredible guide showed us different locations along the river, taught us the history of Laos, and took us to see the Si Phan Don Islands, an archipelago of literally 1,000 tiny islands. This was where I first tried larb gai with sticky rice. The dish of ground meat with citrus and spices is found on many Thai restaurant menus––if you see it, you MUST try it!
Our local guide took us out on a smaller straw boat where we played in the water and learned how to fish using handmade rods. Our guide made a fire, cooked our fish, and we shared an incredible fresh and delicious meal together. As we went back to our guesthouse, we watched the sun set in vibrant brushstrokes of orange, yellow, and pink––resulting in one of my top 10 best photos of the trip and a memory I will never forget.
I learned so much about the history of this region as we traveled, and it has an impact on my work to this day. My Mien earrings honor the Cambodian Mien tribe who had to flee to Thailand for their own safety during Pol Pot’s systematic killing of Cambodians in the late 70s––¼ of Cambodians were killed in 4 years. You could feel the weight of the history, the sadness, in Cambodia. The Mien people fled to the hill tribes of northern Thailand and that is where the silver work is done from our Mien earrings. I hoped that naming the earrings after them would educate those who had never otherwise heard of them.
One morning as we started to pack to move on to our next location along the Mekong, someone we met asked us to stay another day and join him for his birthday party. A year traveling the world taught me how important it is to say YES to the unexpected and not be held back by your original plans.
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Living in Eshisiru was so different from the life I had experienced up until that point. I am a city girl but I loved the simplicity of the life I lead there––no electricity or running water, no appliances, just the bare necessities. It taught me how little you really need to live happily.
I loved learning Swahili and went on to study it further in university after I returned to the US. I still sing a few of the songs in Swahili that I learned from my students.
I was taught to cook ugali and sukuma wiki––the staple foods of the western region of Kenya made with ground corn and collard greens. Toward the end of my stay, I made a meal for 10 people to eat and my host "mom" told me I was now ready to be married!
While I source beads for my jewelry from small vendors all across the continent of Africa, my time there was spent in the east. I would like to visit the west coast when we can travel again to experience the differences of each culture. I use many Ghanaian beads in my designs and love their brightly colored textiles and gorgeous fabrics. I also would love to visit a Francophone country to use the French I learned in my international high school.
I have a small wooden chair, only a foot high and decorated with hammered nails, that I bought in Kakamega, Kenya and still use today. Visiting markets and bazaars off the beaten path is one of my favorite things about traveling. It inspired me to create the Found section of our site and store, full of treasures sourced from places I love, like the beautiful African textile face masks and coin purses made for us by a woman in Nairobi.
So much of the jewelry I create has Africa woven into the design, including Ghanaian lost wax beads, Ethiopian brass and white metal and Malian glass. The AFRICAN DANCER necklace is regal, strong, and beautiful–––like the lovely mama I had in Eshisiru.
]]>TRAVELING IN TIBET
SASKIA: Going to Tibet was never in our original travel plans. We met a 60-something-year-old backpacker from Germany while in Western China (also not on our original plan––that change was driven by our desire to get out of all the large cities on the eastern side of China) whom we met at breakfast one morning. We were discussing where we were off to next and she couldn't believe we had made it this close to Tibet but weren't going. She convinced us to go as it was changing so rapidly and we had to see it now before it was too late. So we did! We will forever be grateful to her for that advice.
SCOTT: We arrived in Lhasa after an over-the-Himalayas flight from Lijiang, China (also known as Shangri-la to Chinese tour operators). We stayed in town for a few days before joining in with some new friends on hiring a 4x4 with a local driver who took us around Namtso Lake, the monastery in Shigatse, and a few other holy sites. Again we returned to Lhasa for a spell, during which Saskia befriended Tenzin - the famed turquoise dealer outside the Jokhang Monastery. Setting our eyes on a journey west, we hired another driver with a new set of friends and hit the road. Along the way we left the main roads and drove up to the Rongbuk Monastery at the base of Mount Everest. We walked (incredibly slowly because of the elevation) up the glacial valley and spent the night at the first base camp for prospective climbers. Unbelievable views. The heights behind us, we set off for the border of Nepal, where we experienced one of the most amazing drives of our life - descending from the high mountain desert of Tibet, through the clouds into the green, fertile valley of Nepal below.
SASKIA: We went to a hostel and looked up on the bulletin board and found Jenny and Kelsey who were traveling together and needed more people to fill their car. We connected with another new friend named Max and the five of us drove all around Tibet to monasteries and into the mountains and even the base camp of Mount Everest, where the air was so thin I couldn't walk a hundred meters more to see the actual start of the path! We even stayed in a cave with Tibetans who played mahjong all night while we tried to sleep in the same room.
WHY WE LOVE TIBET
SCOTT: Spirituality flows like the water through this awe-inspiring land. This is a country of extremes–– “The Roof of the World” where sunburn and frostbite both attach at once. 90% of Asia's water comes from Tibetan glaciers, yet the land is parched and barren. If gods walk the earth, their feet would walk Tibetan roads, and the people who make their lives add here know that. Despite this harshness, Tibetans are the most welcoming, friendly and kind-natured souls you will ever find.
SASKIA: The people! Because of the climate many Tibetans have very rosy cheeks, which only adds to the big smiles we received from friendly faces and warmth we received from so many strangers––along with the giggles from nuns who thought I might be one because of my shaved head that matched theirs.
SASKIA’S TIBETAN APPRENTICESHIP
SCOTT: Saskia always talks with everyone. Sometimes we would be about to catch a bus and I would find her deep in conversation with new friends or playing with a passing child. I know this must have been the case at the Jokhang monastery. I think I was walking around looking for a beer, when I found her ogling Tenzin's turquoise and telling me about her upcoming apprenticeship.
SASKIA: I noticed a very pretty knot on many of the string necklaces that were sold in the marketplace around the Jokhang monastery, the central meeting point of Lhasa. I asked one vendor if he could tell me more about it, but he didn't speak English. I asked him to help me find someone who did. He took me to Tenzin, whose excellent English allowed me to ask him if he would be willing to teach me to make the knot. Each morning for the next four days, I met him in the marketplace and between making sales, he and his sister taught me several traditional Tibetan knots. Then one day, out of nowhere, he said he wanted to take me somewhere. I had no idea what we were going to do but I trusted him. (This is so important when traveling--if you say yes to invitations you get exposed to so many gems you wouldn't otherwise as a regular tourist.) He took me through some backstreets, and we ended up in a marketplace void of all the western tourists and filled only with Tibetans. He took me to his friend who had the most beautiful turquoise I had ever seen. Smooth, large and with so many green and blue colors I had never seen in turquoise in the US. This was, without me knowing it at the time, the very beginning of my business.
OUR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF TIBET
SCOTT: We had found a place to spend the night at a sort of monastery with some monks. There was a young monk and an older one. I had just helped them cook scrambled eggs (apparently not a Tibetan dish) and I decided it was time for a stretch. Apparently, yoga is also not a Tibetan thing, because they were both hugely intrigued by the poses. We ended up spending a half hour sharing some basic moves, after which they decided yoga really wasn't their thing and went back to the eggs.
SASKIA: Our driver took us all over Tibet, and even brought us to his family home where we met many of his relatives. He played lots of Tibetan music in his car. Nam Tu Yo was my favorite and always made me sing and dance around. Once we came back to Lhasa, I went to a vendor selling CDs and sang the song for them asking if they had it. The reaction on their faces when they heard this western girl singing a Tibetan song left them speechless. But once they recovered, they played for me and we sang and danced around to it. We still listen to that song today.
MEMORIES OF TIBET
SCOTT: I will never forget singing Kyab Su Chi by Lobsang Tsetan on the drive through the Tibetan mountains. We still listen on road trips.
SASKIA: Or the smell of incense coming from the monasteries and the sound of the Tibetan prayer flags on the mountains. The variety of landscapes was amazing. We drove and saw mountains, lush rivers with green and an icy cold lake up high in the mountains all in one day.
WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TIBET
SCOTT: The extent of Chinese occupation was a real surprise to me. Tibet is essentially a police state, and China does all it can to occupy and assimilate. A beautiful land with beautiful people who are systematically oppressed.
TIBETAN INFLUENCE ON OUR DESIGNS
SASKIA: The Mantra necklace uses beads from many places but the intention behind it comes from the inner peace and calm I learned from the generous Tibetans on our trip. The idea behind this necklace (which I designed along with reflection) is to remain calm and collected in hectic New York. The definition of mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. My favorite one I learned there is Om Mani Padme Hum and I have a turquoise pendant with those symbols on it.
SCOTT: Namtso Lake hands down is my favorite piece connected to Tibet. The color of the necklace is the exact color of the water - which seems unbelievable until you see the water. Almost a milk blue.
SASKIA: It might be a tie between Mantra and Namtso Lake because it feels so special to have seen the blue waters of the highest lake in the world and then to find a stone with the same name and to be able to name the necklace after that place.
ORIGINS: The CLASSIC SDV was an experiment of sorts. I make a lot of bold, larger pieces and wanted to design something intricate but more delicate. I remembered the double-strand necklaces I would make as a teenager and went from there.
MATERIALS: Made with glass delica beads from Japan, brass beads from India and Ethiopia, and carnelian from India.
FUN FACT: The design is simple but difficult to make because the small carnelian stones need to fit well between the brass beads that are handmade. It takes time to find the perfect beads to fit so that they lay properly.
FAVORITE DETAIL: I love the little, uneven Ethiopian brass beads. At one point I tried something more uniform, but it didn’t look as good. I also love that the inner strand is simpler and the outer strand more complicated.
FAVORITE WAY TO WEAR IT: The orange and teal is a favorite color combination of mine. I love how it pops against a white top or dress. It gives way to all the color. It layers well with the PETITE KIRSTEN necklace. I like wearing the FUNKY HOOPS or CARNELIAN GEMSTONE CIRCLE earrings with it, too!
PERFECT GIFT FOR: Someone who doesn’t wear big statement pieces, has simple tastes in accessories or doesn’t wear a lot of jewelry.
IF YOU LOVE THIS PIECE, I THINK YOU’LL LOVE: The Funky PK!
- Saskia
]]>Now that all travel is on hold, it is an odd feeling to be sure. Until we can start looking at flights for our next great adventure, we’re taking advantage of the new ways technology can satisfy that wanderlust.
Our entire collection is inspired by the countries we’ve seen and the materials we have collected while traveling. Google Arts and Culture has teamed up with over 2,000 museums and galleries around the world making it possible to wander their halls without leaving your home. Now you can virtually visit places that have inspired some of our favorite pieces:
One of the mainstays of our new India Collection (the focus of this month of July) are the Nefertiti earrings. Made with Indian brass and pendants created by the Orissa tribe in India, which now you can learn more about online. (Jaipur Virasat Foundation)
The Ziwa necklace and Mara earrings were inspired by the time Saskia spent in Kenya teaching and helping to build a library. (National Museums of Kenya)
The Nepal earrings feature Nepalese beads, like those we discovered on our travels through the region.(Nepal Children’s Art Museum)
The African Dancer necklace gets its burst of color from Pakistani red glass beads known as “mountain coral.” (The Citizen’s Archive of Pakistan)
Our Triple Discus earrings are made with fine delica beads from Japan. (Tokyo National Museum)
The long blue Kyanos necklace takes its name from the Greek word for blue, kyan. (Acropolis Museum)
Where do you long to visit once the pandemic is over? Let us know in the comments! S+S
Read more here
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Next we flew up to Delhi and traveled around Agra and Varanasi, where I got the worst stomach illness of my life. A week later, back in Delhi, I recovered enough for us to take a bus up to McLeod Ganj (where the Dalai Lama lives) in Himachal Pradesh. Saskia stayed there and did yoga, while I traveled solo and then with a new Japanese friend through the Kinnaur Valley, right on the Tibetan border. While Saskia did downward dog, I participated in a puja for the rain to come, got drunk in a temple drinking grain alcohol with the locals, smoked bidis and generally lived it up on about $2.00 a day. We returned after a time to Delhi and then flew back to Amsterdam.
Saskia: I stayed in McLeod Ganj the longest of any place on our whole trip, about 2-3 weeks, while Scott was gone. I lived with a Belgian couple and spoke Dutch the whole time while studying yoga. It was such a mix of cultures and an amazing experience. While we were in India I began making and selling macramé jewelry as we traveled and collected beads. Someone liked a choker I was wearing and asked me to make a necklace. It was essentially my Classic SdV style.
Scott: What I loved most about India, what fascinated me the most, was just how different everything in Indian culture felt from our life at home. I wanted to learn more about Hinduism and the multiplicity of karma: the concepts of good and bad, right and wrong are much less defined than in the West. The rich history of the country is woven into all aspects of life. Storytelling is prized and the truth lies somewhere within each tale.
Saskia: I loved the vibrant colors of the women's saris, the street markets with awesome finds displayed on little mats on the ground, the majestic buildings, Taj Mahal and the devotion in Varanasi. I can close my eyes and remember climbing the rocky path up into the hills for my yoga class.
Each day in the studio we return to India in a small way, holding chalcedony stones from Rajasthan or tiny Ganesh statues. We may look out our studio windows towards New York Harbor, but we can close our eyes and be transported back to the Ganges River, smelling the curry mingling with burnt incense and plastic, gas fumes and something sweet underneath.
Think about those earrings that make you feel like dancing. The gorgeous necklace that strangers always stop to compliment you on. The statement bracelet you don’t wear often but always wish you wore more. Find that piece that makes you feel amazing and go put it on–– whether you’re in your pajamas or business casual at home. I know it makes me feel better.
What is your favorite statement piece? And what does it say about you?
That would be me, Scott “the Mule” Kerns. As you can tell from the jewelry she designs, Saskia has an amazing eye for color and composition. I’ve known that since we first met 18 years ago and she commented on my (only slightly clashing) clothing choices. Once we landed in S. Korea, that artistic eye took in the textural and color differences, the beauty and unknown artistry of Asian style.
At first Saskia just walked through the street markets, eyes traveling over items new and old with an appraising eye. She had a secret mission. We planned to marry a year later back in the States, which served as a perfect excuse to keep shopping wherever we went.
One country later - in the markets halls of Beijing - the looking changed to buying, and I realized my predicament. Amid friendly haggling and the intricacies of currency exchange, items began filling my already-full backpack. All our belongings fit in one camping pack each, so you can imagine how little extra space we had. After Saskia bought several pounds of multi-colored beads, three sets of chopsticks, two paintings and a scroll, I realized that I would need another bag.
Tibet found us stuffing more stones for my already-overweight load, but Nepal proved the breaking point. There Saskia discovered the motherload: hand-pressed paper, inlaid turquoise beads, shirts made of old saris, jewelry, notebooks, hats - more than my puny pack could handle. We made our first trip to the post office in Kathmandu, wrapped our goods as best we could and prayed they would find their way back home.
For the next seven months, this became our pattern: discover, haggle, purchase, haul around for as long as possible, ship. In a way, this same pattern still remains. Saskia no longer has a wedding to plan (she affectionately calls it her “greatest craft project ever”), but rather new designs to create. Whenever and wherever we travel, Saskia begins and ends at the craft markets, among the vendors. Her eye - now well trained - surveys, assesses, and falls in love. The beads she now uses span the gamut from “lost wax” brass from West Africa to Nepalese focal beads, Thai silver to Indian gold, with gemstones, pearls and glass sprinkled in between.
We say “every bead tells a story,” and I swear that Saskia knows them all. I watch her sometimes look at a necklace and name the person who sold her every bead. These designs are more than beads and stones, they’re stories. Every element connects to a craftsperson somewhere in the world. Saskia is the conduit. And I, I suppose, am still the mule.
]]>So much has changed in the past weeks. Life has flipped upside down. The stores we worked so hard to open are now closed. The team we worked with every day are gone. Going outside feels unsafe and the daily interactions with friends and neighbors that we took for granted have been replaced by zoom conferences. We are now our children’s teachers.
Last week felt like a process of grieving - saying goodbye to a way of being. This week has a different feel, and we have discovered that not everything is scary and bad. True, the news sounds grim, but all the more reason to tune it out and tune in to what’s right in front of us.
Here are 3 things we have found to smile about:
1. Spending more time with family
Being at home with our kids is a challenge, but also an opportunity. Besides our vacations, we have never been around them this much. Last week we were still struggling with how to manage, but this week we are beginning to find a schedule and with that, more space to breathe and enjoy.
We start the day with homeschool - a zoom conference for each kid with their class. Next, we spend the hours from 10-12 working with online class work. Just after noon, we make some lunch and then go outside (while keeping a safe distance of course). In the evenings, we have taken to playing board games and staying up just a little late.
2. Catching up on reading
When was the last time you read a book? We had gotten into a bad routine of work, rushed family time, and then netflix. Suddenly we have so much more space in the schedule. Finding the time for an afternoon read opens up the mind and allows for creativity to return.
3.Reconnecting with old friends
We all fall into routines. Especially in Brooklyn, often the closest friendships we have are with those closest in distance to us. In normal times, we meet up with our neighborhood friends for diners, parties and outings.
In this new reality, connecting in person means via a screen. The benefit of that is that distance doesn’t matter - five blocks or 500 miles is the same online. That has opened up the world and rekindled friendships all over. We skyped with friends in Oregon, Facetimed with a buddy in Texas and have routine zoom conferences with family in California and Vancouver. It’s been amazing to see these faces and reminds us just how big our extended community is.
We’re all in this together. It’s far from easy, but let’s take a moment to find a silver lining in this cloud.
]]>We began this company with no mission in mind. Saskia loved making jewelry, people loved buying it and that was enough. Years in, that basic dynamic no longer served. We wanted more meaning to our work - a central Why that we could build off of.
Last year we went through a rebranding process (see this blog) that began the work of turning Saskia’s hobby into a true business. We found a new name (SASKIA) a new logo, colors, typeface and other external elements. We launched our new website and imagined our work finished.
But something was missing. We liked the look, but felt a disconnect between our public face and our private sentiments. Earlier this year we began to ask ourselves, “WHY?” Beyond the beauty, beyond the jewelry, who do we want to be as a company and why does that matter?
For two months, the entire company worked together to create a new document. Though entitled the Marketing Plan, what it contained as its core was an enumeration of our values, our mission and company statement. Dominique our Marketing Manager served as a sounding board for Saskia and my thoughts, helping to cut through the fluff and make sure each phrase rang true. This was finally our Why.
Now we know our true North. This has already begun to inform our decision making. As you may know, we just moved to a beautiful, brand new studio with a retail storefront included. At first, we planned to fully separate the retail portion, so we could stay focussed on our work. But as we watched the room take shape (check out this cool video!), we realized that we were not embodying our values. At the very top of our list are the principles of Kindness and Inclusion. A walled off space is not inclusive, nor is it very kind to invite our community into only a small portion of our studio. Down the wall came!
Looking forward our minds drift back to that class with David. We are mission driven, and we intend to succeed. We have our Why and continually look to it as our guide. We look forward to inviting you along with us.
]]>Following his hand drawn map, we sped down the highway and up a rocky dirt road into a complex of houses in the jungle, where a man - who really seemed to know - directed us to a promising house with a big yoga flag out front.
Our hopes were dashed as the instructor’s husband sleepily tumbled outside and stared at us blankly. Our fortunes soon changed as he instructed us to hop back in the car and follow him in his pickup...right back to the same hotel where our journey began. He pointed to a room 20 meters from reception, with a small group already in downward dog.
We had never been to a tantric yoga class. For me, tantra evoked images of Sting and prolonged sex. This class banished that concept. Our teacher led us through a mixture of deep breathing, sustained poses and energy work with a recurring theme of inviting change. The power of transformation lies at the heart of this practice, and this class resonated deeply with both Saskia and I.
If you are reading this, you probably know that our company is in the midst of profound change. Not so long ago, we worked out of the hallway in our apartment and spent most weekends hauling tables in and out of our car at markets far and wide. Our operations were basic and most everything was held together with duct tape and good intentions. This fall - only weeks from now - we open not one, but two storefronts: one at our studio in Industry City, Brooklyn, and the other in Grand Central Terminal. Our staff is made up of kind, talented, motivated and creative people who have not only helped us get here, but have pushed us to always do better. We now have a fancy-shmancy operations manual (thank you Keisha!) that describes how to do everything we do and brand guidelines (thank you Yuki and Dom!) that makes sure we stay on track.
Embracing change and allowing transformation. It sounds so easy - like becoming a butterfly. Well have you ever opened a chrysalis?
Perhaps you have gone through something similar. For us this transformation took years and pushed us well out of our comfort zones. Saskia has learned to say what she wants and not fear success. I always struggle with impatience, but have come to accept that everything takes time. Together we have (almost) learned to calm our shared financial anxiety for us and our kids.
We have not yet arrived at our final destination - probably never will - but this process has taught us to stay true to ourselves, keep trying to let go of fear, and embrace what comes. We’ve come a long way and each step is just a bit easier.
]]>Perhaps you have a Hampton’s hookup or maybe there’s a place Upstate where you escape. If you’re like us, then sometimes you can’t wait for that invite and just need to leave the concrete jungle for somewhere enclosed in trees, where the summer feels a little less intense.
We have a 2011 Subaru Outback, a 10x10 family tent, a portable kitchen and the will to be in the woods. That’s about all you need for a perfect car-camping weekend!
A few professional tips from us not so professional campers (who are great organizers! Just check out this article for proof!):
CHOOSE THE BEST SPOT
There are tons of great locations all around NYC. Of course the farther you go, the more remote and beautiful it becomes - we’ve found amazing places in the Adirondacks and Vermont - but there are plenty of wonderful spots within a two-ish hours drive. Time Out has a good list, as does 50 Campfires. Our recommendation is to go as far as you can (or your kids will let you) and avoid places near RV hookups.
BRING THE RIGHT GEAR
You want to enjoy the great outdoors, not survive an episode of Naked and Afraid. Rent or buy an easy-to-assemble tent - make sure it all snaps together and there is no screwing involved! Headlamps are a must as is a decent camping stove. You want a pretty good cooler that won’t lose too much chill. Sleeping matts are DEFINITELY worth the money, and a decent sleeping bag helps. Fun hack: bring some plastic gallon jugs of water, put a headlamp on them and then turn the light to face the inside. You’ll create beautiful ambient light! More fun hacks here.
ORGANIZE
This might go without saying, but it’s important to think about how much space you will have in your car and make sure to bring the right amount of stuff. Beyond the necessities - tent, sleeping bags and matts, kitchen stuff, a cooler - you will likely want chairs, some play things for the kids (if kids are involved), and a pair of sandals or flip flops for hanging around the fire and those late night bathroom jaunts. You want to ride that fine line between not enough and too much - takes some forethought and a good spatial sense to get just right! If jewelry is a must have (as it always is for Saskia) check out our Travel Jewelry blog for tips on what to bring. There are some good thoughts in there that can be applied to more categories than just jewelry.
Enjoy your trip and don’t forget to bring the s’mores!!!
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We all know that America threads different strands together: cultures and classes, colors and creeds mix in beautiful and unexpected ways. As I write these words, I think of the jewelry we make - beads from everywhere, brought together in a new pattern here in Brooklyn. I’ve never thought of our company as quintessentially American, but perhaps we are. Saskia is the daughter of immigrants - the first of her family born in this country - whose life experience was one of living always in-between. Like my grandfather who immigrated from Hungary, or likely some members of your own family, Saskia was raised knowing her heritage but living away from it in a new land where her parents saw opportunity. Her designs reflect that life experience.
On this birthday week of the US of A, I’d like to honor this crazy experiment in immigration and democracy - embodied in Lady Liberty standing just across the water from where I now write. This country at its greatest is one of the singular accomplishments of human civilization: “e pluribus unum” out of the many one. I’d also like to celebrate our diversity: it makes our country strong, adds spice to our food and even makes our jewelry unique.
Enjoy your Independence Day celebration and take a moment to reflect on what a special place it is that we celebrate this week.
]]>As you may know, we love to travel and Saskia LOVES jewelry. Last week we sat down and came up with some helpful tips and a very special collection designed with the traveller in mind.
PACK LITE
We know that you want to bring the whole closet, but that never works we well as you think. The more you have, the less you wear, and it’s always better to use your imagination in creating different looks. Saskia always packs two small pouches - one for earrings and delicate chains, one for larger beaded pieces.
THINK VERSATILE
Why bring two pieces when one will do? Think about your wardrobe and then think of what necklace best accents the majority of it - put out what clothes you plan on bringing and them look what necklace best matches more than one outfit. A few of our go-to’s are the strikingly simple Single Ladies, the delicate and interesting Classic SdV and the too-cool-for-school Biker Babe. Each is light, pairs with different colors and makes its own unique statement.
CREATE COMBOS
Big chunky pieces make up the core of our line, but are not often the best on the go. Rather than rely on large stones, often layering multiple pieces creates a similarly bold effect, without the weight. The Funky PK and Yukiko are both long necklaces that can be worn in a variety of ways. Wrap them up, mix them together or wear as bracelets - each way provides a different look. You can always throw in the Lagoon or Sueño for some color or add the Confetti earrings or an African Amber bracelet to complete your vibe.
THINK CREATIVELY
We’ve mentioned the pieces we love, but you surely have your own. Everyone has their own style, and we always encourage you to express yourself. Be bold! Be brave! Have a great trip and snap a pic of your favorite outfit while abroad and send It to us for a chance to be on our social media!
]]>As a jewelry designer, Saskia owns her fair share of pieces, ranging in size from super delicate to big and bold. Over time her dresser top grew a mound of necklaces that became unsortable and hugely aggravating. Last weekend, we decided to take action and thought our process would help all of you.
Here is a link to the YouTube video we made, but here are three helpful hints to get you on your way to perfect organization.
Lay It Out
Much like Mari Kondo (who we love), we believe that any organizing project begins with a visual inspection. Open every box, pull down every necklace, dig through all your rings and place it all on a large flat surface for inspection (a bed does nicely). Take the time now to look through and remove all those single earrings (we all have them) and broken chains. All the pieces you want to keep remain laid out and everything you want to get rid of goes in a bin for disposal. Now you have a sense of the project before you.
Sort
Now the creative process begins. You have a big pile of beauty before you - it’s time to put it into categories. Each of us thinks of organization differently - there is no right or wrong way to sort. Try and think of how you wear your jewelry: perhaps casual vs fancy makes sense; maybe you’re a seasonal type. Saskia thinks in terms of design type. We have many brass designs, so for her that is a clear category. Long necklaces, delicate necklaces, chunky designs and medium are all divisions she employs. Bracelets, rings and earrings clearly go in their own piles.
Display
You’re almost there! With your designs combed through and sorted, you are ready to think about how to best access them. We refer to this step as “display” because we like for everything to be visible. Putting your jewelry in cases or boxes is of course acceptable and up to your own discretion. Regardless your aesthetic, it’s time to find your jewelry receptacles. Saskia loves thrift shopping and while in Austin (read more here) she picked up some awesome antique hooks for our bedroom. With her jewelry categories in mind, we thoughtfully placed these hooks in the wall, along with a cool earring display I built a while back. Whether you choose this route, or find one all your own, be mindful of your personal needs for both look and functionality.
Dress Up
You did it! Look at all your beautiful jewelry that you now get to wear!! The best part of your new organization is you know where to find exactly what you want, when you want it. Now go play dress up.
]]>Saskia thinks of Penny as a mentor, and recently sat down for a conversation, which yielded some very helpful tips that any small business owner should consider.
Where to begin
One of the first pieces of advice she gave Saskia was, “Trust your gut and follow your heart.” Penny never set out to run a bead business: her degree was in journalism. Through her travels, she discovered a love of artisanship that led her to start an importing business. The business plan came later - the love came first.
Making a system
Though she didn’t pursue a career in writing, the journalism degree came in handy. Essential to setting up a successful business is creating a solid operations manual and constantly writing marketing material - everyone inside has to know what to do and everyone outside has to know all about you. Her second piece of advice to Saskia was “learn who you can trust.” Beyond just writing a rulebook, you need people around you who can help you succeed. Penny's success began with the artisans she worked with around the world, continued throughout the supply chain and all came together in her shop.
Wholesale vs Retail
Penny faced an interesting dilemma that we face ourselves - how do you sell your goods? She joked that unlike Saskia (who worked in theater), her journalism background led her away from the spotlight - wholesale is where Penny began and where she has returned. In those intervening years, however, she ran multiple retail locations. The benefits of wholesale are lower costs: fewer employees and lower rent. The benefits of retail all lie in the margins and the ability to find a buyer for those unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. At the end of the day, Penny again followed her gut and returned to where she began. In her words, “I like to help people from disadvantaged places make money from their skills; I like to be there; and I like to sit home and put stuff in boxes.”
Being able to adapt
Perhaps the best piece of advice Penny offered was this: “Things change, things always change and our ability to adapt is where success or failure comes.” In the late 80’s Penny frequented the boutique wholesale shows with around 30 other people. When in 1989 the opportunity presented itself, she opened her retail storefront in Dupont Circle and soon quit the wholesale scene. A few years later, only a handful of her old colleagues were still in business. They had stuck to the same way of doing things and never reevaluated the course. As Penny says, “We live in a world where changes happen so fast, you have to be ready to change or die.” We’ve taken these words to heart, and make it a habit to constantly check in, challenge our assumptions and refine our vision. Penny has been an amazing mentor, and her pearls of wisdom are ones we can all take to heart.
]]>On Monday Saskia turned another year older and we began our day the way we do on the birthday of everyone in our family. While Saskia went to the gym for her favorite spin class, the kids and I set about preparing. We took down the bin filled with birthday decorations: two banners saying “Happy Birthday” and “Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd” (one for each language we speak); special birthday hats; balloons and streamers; and of course the candles. The kids placed presents around her chair at the kitchen table while I made Saskia’s favorite breakfast. Once she walked in the door, all was ready for her to take her seat, get a big hug and kiss, and hear us sing “Lang zal ze leven”!
Our birthday routines encompass an eclectic mix of Dutch and American traditions that have meshed in a perfect way for our family and our life. We often think about this blend in the greater context of our lives. Both personally and professionally, we embrace different cultures and find beauty in their unique qualities. Just as Saskia’s designs incorporate beads from around the world, so to our life is made up of aspects we learned through our travels. Simple things like making coffee - we always use an Italian style espresso pot - and more complex tasks like parenting are deeply informed by both our heritage and other cultures.
In this fascinating world that seems daily to grow smaller, we have so much to learn from one another. As we follow the traditions handed down from our families, we also have the wonderful opportunity to look around us and reshape those traditions into ones all our own.
Do you have traditions - for your birthday or otherwise - that shape your life? Tell us more - we love to learn.
]]>Alexandria Ocasio Cortez embodies all of these. A girl from the Bronx, born to minority parents who found her voice in politics, dared to take on one of the most established representatives in congress, won, and continues to make waves through the force of her personality and the clarity of her words. She listened to her community, spoke her mind and didn’t back down. Routinely in Congressional hearings, she asks pointed questions and helps break down complicated policy issues in a way that the average person can understand. She has illuminated some big holes in on our political system and advocates for rethinking of what has been taken for granted for generations. And what’s more, she makes politics and policy tangible for young people.
If you follow us on Facebook, you will have seen Saskia's Live from last week, where she talked about our company. We are 95% women and are deeply committed to women having a say not only in politics, but in all aspects of American life. Like her ideas or not, agree with her or not, Alexandria is an example of a strong, educated woman speaking her mind, not backing down, and standing up for what she believes. That is something we can all get behind.
Photo cred: WIN MCNAMEE GETTY IMAGES
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's pin: Lockwood store
]]>Last weekend reaffirmed our belief that contrary to to this popular convention, men can have just as much fun as the ladies when it comes to SASKIA's designs!
Meet Wendell, a holistic health coach who very quickly fell in love with the Sphinx. What he loved was the understated elegance. Big, colorful stones make a statement, but black goes with everything and the rustic vibe of these Ghanaian and Afghan brass beads add just the right amount of worldly flair. He's already planning to come back for the Black Nile to complete the look.
Luis came to our Bryant Park booth on Sunday and immediately went toward the Nile Series. The color and versatility of these beads is what make these designs so universal. Luis wrapped them as bracelets, but plans to try them out as a necklace as well.
The takeaway is simple - us guys need to accessorize! Do you have any great fashion tips? Any great stories of well-accessorized men? Leave a comment below!
]]>This spring marks ten years of setting up tents and folding tables all over the city. Over the past decade, we have learned a few things about street fairs that we thought we'd share.
No one loves a crowd, especially as the day reaches its hottest point. Most events start around 10am and don't really get busy till after noon. If you plan on arriving after a leisurely breakfast, you'll get undivided attention from the vendors, see everything nicely laid out (and still available), and will miss the bump and grind of afternoon hordes.
I know, you like to think things over. No one wants to impulse buy and regret it later. But let me tell you a story: a few years back a lady came by to look at Rivercreek necklace. Each of these jasper stones are unique, and I told her as much. She loved the design, but needed to think it over, so off she went. An hour later she came back for "her" necklace...only to discover it sold! Craft fairs are just that - handcrafted goods that aren't mass produced. If you see something on the street that piques your interest, grab it right away!
We get it. We really do. Walking the market and browsing the goods doesn't mean you're obliged to purchase. That's fine! We're happy to just say hello. If you don't want to talk, just say hi back and keep browsing. But the best advice I can give is strike up a conversation - you never know where a chat can lead. Maybe it brings a smile to your face and you learn something you didn't know before.
Continuing the last thought, these events are wonderful opportunities to connect. Craftspeople are a pretty interesting and diverse bunch. So are the people who attend craft fairs. At our booth, we like nothing more than watching perfect strangers warm to each other over trying on jewelry. A wonderful camaraderie arrises when wandering a market - just the ability to walk down the center of a closed-off street somehow transports us from the everyday. Exploit this opportunity to try something new, talk to someone different and discover some craft you never knew you loved. That's what we're all about.
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She knows this game well, because since she was a baby she watched her mama do the same. Saskia found out she was pregnant at the start of our first holiday market at Columbus Circle nine years ago. We took our baby girl with us to a market on her first Mother’s Day and have nearly every Mother’s Day since. Both our kids watched as we ran the company from the hallway of our apartment, knowing not to open the drawers full of beautiful beads. They got excited when the business moved out and the beading hallway transformed into a play loft just for them. Now they still love to come down to the studio where mama makes her jewelry.
Being a mom takes all you have. Being a boss takes nearly as much. Like so many hard working moms, Saskia takes on both roles with a care and thoughtfulness that have allowed both family and work to thrive. When I ask her how she does it, she always tells me the keys are patience and organization. Good takeaways for anyone living a hectic life.
This weekend we celebrate moms in all walks of life, whether running a business, running a home or anywhere in between. They are the glue that keeps it all together and the ones we quite literally couldn’t live without. In their honor, we've created a special collection to help you celebrate the ones in your life. Don't forget to call your mom this Sunday to say thank you for all you do.
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In early 1800’s France, a group of artists and creators began living in the lower-class, lower-rent Romani neighborhoods of Paris. Along with art and philosophy, they produced a social movement that defied the norms of French society and quickly spread from major cities across Europe into the United States. This movement came to be known as “Bohemianism”, but why?
The Romani, like many “gypsy” minorities across Germany, Spain and France, are collectively known as the Doma and were thought to have migrated from an area of Czechoslovakia called Bohemia - you may recognize that as the kingdom of the deposed king in Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale. Like that exiled king, bohemians were imagined to be free peoples, without strict laws and morality.
In fact, the Doma came from areas much farther afield. Recent studies of Romani language and writing shows a direct connection with Punjab and Hindi. We now know that these people in fact originated in northern India, around Rajasthan, and their beliefs connect to spiritual practices in Hinduism. Contrary to popular prejudice, the Doma were not rootless nomads without morals and laws, but rather a diaspora who brought their own traditions with them as they settled in western Europe.
The Bohemian Movement arose from an intersection of cultures and classes. In the Romani lifestyle, the early bohemians began to discover a different viewpoint on society. As with many cultural revolutions, this one began with the connection of disparate peoples unafraid to create change. To see its aftereffects, you need look no farther than the 1960’s and the current society it helped to create.
With everything we create, we always try to go one step farther and look deeper to reveal the hidden stories. Today with our new collection, we celebrate Bohemianism and the tenants of personal expression, creativity and wanderlust that have their roots in the Doma of Rajasthan.
]]>Another crucial component of the “SASKIA Experience” also comes from our theater background. Just as every actor needs a stage (even if it’s “All the world..”), every retail operation needs a display. We have spent years refining our look - thinking about space, color and texture. Lighting figures prominently in creating an environment that invites discovery and promotes connection.
Every location we operate has its unique challenges. Our weekend markets need to collapse neatly into our car, while holiday booths can take up more space and require a full installation. This week - Wednesday May 1 - we open our Grand Central kiosk for the fourth year running. I love this location and am particularly proud of its construction. For those of you who have never been to Grand Central, you must visit someday. The building is historic and beautiful with over 700,000 visitors every day!! (Saskia just created a short video you can see here). Our kiosk is one of six in the Greybar Passageway, which lies in the northeast corner of the station.
To make our booth stand out, I found 100-year old wood from a horse farm outside Philadelphia and built a tiered stand that fits perfectly inside the existing structure. We decorate each level of this display with unique odds and ends Saskia has collected over time: antique cigar presses, copper plates and bowls, rough-cut wood and Indonesian busts.
With our stage built, our script written and our “acting company” in place, we are ready to welcome you all to join us. The best part of our work comes when we meet all of you in person and finally get to share our art. Come visit us soon!
]]>Today, in honor of Earth Day, we want to focus on one individual that has deeply inspired us. When Saskia first heard about Greta Thunberg, she was immediately struck by her incredible strength and determination. If you have never heard of this remarkable 16 year-old from Sweden, you should watch this TED talk about how she decided to walk out of school to protest the adults around her doing so little in the face of climate change. She sparked an international youth movement that has spread across over 100 nations and multiple continents.
What Greta represents to us, and what we strive to embody in our own lives, is a willingness to stand up and use your voice - no matter how small - to fight for your beliefs. We each have more power and agency than we know, and once we discover how to use it, we can move mountains.
Today, in honor of Greta, do one thing to help the planet (we’re riding our bikes to work and cutting out meat). Who knows, maybe you’ll discover the power of your own voice.
Image via NewsTalk.com
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In honor of this week’s Gemstone Earring sale, today we take a dive deep into the center of the Earth to uncover the hidden history of a few of our favorite stones.
Quartz, one of the most common stones on the planet making up close to 12% of the Earth’s crust, forms under very high temperatures in areas of volcanic activity. High in the Brazilian mountains in the 1940’s, a unique variety of quartz containing golden “angel hairs” was first discovered. These tiny veins are rutil - a form of titanium that grow into gas bubbles within the quartz as it cools. Though inclusions usually lessen the value of crystals, this incredible, golden interweaving has made Rutilated Quartz a highly prized gemstone known as an illuminator for the soul, promoting spiritual growth and giving protection against the ill thoughts of others.
The mineral with perhaps the most fascinating history took its nickname “fools gold” from the Queen of England in 1610. Intrepid British explorers wanted to establish the colony of Newfoundland on the island of Labrador, but had found no gold to entice Elisabeth’s interest. Instead they sent her golden-hue specimens of Pyrite, and - much to their surprise - the ruse worked! The colony was build with the consent of the crown and the rue was not uncovered for 100 years! Though not related to gold, the mineral pyrite has almost as long a history. Dating back to writing by the naturalist Pliny the Elder, pyrite derives its name from the Greek word pyritēs meaning “in fire” as it creates sparks when struck against steel. Today it is used as a conductor in batteries and solar panels and once served as a key element in crystal radio transmitters. It’s striking natural cubic shape and mirror-like luster make it a symbol of prosperity and good luck, and when worn on the skin, is said to bring feelings of harmony, vitality, and positive energy.
Known to the ancient Egyptians as “the setting sun”, Carnelian has protected and inspired throughout history. Known as a stone of motivation and endurance, leadership and courage, carnelian appears in the Bible as one of the stones in the Garden of Eden. It also adorned the breastplate of Moses brother Aaron as he confronted the Pharaoh and was worn as a talisman by the Prophet Mohammed. Born in fire, this subset of quartz is created when liquid magma from a volcanic explosion cools down and transforms into igneous rock. During this cooling down period, silica acid bubbles shift from being a gas/liquid into a solid compound and create the deep orange tone we know as carnelian. Today carnelian crystals are prized for their beauty and worn to increase creativity, courage, and physical energy.
These stones and more can be found throughout our line and of course in this week’s sale. The next time you reach for your jewelry, take a moment to imagine the awesome history that lays behind.
]]>At the outset let me say that this process is completely subjective. Take this advice with a grain of salt and follow the modern mantra, “You do you!” That said, here are some helpful hints we often use when working with our customers.
Several factors immediately jump to mind when helping someone pick a pair of earrings. Let’s say Bob walks up to the counter looking for a gift for Joan (this is actually a couple I’ve helped and not just a bad attempt at anonymity). Bob’s a great guy, but kind of clueless when it comes to fashion. Where does he start?
My first question is always about Joan’s neck. The length of a woman’s neck often determines the length of earring she usually wears. Next I ask about her hair - short and wavy? Long and straight? Small earring can get lost in a mane of curls.
These preliminaries thus dispensed, I really start grilling Bob. What shape face does Jane have? A long, slender face wants a thinner earring. I might point Bob in the direction of our Nefertiti earrings - they add a beautifully elongating quality. Perhaps Jane’s face has more of an oval shape: a great match for our Gemstone Teardrop earrings. If Jane has smaller, more delicate features then I might recommend the simple, colorful Nepal series.
My next question veers more subjective: what is Jane’s vibe? Does she wear J. Crew or Anthropologie? Is she a hiker or does she pound the pavement in heels? Here we really dig into the nitty gritty. Our Vintage Leaf earrings are perfect for a funky woman with a touch of olive in her skin, dark and full hair, with a certain more bohemian style. The Raja series lends itself more to a subtle, petite blond who wants to add just a little something to cohesive outfit.
An interesting place where many roads meet is our Gemstone Line. These four style tick off many boxes: circular or oval in shape; gold or silver; light and simple, but spanning the rainbow of color. I’ve often told Bob that if he just can’t decide, these earrings are a great place to land. Blond women often gravitate toward gold and blue, brunettes veer more toward silver and green. A young and funky style might enjoy the facets of the bronzed pyrite, while a more conservative palate could choose a smoky quartz.
Choosing earrings is harder than you might at first imagine, but just like any creative project it helps to follow simple steps. In the end, I always like to say - especially if you are choosing for yourself - be bold but know yourself. You want to find earrings you love and will use all the time. The perfect pair is the one you wear, so make sure to get good use out of it!
Great ideas often arrive unbidden, springing like Athena fully formed from your head. Unlike the mythical Goddess, those ideas do not take material form all by themselves. Bringing them to the realm of the real takes energy, focus and hard work.
As a company, we constantly grapple with this process. Over the years we have known failure and success, but along the way have learned some valuable lessons in what it takes to create. We find ourselves currently midway through a big creative project, and thought we'd take a moment to share a bit of our thinking on how to get things done!
Last year our company went through an intense rebranding process (read this piece for more details). We had a vision of where we wanted to go, but no idea how to get there. Before we even met designers, Saskia and I sat down and talked through the whole year - when things would happen, who we would need, and in what order things should progress. We came up with a budget, a rough timeline, a general overview of who we needed to help us, and what areas we specifically wanted to focus on (website, packaging, logo). We knew from the start that even the best plans change midcourse, but just as with writing an essay, having an outline kept us on track.
Every good plan has a who, what and when. Timing is everything, and the only way to stay on track is by setting specific goals attached to specific dates and then keeping yourself and your team accountable to those deadlines. Whether Saskia is designing a new necklace line, we're opening a new shop, or a special newsletter is going out, having dates when parts are due keeps everyone on task. But it's equally important to be real about how much can be accomplished in a given amount of time. Set yourself and your team up for success! Make sure you can reach your goals and then celebrate each and every one.
No one is an island, and even the greatest ideators need others to lend a hand. Tapping the right combination of talents is paramount to success. Each year our company operates multiple holiday markets (last year we had four!) each with its own timeline and specifics. In order to make so much happen in so little time, we need a great time across a range of skills. I need help building the booths and loading them in. Saskia needs assistants to make the jewelry. We need a sales team with great managers. Finally we need operational and marketing staff to make sure it all flows together. Running a happy holiday season truly takes a village, and your project - whether rearranging furniture or launching the new app - will doubtless take the same.
You're six months in and suddenly you hit a snag. Perhaps it's an unconquerable tech issue. Possibly your team has lost their drive. Or maybe - just maybe - the real problem comes from within; sometimes you just feel lost. Pushing forward without a pause to ask the big Why? can make the problem even worse. I know, we've been there. Along with successes, we've had our share of challenges. At the start of this year, we hit the brakes and took a page from Marie Kondo. We looked around at everything in our business and personal lives and asked ourselves, Does this bring us joy? It was a revelation. Just by asking ourselves Why? we suddenly saw a new way forward. We made some changes both large and small that made the path forward so much clearer.
I love the British motto, Stay Calm and Carry On. Bringing your idea into the world can feel like an ultra-marathon: the race just keeps on going. Sometimes self-doubt arises: will this work? can we make it? am I insane? A writer might hate the first draft. A painter could lose inspiration after the first sketch. As a business owner, sometimes you have to spend money you don't actually have. No matter what your medium, if you have the vision and you want to make it real, you have to trust yourself. Make a plan, set up deadlines, find good people and always keep asking why. But then, in the dark moments when the lights are off and you're staring at the ceiling, remind yourself of why you started. To succeed in anything big, you have to hold on and see it through. Like the early seafarers who explored beyond the horizon, find your guiding star, set your course and sail on till morning.
]]>Last month Saskia and I went to a WNYC event where we met Tanzina Vega, Laura Walker, Brooke Gladstone and others whose voices we have come to know well. The station’s tagline is The story behind the headlines; at this event we heard directly from the journalists what that phrase meant to them. They each said that digging deeper and bringing the uncovered to light was an essential task.
That night’s experience stayed with us for days after. The notion of uncovering the hidden story resonated with us on both a personal and professional level. Saskia sometimes jokingly refers to herself as a “bead ambassador” and considers her knack for discovering the hidden beauty in a pile of beads essential to her art. In the same way, our life has led us to follow the path less trodden and find the joy in discovering something new.
Twelve years ago we sold everything we owned and left for Asia with shaved heads, hiking backpacks and round the world tickets with no fixed dates. Our plan was to pass through Korea, head down the Chinese coast, and wind our way through Southeast Asia over six months. Instead, we turned West and began an overland journey through Tibet, Nepal and India in what would become a year on the road.
We didn’t see it at the time, but looking back we realize how our life’s path took a decisive turn over those months. Rather than proceed as we had planned, we began to pay attention in a different way. We made it a point to talk with anyone and everyone we met - especially those who seemed the most different from us. At one point, I befriended a British businessman who took us to his meetings with the Chinese government. Saskia apprenticed with a Tibetan market vendor, who sparked her love of turquoise. We prayed with nuns, played drinking games with Vietnamese restaurateurs and spent a week with a milkman in New Zealand. We saw our assumptions challenged, made a myriad new connections and revelled again and again in the joy of discovery. Most importantly, it was on that trip that Saskia first saw herself as an artist.
Somehow, that night with pubic radio reminded us of the values we hold dear: honest human connection, the joy of discovery and an appreciation of the hidden beauty that lies just beyond the facade of daily interactions.
Moving forward in life and business, we want to become more intentional in keeping our core values present. Walking through life, it’s too easy to forget your “why” and just keep plodding ahead on the same set path. From time to time you need to stop, look around and ask, “Where am I going?”
As our journey continues, we will keep returning to this theme and we hope you’ll stick around. You can subscribe to our blog by adding our feed to your favorite RSS reader of choice (I like Feedly); following our events on Facebook and Instagram; or just comment and tell us your own stories of connection, discovery and beauty. We believe that the best stories are the ones we share, and we look forward to sharing more with each of you.
]]>You see where I'm going. There are at least 10,000 ways to add something to your outfit - from belts to lipstick - but jewelry is always our pick. We recently teamed up with the very cool clothing brand Anjé - who along with ethical manufacturing, focus on minimalism through striking design - who inspired us to offer a few jewelry brushstrokes to add to your canvas of clothing.
Anyone familiar with our brand knows that layering is always encouraged. Multiple pieces with different colors or textures creates a dynamic neckline and provides an opportunity to showcase your own unique style. Ayumi began her look with an Artemis necklace, added the Stolen (one of our favorite designs), wrapped up the versatile Petite Kirsten as a bracelet and then finished it off with the Funky Hoop earrings. She reminders us to always try new combinations!
Sometimes a single intense color turns an everyday outfit into something special. We just found this image of a customer at our Washington Square booth from a few years back and remembered how much we love the Green Heshi necklace. As we mentioned in a recent blog, turquoise is one of our favorite stones because of its incredible color variations. This vibrant green turquoise comes from the Himalaya and as you can see, truly completes the look.
Some pieces are so eye-catching, they make people turn their heads and say, "Where did you get that!" One of our favorites is the African Dancer. Saskia created this design for the annual Dance Africa festival at BAM, that celebrates pan-African music and dance. As you can imagine, this event is full of life and color, which is perfectly embodied in the Dancer. Carrie paired it with the Nepal Coral earrings for a look that begins conversations.
Becca began working with us as an intern years ago and after graduation this spring is set to take on a big role at Macy's in product development! We know she'll go far and is clearly dressed for success. For this boardroom-ready look, she paired her favorite necklace, the Baby Dream, with the silver Mien earrings and a lovely Silk Tee from our friends at Anjé. It doesn't take much to look great, and we know that when she walks into Macy’s, Becca will be thinking, "I'm not bossy, I'm the boss!"
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