2020. What a year! It has certainly been one for the books. The lows have been incredibly low. But, amazingly, there have been highs! I am lucky to say, for Original Eve, I can count several very high highs.
I would like to take a moment to focus on the good that came from 2020 and express my gratitude (and no! This is not just going to be a gushy list of all of the things I love my #labradorpuppy Fiona, although it definitely could be 💖)
So many amazing things have happened in the world of Original Eve Designs in 2020. The year started with the incredible honor of becoming President of the @wjanewyorkmetro Chapter of the Women's Jewelry Association. Though the year was quickly turned on its head, the incredible leadership team and community within the Metro Chapter gave me purpose during some of the loneliest days of quarantine.
In early February, I had the chance to exhibit for the very first time at the American Gem Trade Association's (AGTA) Tucson Gem Fair. This was the largest exhibition of my work to date.
2020 provided incredible honors as the recipient of grants and awards for my work, including receiving the Carelle Grant 2020 from the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) for my leadership and business potential, the CASE Award from Jewelers of America for my Jungle Tourmaline Bracelet, and a Spectrum Award from AGTA for my Pear-Shaped Pearl Pendant in hand-carved 18k yellow gold. I am so grateful for each of these recognitions, but to have all three in one year is truly an extraordinary honor.
And despite shut downs, lock downs, and the hardship of the year, I have been lucky to continue doing work that I love.
A Few Favorite Creations From 2020:
Custom Engagement, Wedding, and Celebration Rings:
The ongoing celebrations and joys that have been marked by the custom creations from Original Eve in 2020 have been a true joy and honor to create. They have reminded me through the darkest moments of 2020 that we all deserve beauty in our lives and love will always prevail.
From celebrating birth with push gifts to creating memorial jewelry that commemorates loved ones; wedding bands to wedding gifts, it's been a year of milestones for my clients and I could not be happier or more honored to be a part of each of their stories and celebrations.
Despite the cancelation of weddings and celebrations throughout the year, 2020 was quite a year or love! There were several Original Eve couples who promised each other forever. Here a few of my favorites custom creations that celebrate our clients' love:
New Collection Designs:
Each collection piece is handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, and tells a unique story. Here are a few of my favorites made for the Original Eve collection during 2020. It's been quite a year for new work through quarantine and picking favorites is pretty hard! But, without question, these collection pieces stole a piece of my heart 💜⠀
Collection Piece That Found A Home:
A forever favorite, this Star Rutilated Quartz Ring made in 18k Recycled Yellow Gold found a #happyhome in 2020, along with many other one-of-a-kind pieces from the Original Eve Collection. This ring went to a beautiful survivor who wears it as a talisman of strength in the face of challenges.
Rutile are the thin, needle-like inclusions with the copper hue seen inside the quartz crystal. The rutile needles in this crystal have formed a spoke pattern around a pyrite inclusion (visible through the cutout under the gemstone), creating the unique star-pattern seen here. The setting includes the leaf motif present throughout the Amazon Collection. With a sculptural band that curves for comfort between the fingers and grows under the finger to counterbalance the gemstone, every detail, down to the cut-out beneath the rutilated quartz that echoes the leaf silhouette, has been considered.
Heirloom Redesign:
2020 has given us a lot of time to stay home and go through our jewelry boxes. These "clean up" moments have resulted in some pretty wonderful #heirloomredesigns that I am so happy to have been able to create for clients!
Thank you for being a part of Original Eve's 2020 journey. I am lucky to have relocated from the center of the pandemic in Manhattan to my happy place in Massachusetts where I get to walk on the beach every single day with... You guessed it!... the puppy love of my life, my six-month-old Black Labrador, Fiona. But, more than anything, I am so grateful to be able to continue to make jewelry for wonderful people and have my creations worn by you.
Happy New Year, my friends! Let's leave 2020 in 2020.
May 2021 bring you joy, health, and happiness! Cheers
