BEHIND THE DESIGN: EMBRACE

Jewelry is worn for many reasons. Sometimes we just want a fashion statement, a pop of color, or something that compliments our outfit. Sometimes jewelry is worn to dress up or down a look. Sometimes we wear jewelry as a connection to a time, a place, an idea, a person.

I am a big believer that whatever the reason it is worn, all jewelry has a story to tell. Here is the story of how this piece came to be.

. . .

I am a mom to a sixth grade daughter, so conversations about discovering yourself, being yourself and standing up for yourself are on heavy rotation in my house. But let’s be honest - the challenge of not only figuring out who you are but also embracing it does not dissipate once the angsty teen years pass. Who we are evolves. Who we want to be evolves. How we accept, embrace or challenge those changes also evolves.

The jewelry card that accompanies this necklace says: “Embrace yourself. You were created the way you are for a reason. Embrace your mind, your body, your ideas, your heart, your quirks, your imperfections. You are beautiful and magical. You are enough.”

YOU ARE ENOUGH is easy to say and difficult to believe.

To me, “you are enough” does not mean that you have reached some state of perfection in which you never need help, never make mistakes, are done growing and changing.

Instead, “you are enough” means that who YOU are at the core - the spark, the spirit, the soul, the beauty that is left when all the superficial stuff is removed - is enough.

You are enough means that your worth does not depend on the value someone else places on you.

You are enough means that you still need to grow and change and make mistakes and challenge yourself and learn and discover and achieve - but not to prove yourself to someone else. Rather, to be yourself.

Never change who you are. Change the things that keep you from being who you are.

Sometimes I think we need a reminder of what is really important. And that is how this necklace came to be. A vertical piece of hand cut sterling silver with a piece of fine silver and a piece of 14k gold fill wrapped around it in a full embrace.

For sale, here.

THE 100 DAY PROJECT

There have been a lot of changes taking place behind the scenes and I’m excited to start sharing them all with you.

First and foremost, I’m back in the studio! I hit what I’ll call a “creative wall” this past year and I decided that I needed to step back and take a moment to reconnect with what inspires me. It never ceases to amaze me the perspective that a little space can give.

To celebrate my newly acquired inspiration and energy, I’ve decided to commit to doing The 100 Day Project. The 100 Day Project is a global art project that encourages participants to commit to “100 days of making.” It was launched on social media in 2014 by Elle Luna, but it is based on a workshop assignment created by celebrated graphic designer Michael Bierut at the Yale School of Art.

THERE ARE REALLY ONLY 3 RULES:

(1) Choose a creative “action” to do.

(2) Repeat that action every day for 100 days.

(3) Share each instance of your 100 on Instagram with your own unique hashtag and the official project hashtag, #The100DayProject.

SEPTEMBER 17TH: BEGIN

Starting on Monday, September 17th, I will create one new piece of jewelry every day for 100 days. (This timing works out nicely as the 100th day will bring me right to Christmas). Follow along on Instagram. I will tag every post with #SarahBFlanagan100 and #The100DayProject.

JOIN ME!

Want to join me and challenge yourself to do something for 100 days?

The options on how you can interpret this project for yourself are limitless. You can be specific (100 days of creating felt birds) or leave it much more open (100 days of crafting). And it doesn’t have to be a creative action. Pick something new you want to explore, a skill you want to develop, or maybe just get back into the habit of doing something you love. Commit to taking a photo every day for 100 days. Or doodling, journaling, a daily act of kindness, cooking, working out. Whatever you choose, I’d love to hear about it.

(Elle Luna)