Not quite a year ago, I was standing on the dock at the cottage admiring a friend’s mala set (a Buddhist prayer necklace) and I remember thinking how gorgeous and luminescent the jade beads were under the summer sun. I asked her if I could hold it (I’ve always been a touch person, a feeling person) and something happened. It wasn’t exactly a bolt of lightning, but more a beautiful, warm energy that coursed through my entire being and in that moment, I KNEW I was going to make one for myself. It was a knowing, like being pushed from behind by an unseen hand and being told, ‘you’re going to go here, do this - go in this direction’.
I’ve always loved jewelry and in particular gemstones, but I’d never had a desire, not even an inkling, that I wanted to make jewelry pieces. However, on that day something awoke, and I found myself researching gemstones, their healing frequencies, jewelry craftsmanship and so much more.
I never imagined I would call myself a jewelry artist at the age of 53. And yet, just a couple of months after that day, ilaa & b was launched – an artisan jewelry company specializing in one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces using precious and semi-precious gemstones, pearls, mixed metals including silver, gold and stainless steel, leather, crystal and custom blown glass beads.
My inspiration? I research and follow a lot of amazing artists and am always inspired. I meditate regularly, sit in stillness and receive ideas. I’m in nature, I look at architecture, and the design of everything, all colours, textures, lines, light…but MOSTLY…I feel.
Creativity is ‘Love in Motion’, it’s ME…my intentions, my energy, my light, my very essence…shared with the world. As a clairsentient, my interaction with the world - my intuition and knowing - is a feeling and my pieces reflect that. Allan (love of my life) calls me a Mary Poppins for my ‘it’ll work out” mindset lol…and yep…that’s me. And yet, the myriad facets that make up me are deeper than that. And I want all of it reflected, to share it in my work.
To create beauty is important, at the very least it connects us to our humanity. At most, it touches something deep inside us, connects us to our compassion, our kindness, our hope and joy. It makes the world a better place. Add in healing, and the knowing that your frequency activates the beautiful frequency of your gems to support you in your journey, wherever that may be, is also beautiful. As you journey along your healing path, uncovering more and more the truth of YOU, you will come to know that your healing, which allows peace to flow, comes from within and that outer ‘tools’ including the beautiful energy of gemstones, merely supports in the journey.
I love this journey. And I hope you’ll continue this path with me.
xo
