Stunning Deliveries - Marla Aaron + My Sentimental Journey!
For the most part, I try not to share a lot of personal details on my blog. There are several reasons for that, the primary one is that I like to keep the focus on the stunning jewelry and amazing designers - not on me. After all, they're the ones doing all the work so they should get all the credit! But this one time, I'm going to share a little personal detail because it directly ties into some fabulous jewels and an amazing designer that (thanks to the internet) I now call "Friend."
One of the best things about writing a jewelry blog is that you get to interview some pretty interesting people. And, as people do...sometimes our conversations migrate to topics outside the realm of jewelry. One example that comes to mind is when I was chatting with designer Marla Aaron of Marla Aaron Jewelry.
Marla and I share a mutual love of utilitarian objects as well as architecture. As I was interviewing Marla about her locks, I had mentioned how much they reminded me of the carabiners that are used in search and rescue operations.
Since about 1997, I've been a volunteer search and rescue (SAR) canine trainer and handler. In fact, I had even started my own bloodline breeding Dobermans who were capable of performing in the SAR field. And, I loved it - every second of it! I loved the stress, the challenge and the chance to help my fellow man. My canine partners and I specialized in human remains detection. I felt like in helping to locate a person's missing loved one - even if it meant they were deceased - we were helping to provide them with closure and the chance to move forward.
Through the course of this conversation with Marla, it came out that I had been injured relatively recently on a SAR deployment with my dog, Styx. I had spent a good amount of time in the hospital and had a number of surgeries as a result. I even had to learn how to walk again - albeit with a limp. The injury put an end to my volunteer SAR career as I knew it. It was a very trying and emotional time for me. It was something I never expected to have to deal with at my age.
As the interview with Marla continued on about jewelry, we both talked about our love of gemstones and color. Two of my personal favorites are garnets and citrines. Which remind me of blood and tears. I think you can imagine why.
Then Marla surprised me and found some amazing garnets and citrines. Given what the stones represent to me, I wanted a necklace(s) created that would represent closure from my 15+ years as a SAR canine trainer/handler while commemorating a new beginning. Marla made that happen. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
I know that it seems a little thing, an odd notion - commemorating an ending; a way to provide myself with some form of closure. But, jewelry is meant to be sentimental. And although the journey is important, I believe that you can't go down any path until you take that first step - the beginning. Many times, a beginning is really just an ending in disguise.
And, in case you're wondering, Styx is just fine. She turns 10 years old in April and is learning to enjoy her forced retirement from SAR work - like me.
One of the best things about writing a jewelry blog is that you get to interview some pretty interesting people. And, as people do...sometimes our conversations migrate to topics outside the realm of jewelry. One example that comes to mind is when I was chatting with designer Marla Aaron of Marla Aaron Jewelry.
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| The amazing & completely fabulous, Marla Aaron! |
Marla and I share a mutual love of utilitarian objects as well as architecture. As I was interviewing Marla about her locks, I had mentioned how much they reminded me of the carabiners that are used in search and rescue operations.
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| Marla's locks - Maybe not rescue-rated but certainly more beautiful! |
Since about 1997, I've been a volunteer search and rescue (SAR) canine trainer and handler. In fact, I had even started my own bloodline breeding Dobermans who were capable of performing in the SAR field. And, I loved it - every second of it! I loved the stress, the challenge and the chance to help my fellow man. My canine partners and I specialized in human remains detection. I felt like in helping to locate a person's missing loved one - even if it meant they were deceased - we were helping to provide them with closure and the chance to move forward.
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| My SAR canine, Styx, & I many years ago (before my injury) during a training exercise. |
Through the course of this conversation with Marla, it came out that I had been injured relatively recently on a SAR deployment with my dog, Styx. I had spent a good amount of time in the hospital and had a number of surgeries as a result. I even had to learn how to walk again - albeit with a limp. The injury put an end to my volunteer SAR career as I knew it. It was a very trying and emotional time for me. It was something I never expected to have to deal with at my age.
As the interview with Marla continued on about jewelry, we both talked about our love of gemstones and color. Two of my personal favorites are garnets and citrines. Which remind me of blood and tears. I think you can imagine why.
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| Citrines (left) & Garnets (right) in various shades. |
Then Marla surprised me and found some amazing garnets and citrines. Given what the stones represent to me, I wanted a necklace(s) created that would represent closure from my 15+ years as a SAR canine trainer/handler while commemorating a new beginning. Marla made that happen. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
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| The white gold Baby Lock with the garnets & citrine strands. I am in LOVE with the color of the garnets especially! Such depth of color - a perfect Pantone Marsala red color. |
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| I think this photo shows of the citrines' color so well! Since both sets of stones are smooth instead of faceted, I think that it gives them a very fluid look - much like the tears & blood that they represent. Don't the citrines look like little puddles in the sunlight?! |
I know that it seems a little thing, an odd notion - commemorating an ending; a way to provide myself with some form of closure. But, jewelry is meant to be sentimental. And although the journey is important, I believe that you can't go down any path until you take that first step - the beginning. Many times, a beginning is really just an ending in disguise.
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| Personally, I really like mixing the two strands together with the different sizes of the stones & then leaving the ends loose. Kind of gives it an eccentric feel to it which is perfect for me! |
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| Marla's locks & strands are just so versatile! You really can mix & match them to create a huge variety of looks! |
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| Even the end caps are a lovely white gold! The way that all the colors go with one another & how the color of the citrine varies from stone to stone gives the strands such depth. Truly a treasured piece of mine! |
And, in case you're wondering, Styx is just fine. She turns 10 years old in April and is learning to enjoy her forced retirement from SAR work - like me.
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