Every time I look at my earrings, I am reminded of a particular memory, moment or person. For me, earrings are more than just an accessory, they are a tangible representation of my life's journey. In this blog post, I will be sharing the stories of my personal earrings collection, hoping to encourage you to delve into the stories behind your own jewelry.

 

Graduation Earrings

For my high school graduation, my mom gifted me this pair of long textured metal earrings. I'm not sure what made her think they were perfect for the occasion, but receiving them as a gift meant the world to me. When I wear them, I am reminded of that exciting day and how proud my mom is of me.

 

 

Aidan's Christmas Present

One of the most cherished pairs in my earring collection is a simple set of beaded earrings made by my little brother for Christmas. It was one of the first gifts he ever gave, and I was touched by the effort he put into making them. The beads came from a Cool Jewels in Montpelier, VT, and with my mom's help, he attached them to ear wires to create the finished product. While they may not be the most comfortable to wear, with the beads being quite heavy, I value these earrings above all others. Once, I even lost one and immediately replaced it, as they hold a special place in my heart and remind me of my brother's childhood.

 

Early Leafs

When I first started bending wire, I called my artist father for advice. These leaf-shaped earrings were one of my earliest creations, heavily influenced by my dad's style. Looking at them now, I can see my own interpretation of his line drawings. These earrings remind me of the support and encouragement my dad has always given me.

 

Ugly Earrings

My mom gifted me this pair of earrings that I find truly ugly. But in a weird way, I love to hate them. Even though I don't like them, I could never give them away because they hold a special place in my collection as my ugliest earrings.

 

Orchid Petals

My aunt gifted me a stunning necklace and orchid petal earrings, both crafted by a local Florida artisan. The delicate orchid petals captured my attention and inspired me to create my own line of leaf earrings. The technique used to preserve the petals is truly beautiful, and I love that I have a matching set to wear on special occasions. These earrings hold a special place in my collection, as they are a meaningful gift from a loved one that sparked my creativity.

 

My First Earrings

When I got my ears pierced, my mom was not happy about it. But once she accepted the fact, she gave me a pair of drama mask studs and a pair of penguin studs. They were a way for her to say that if I was going to wear earrings, she would make sure they were age-appropriate. The happy and sad mask studs were particularly fitting, as I was involved in a lot of plays at the time. These earrings remind me of how my mom always had my best interests at heart.

 

Cufflinks

My grandmother gave me these earrings, which she had fashioned from cufflinks. She claimed she didn't wear cufflinks and thought they would make better studs. It's hard to believe she went to all that effort, but the fact that she did makes them all the more special to me.

 

Bent Metal

These earrings are my absolute favorite - made from bent metal, folded like a taco, and bursting with color. They are lightweight, interesting, and a little bit edgy, and I've received countless compliments on them over the years. I wish I could remember where I got them, but they were definitely a secondhand find. These earrings remind me of my love for unique and unconventional jewelry.

 

My earrings collection may seem like just a bunch of jewelry to some, but to me, each pair is a precious memory that I hold dear. I hope this blog post has inspired you to look at your own jewelry collection in a new light, and to appreciate the memories and moments that each piece holds. Remember, the best things in life are not things, but the memories we make along the way.