BORDEAUX - Swarovski Crystal & Pearl Cocktail Cluster Ring in Wine

by Laura Evans
(Glendale, CA)

I wasn't consciously planning it. This project has been creating itself while I slept. There were four events that came together like a perfect cocktail ring storm:

1. I was given a cheap, H&M imitation pearl cluster ring as a gift a few years ago that I LOVED. Unfortunately, one by one, each pearl broke free of its thin metal bondage and I was ultimately left with a sad, sparse, shell of a ring which I realized, to my deep regret, was ultimately unwearable.

2. A few months ago, I had my eye on a beautiful crystal cube cluster ring in the Swarovski store. When I finally went back to buy it, the ring was gone and I was told they were no longer being made.

3. I have a cheap IKEA crystal chandelier, the crystals on which are actually made of plastic. Having always loved real crystals, I decided to perform an upgrade and started researching chandelier crystals online. In so doing, I discovered access to the Swarovski cube crystals that I had seen in the Swarovski store so I bought some.

4. The crystals came and I thought maybe I could add them to the cheap H&M ring. Like peanut-butter and chocolate, the rest is history.

I originally made this ring for myself. When my dear friend Leslie asked me about it, I realized I could make a ring for her too. Then I got excited about all the colors and realized other people might also like these rings.

I researched quality findings (like sterling silver and 14k gold filled) and while I was deciding whether or not to go into the ring-making business, I started training as a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children). During training, I was told that some of the foster children have never had anything new EVER.

Some people donate gift cards, and if it's a child's birthday or graduation, we have access to that stash to buy our child a gift, or take them shopping. I realized that I could provide a gift card directly to a foster child through each sale of a ring, and that the gift would go directly to the child.

So that's my story.

What? The chandelier? Oh, it's glorious.

Laura Evans
llama bird