Since this is the first edition of  “Shine”, I would like to share with you a little bit about myself and how I ended up on my path as a jewelry designer.

I didn’t start out as a designer – far from it.  From a young age, I wanted to be a doctor.  I studied hard, did well in university and was accepted into naturopathic medical school.  The long and gruelling hours were challenging to say the least, but I did well.  I never second-guessed my decision to be a doctor, or why I wanted  to be one.  I just kept on going as if the doctorate at the end of the tunnel was my sole purpose in life.  I never  questioned whether I was truly happy or fulfilled doing what I was doing.

Until one day.  I began to  look within, and I found that something was missing in my life and that I wasn’t really happy.  I took a leave of absence from med school and did some soul searching.  For the first time ever I had time on my hands, so I signed up for acting classes lo and behold I began working as an actor in Vancouver’s booming Film Industry.  I was loving it!

During my down time on set I started making beaded jewelry.  I remember the first time I went into the bead store and saw all the sparkly, colourful crystal beads!  It was love at first sight!  I bought a small fortune worth of beads and went to work at my new-found hobby.  The creative juices were flowing like never before and friends and family were delighted to receive my creations, and they actually wanted more.  I got up the nerve to take my work to the retail stores and I got orders!  I enrolled in jewelry-making classes and I came up with a company name (in case you’re wondering, I love the color Indigo and I am obsessed with stars).  I was doing what I love and loving it!

When the time came to return to medical school, I didn’t… It wasn’t an easy decision; in fact it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.  I was so close to being a doctor; and I had invested so much time and money into my education.  What would people say?  Would I regret it years later?  But I had found my passion and I was truly happy: I was designing and creating sparkly jewelry that women would feel beautiful wearing.  And for the record, I have never looked back.

When you follow your heart and soul, and you share the talent you have been given, you can’t go wrong.