We're only three months into 2020 and it already feels like we've lived a years worth of events, emotions and stresses. The last couple weeks in particular as information and fears about COVID-19 have escalated more quickly than it seems possible to keep up with. Two weeks ago I went to a college gymnastics meet in a sold out arena, and now I have no contact with anyone outside my house.

The disruption to regular life right now still feels surreal…in the big ways like constant worry about the safety of loved ones, and in the less important ways like not having any sports to watch.

And of course, the overwhelming sadness for the millions of people whose lives have been completely upended in so many different ways. I know how lucky I am to not have a retail shop that needs to close or have employees who no longer can be paid. I work from home and am able to keep making jewelry and fulfilling orders in a safe way during this time, which is something I’ll never take for granted.

That being said, these are still stressful times to own a business. Markets that were scheduled for the next two months have been cancelled. Stores that sell my jewelry have closed. And I’m fully aware that in an economic crisis when jobs are lost and retirement funds are disappearing and we’re barreling towards a recession, buying jewelry is either completely out of mind at best, or impossible at worst.

Still, this is how I make a living, so the business must go on. I’ll still be here ready to make and send out jewelry. And I’m incredibly grateful for anyone who’s able to place orders during this stressful and uncertain time. To try to help ease the burden, the website will be 25% off for the next few weeks. Just use code “care2020” at checkout for the discount.

If you’ve made it to the end of this I thank you for your time. And yes, because my response to these wild times was to create some new stuff, these two stamped necklaces you see pictured are available for purchase.

Take care of yourselves, stay home if at all possible, remember to go outside (safely) every day, and as my Dad likes to say when things suck…

https://swoonjewelrystudios.com/necklaces/

An image of a wolf can mean different things for different people. To some, it represents the wilderness, mother nature herself…recall the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 that helped lead to the revitalization of an entire ecosystem.

To some, the concept of a wolfpack evokes a sense of power and community. From Rudyard Kipling’s “for the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack” to Game of Thrones’s “the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives”, the wolfpack holds an almost legendary status in literature and pop culture throughout time.

And still to others, the wolf can represent a particularly feminist strength.

“Throw me to the wolves and I’ll return leading the pack.”

That phrase kept popping into my head in the aftermath of the Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh hearing.

In one sense Dr. Ford was indeed thrown to the wolves, sharing her story with the world, only to be disbelieved, discounted, and dismissed by many people, including those who had the power to stop the confirmation.

But to so many others, that hearing was a galvanizing force, a new generation’s version of the famous Anita Hill hearing that instigated the first “Year of the Woman”. And so while Dr. Ford remains out of the public eye for now, I believe that she is a symbolic leader of the pack that is coming back to take on the patriarchal system that often props up men’s careers at the expense of women.

This is my tribute to the bravery of Dr. Ford, who knew she was going to put herself through hell in the name of civic duty and did it anyway, but who also helped rally a new pack of women ready to set the world on fire.

Inspired by Dr. Ford and dedicated to all the diverse, badass women running for and being elected to office in record numbers…we need you. Keep speaking, keep fighting, keep leading. We’re right behind you.

To create a necklace based on this, I told a graphic designer friend (Cristyn Hypnar) about my idea. She drew me this howling wolf's head, so it's completely original artwork. 

I had that artwork made into a wax seal stamp.

The stamp I then used on precious metal clay, and after many unsuccessful attempts, I was able to produce a stamped circle that I liked. After letting it dry for a day (during which I forgot to take a picture), I fired it with the torch and created this solid sterling silver pendant! 

It was quite a process, but I absolutely love how it turned out, and am currently wearing the original myself. 

If wolves resonate with you for any reason, this necklace you can't find anywhere else just might be perfect for you.

https://swoonjewelrystudios.com/wolf-necklace/

Last fall I did just that for someone who had gone on a big trip with friends to Croatia, and retuned with Croatian coins that she wanted to make into necklaces for the whole group. 

We came up with the idea to drill the coins to make pendants, and also to stamp the latitude and longitude coordinates of a very specific place in Croatia where they had an extra special memory. 

So each friend got their own necklace with not only a coin, but also a personal touch that made it even more meaningful.

It was such a good idea - to turn those coins into something truly special for everyone on the trip.

Hear about the experience from the customer herself:

"REVIEW OF CUSTOM CROATIA NECKLACES

In fall of 2017, six friends flew with me half-way across the world to help celebrate my 40^thbirthday in Croatia. It was a truly amazing trip. We joked, in fact, when we got back that it was too special to talk about. But I wanted to mark it – and these amazing women – with something equally special.

That’s when I found Jessie at Swoon Jewelry. I saw Jessie’s work in the display case at a local bookstore. It was all beautiful – and I knew the talent behind them would be able to help me transform the seven coins I’d brought home from Croatia into jewelry for me and my friends. And that Jessie did: seven beautiful, handmade necklaces not only with the coins but also a stamped pendant with latitude and longitude coordinates of an especially significant stop on the trip.

Six months later, my friends and I still wear the necklaces often. And they transport us back to Croatia. I couldn’t have asked for better souvenirs. Thanks, Jessie!

PS: Jessie was a dream to work with on this custom order. She communicated regularly with me, emailing options throughout the process, and had the necklaces done when she said she would."  

Next time you travel, hang onto a few extra coins to create your own keepsake!

Separating was certainly not easy, but the advantage of having a jewelry company is that I get to make custom (some might say cheesy) going away presents! I wanted to make something special for her; one part that she could hang on her new wall and look at every day, one part that she could wear on the necklace she never takes off.

I started by stamping lyrics from the classic An American Tail song on a brass plate:

I then made two moons cut from the same circle so they fit together perfectly - one for her to wear and one for me to wear:

I finished up by framing the brass plate next to a photo of us, which is in her new room now, and we both never take our moons off. When I'm missing her extra badly, I can touch the little moon and know that she's got the other half on her at that moment and I feel connected.

It's a land of red rock cliffs and mesas, of lizards and pinyon jays, of juniper trees and wildflowers; it's a beautiful and peaceful place that feels off the beaten path. We spent some time hiking in the park, looking for cool rocks, and geeking out in the Visitor's Center. Back at the house, we took time to explore the property, particularly the riverbed:

I was on a mission. I'd heard that my dad, as well as a couple of neighbors in the area, had found arrowheads on their property. I immediately wanted to go arrowhead hunting myself, as I've always loved the idea of holding an authentic piece of history from a time so long ago and a life so different than the one I know. As a child, I was often drawn to the arrowheads sold in gift shops and rock stores, but I had never seen a real one in the wild before. 

Shockingly, it only took five minutes for my eyes to find the prize:

I almost couldn't believe I found it so quickly, but there it was: a real live arrowhead! It was thrilling. And it was inspiring. I wanted to create a piece of jewelry that would capture this feeling, and so the Arrowhead Necklace was born:

It's so simple, but already one of my favorite pieces as it came from this place of childlike wonder and discovery. I'm so excited to share it with the world. 

Here's to nature, to history, to exploration and to the joy of spending time with family, doing something as simple as hunting for arrowheads and cool rocks. 

Jessie

Saying goodbye to Sahra. Saying hello to the new face of Swoon, Jessie Berggren.

A note from Sahra:

I'm not sure what lies ahead for me but I am so excited to open a new chapter in my life. The last 11 years have been nothing short of amazing thanks to all of you. What started as a dream and a jewelers bench in my dining room has grown into the most beautiful company that has its own heart and soul.

Swoon has seen people come and go, locations open and close, and received a new name more than once, marketing plans have changed, new designs have been introduced, and all with love & support of the beautiful community we have built.

I am beyond grateful for the endless support and patronage I have received over the years. Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me see my dream come true. It's time to pass the torch to an amazing designer, businesswoman, and friend, Jessie. Some of you may not know her but for sure she has answered your emails helped make your orders, or made them entirely and made sure the wheels kept turning smoothly within swoon business for the last four years. I know Jessie is going to take such good care of Swoon and continue to create pieces that celebrate life and can't wait to see what she dreams up.

Please reach out, say hello and ask questions. For now I am going to focus on being a mama, running Love for Lily and exploring possibilities. I hope to see all of you along the way and am grateful to my core for the incredible journey we have been on together.

So much love and endless gratitude.

xoxo Sahra 

Hello From Jessie! 

After growing up in Salt Lake City, attending college on the east coast, and spending the majority of my 20's in Santa Monica, I visited Boulder for a weekend and fell in love. I was fortunate enough to have a welcoming brother, some new friends and the time to decide what I wanted to do for the next phase of my life. I stumbled upon a job opening at a local jewelry studio called Hot Mama Designs, owned by two women, and thought working with my hands in a creative, totally new field might be a nice change of pace from the desk job I had just left.

So it was five years ago that I walked into Sahra and Shannon’s studio and lives, and I have never looked back. They taught me everything they know about metalsmithing, jewelry designing/making, and running a business, all while keeping me laughing. I’ve since followed Sahra as we said goodbye to working with Shannon, relocated to the storefront in Louisville, and then moved into her backyard studio (twice) and I have continued to learn and grow. Sahra has been the most amazing and caring boss, mentor, and teacher. I couldn’t be prouder to accept this business she has spent so many years building.

I can’t wait to keep building and sustaining the legacy of sisterhood and celebration of life upon which Swoon was founded, and which continues to be an inspiration to me. I’m truly honored to keep working with, and creating for, you.

Jessie

This beautiful girl is pure joy. She has made me a mama, again, and has brought more laughter and light into our lives than I knew was possible. She has also brought responsibility to our lives. Responsibility to raise her up to be a kind, compassionate, respectful, strong woman. A woman that has love in her heart and empathy for every person she meets and knows that there is good in the world. 

As a mother, as a woman, as a wife, as a daughter, as a friend, I am determined to continue moving forward and cracking the glass ceiling. I believe that we cannot allow this election to tear us down and break us apart, and that it will actually bring us together. 

It is no longer ok to sit back and watch. It is time to get in the ring, it is time to move beyond social media commentary and staying comfortable and safe in my living room. I want to have the hard conversations and to push past the hate and anger. I want to be open to a dialogue of respectful disagreement and take a stand firmly in my belief that love always wins. I cannot tune out the "other side" any longer. I cannot hide from reality any more. It is my duty as a mother, as a woman.  

I stand for inclusivity, for life, for women's rights, for children's rights, for LGBTQ rights, for immigrants, minorities, for faith in all its forms, for equality no mater the color of your skin, for the tearing down of walls not the building of them, for paid maternity leave, for global health care for every person, for regulations on Wall Street, for community, for refugees, for love. 

We have a voice and it is time to start using it. I am using my voice to say I will not stand for racism, sexism, bigotry, hate crimes, or misogyny. We have a voice to say we will not stand for hate. I am tired of being silent, of sitting back and expecting someone else to fight the good fight. I am committed to getting involved. I am throwing my hat in the ring. I am committed to having genuine conversations and speaking my truth with love. I am committed to raising my daughter to stand up for what she believes and to speak up for all people's rights.  

Hillary Clinton has paved a road for women, broken through so many barriers and shattered so many ceilings. She is a heroine to me personally and I am eternally grateful to her for standing up and using her voice. I hope that my daughter grows up into a world where gender, race, faith, and sexual orientation do not divide us but bring us together. We need love, kindness, compassion, and hope more than ever. #imstillwithher #lovewins

All my love, 

Sahra

Such was the case with the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. When this gay nightclub was targeted and attacked, 49 innocent lives were taken and countless more were forever changed. I don’t personally know anyone who lives in Orlando, but this event struck me especially hard because it could have been me dancing that night. Or it could have been my girlfriend and me holding hands on the street in front of someone who would see us and be so full of hate that he would enter a nightclub and spread that hate in the form of bullets.

There are no words to describe the devastation those who lost loved ones must feel to know their lives were taken so senselessly.

And yet! After the dark storm passes, out comes the proverbial rainbow. Those of us still here can keep loving, living, being ourselves, fighting for change and moving forward.

In the aftermath of such a loss, one thing that helps restore my faith in humanity is the amount of support and love that pours out from complete strangers who want to help people they’ve never met. 

Here at Swoon, we want to help too. For the month of July, we’ll be donating 50% of all sales of our Rainbow Life Circle Necklace to Equality Florida to directly support the families of those killed and injured in Orlando. The Life Circle Necklace is one of our favorite, most personal designs. Each Life Circle is made completely by hand ensuring each one is unique. They’re hammered because life has bumps, and wrapped with precious stones to represent the beauty along the way. Finally, they hang on a double cable chain and spin and move because life is ever changing. 

This special version is wrapped with rainbow sapphires (and a purple amethyst) to show support for members of the LGBT community, to remind ourselves of the good that can come after a tragedy, and to affirm that love is love and we should all strive to spread love, not hate.

For a beautiful tribute more eloquent than I could ever be, I urge you to check out poet Azure Antoinette’s video about Pulse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAljsbBjKfc

Read more about the Pulse Victims Fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

We were sad to leave our beautiful shop in downtown Louisville.  It has been a wonderful home for us these past three year BUT we are so super duper excited about our new space and what it means for our business & family + you our amazing customers!

SG helping to prep the space!  It has been a family affair for sure.  My parents, in-laws, friends, everybody has pitched in.  Anyway... i promise more photos of the finished space soon and updates regularly.  For now lets talk about what this means for you! 

You know how much we love seeing you all and designing custom pieces too SOOO we are having a series of trunk shows + headed out to do a few select markets for the first time in almost two years.  We are giddy!  This also means that if want to host a trunk show we are there! {which equals free jewelry for you!} 

Our First Pop-Up will be at Two Hands Paperie next week!  We are setting up our entire store including NEW one of a kind designs and fun giveaways for the evening in downtown Boulder.  If you have never been to Two Hands Paperie it is a magical shop on the West End of Pearl filled with treasures for journalling, making, archiving, and playing with gorgeous hand made paper goodness.  RSVP for the event here.

Then we are off to inspire & be inspired at the Emerging Women Power Party!  If you do not know about Emerging Women you must click here and sign up for their email list, ready the blog, listen to the podcast, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! 

Finishing out this incredible month of June we will be at the Crafted Life Market in Lafayette.  It is the first market of its kind here in the East County and it is going to rock!  You can RSVP for this event here.  

So like I said, we are not going away we are just going to do things a little differently! We have made such good friends through our shop and love being oh-oher and are super lucky to live in the hood too so dont be shy, call us, write us a note or stop by and say hi!  

xoxo

Sahra 

Mother's Day is May 8th & We want to spoil you! 

$100 {take $25 off} use code: mamalove251

$200 {take $50 off} use code: mamalove252

$300 {take $75 off} use code: mamalove253

$400 {take $100 off} use code: mamalove254

$500 {take $125 off} use code: mamalove255

500+ take 25% off your total order: mamalove2525

Make sure to order by May 1st to ensure on time Mother's Day delivery.  Happy happy Spring & Happy Mother's Day Gorgeous! 

xo  Sahra