10/15/2026
Today marks another year of my daddy being gone 🤍
I was young when we lost him, and at the time, I didn’t fully understand what sensing his presence meant.
When thinking about him, I always felt a pull towards the sky, the moon, and birds.
Years later, for the first time in a long time, our family decided to get together on the anniversary of his passing. We went for a walk, sipped hot chocolate and took some pictures; we spent some time simply honouring and remembering him.
We didn’t notice it at the time, but when we gathered all five of his kids together for a photo, there was a whole flock of birds flying overhead.
I still think about that.
One week later, we lost my partner’s cousin in a tragic way. He left children behind, just as my dad had, and in the days and months that followed, there were so many moments involving birds that felt significant to his family, too.
Then came a trip to Arizona.
The trip that started it all. A sunny afternoon stroll to a flea market and I came home with a ridiculous amount of beads. I filled a suitcase and paid for it to board the plane home with me.
That same vacation, we took a day trip to the Grand Canyon. I could feel such an intense energy from Ryan’s cousin, and a little bit later, from my daddy. Almost simultaneously, a crow flew up beside us and seemed to keep following along as we drove slowly toward the canyons. I felt my partner’s cousin so strongly in that moment, and suddenly a “Hi, I’m here.” in a whisper that felt far away, other worldly, but definitely audible. It was Dean, Ryan’s cousin, and I knew my dad was working through him to speak to me.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, something in me shifted.
Making jewelry had always been a hobby, like pretty sure I came out of the womb with beads in hand. Creating had always been a part of me, something I loved. This trip though, it reignited something I’d tucked away, and I started following the feeling that maybe this was meant to become something more.
Blue Jeans & Pearls grew from there. Every part of the name, and my logo, are a by product of me weaving intention into everything I do.
The bird in my logo it carries a meaning that goes far beyond its appearance, it honours every season of me and all the loved ones helping on the other side.
I could never fully explain every little thing that’s woven into this business because some things are difficult to put into words, and some things are simply yours to feel.
Today, on the anniversary of losing my dad, I wanted to share a little piece of the story behind it all.
This business didn’t just come from a love of making jewelry, quite the opposite in fact. It came from life, profound loss and all the people I’ve loved along the way. A symbol of all the little things that have helped me feel connected to them even after they’ve gone.
