The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry...
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Working on some Beautiful...
Published Jan 03 2016 in New Collections
Of beautiful things to come for my SS16 Collections. Just finished metalworking these freeform bronze beads and pendants. My work day begins with some pencil sketches and then bringing those sketches to life. My daughter Erin, looked at my plans and said "that's a lot of work". Making individual beads, by hand, one by one, is a long process. I actually scale out how much bronze each bead will take. I like to vary the sizes which gives me more freedom in the end to create whatever I want. I pulled these bronze pieces out of my kiln at 2:00 am because I was excited to see how they would turn out. Okay, I'm just a little obsessed. Now time to execute my plans, which always change in the end. That's the beauty of creating something by hand; one by one. Things change and evolve just like my jewelry. I love it. -
True Gold
Published Dec 03 2015 in Events
“True”: To be faithful and loyal. To be real and genuine. To be honest to yourself.
The day of each my jewelry shows is always a whirlwind of activity. It is always so great to see my customers come out each year to support a local business. You are faithful and loyal. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude. It was a record turnout this year, thank you.
This is just a little snapshot of just a few of my friends and family that come out each show to help me: Tracy, Jackie, Erin, Debbie, Catherine and not in the picture: Kim, Roma, Najat, Lisa, Sandra. Without you I couldn’t hold my jewelry show. You are real and genuine friends who take a day off work who leave their busy daily schedules to help me. I hope that it is a fun and exciting day for you. It was for me and you make it possible!
And everyday as I create a new piece of jewelry I ask myself: is it true me? Because in the end it is about staying true to yourself.
So thank you.
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This is Real Life: Fashion with Compassion 2015
Published Nov 02 2015 in Philanthropy Jewelry
When I was growing up I remember my mother travelling to St. Paul to care for her mother. My grandmother was in palliative care for cancer. My mom would prepare all of the food for the week in Edmonton for us and then leave for the weekdays to care for her mother. She would sit at her mother’s bedside, making sure that she was comfortable and then the rest of the time clean out her childhood home to prepare it for sale. My mother never spoke of what she thought; she never cried in front of us. It was probably too hard for her to talk about it. Cancer affects everyone in different ways.
I am very honoured to be a part of the Fashion with Compassion Event this year and designed a necklace and bracelet set for the event. I was touched by so many words spoken by various speakers all affected by cancer in their lives. Mark Ward, Board member of the Compassion House Foundation (CHF) and CEO of Syncrude Canada, spoke of how it is the ultimate in kindness to give to those that you do not even know. Debra Wooding, President of the CHF, spoke of the ripple effect of donating to a wonderful cause. And former Compassion House resident, Alana, spoke of her journey and concluded so many simple truths including “life is good, people are kind”.
This year I was lucky enough to bring my mother to this wonderful event, Fashion with Compassion. The people on stage spoke for her and everyone else in the room, and I knew that she took it all in.
I watched her from the corner of my eye.
So on the ride home, we talked about how wonderful the event was and what good the Sorrentino’s Compassion House does. She never did talk about her experience with her mother’s cancer. She didn’t have to, I knew that she cared & that she loved her mother. I would do the same for her.
Many thanks to Melissa Kraft, Executive Director of Compassion House, who is always supportive, positive and generous. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at Sorrentino's Compassion House. Thank you to the Board members who continue to support my vision for the jewelry at this event. Finally, thank you to the Met Agency and Michelle McBride for their guidance and beautiful branding of Orange Avocado Jewelry and Fashion with Compassion.
Sorrentino’s Compassion House is a home for out of town women receiving breast cancer treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Their stay is subsidized at $25 per night at the Compassion House; a typical stay is in actuality $125 per night. Please consider this charity by donating or purchasing a necklace by contacting www.compassionhouse.org
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Truth
Published Sep 13 2015 in
Wow, love the message in this video. I think this applies so well to my my jewelry process. Although I love so many thoughts in this video, my favourite quote is:
"Are you letting out something in the truest way...if you do that, then you are free."
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My Story
Published Jul 08 2015 in My Story
A customer, Nicole, took this picture from a roadside fruit stand in San Francisco and sent it to me. For those that don't know the story of why I named my jewelry company after two yummy fruits here it is. I have two children who are now 15 and 17 years old. When they were small little toddlers they loved food and trying new things all of the time. My daughter Erin loved oranges and my son Aidan loved avocados. These were simple pleasures for them. They were always open to trying new foods and eating whatever mom put in front of them. I have always loved food and trying new things as well.
My kids are growing up too fast, but those memories of oranges and avocados allover their little faces and everything else that I did with them will stay with me forever. I love those memories and I love my kids.
