Oregon Beach Girl and Have Faith

My life as a jewelry designer started the day I was gifted my grandmother's Swarovski Crystal necklaces from the 1930's. I knew I wanted to take them apart and reinvent them, so I took a basic jewelry making  class. The rest is all self-taught trial and error, with delightful surprises along the way!

I have created two distinct lines of unique jewelry. Oregon Beach Girl "Treasures from the Sea and Beyond" and Have Faith "Divinely inspired Rosaries, Prayer Beads and Jewelry".

Have Faith: The spiritual element of my designs comes from four years of seminary, and as a clinically trained Chaplain practicing in healthcare and hospice. Having the ability to accept other people's religions and faith traditions, as well as people who had no spiritual base, allowed me to provide the emotional support they desired. All my designs are channeled from a Source greater than I can imagine. I am especially connected to Catholic rosaries, Saint Francis and Quan Yin prayer beads.

Oregon Beach Girl: Here I create beach themed necklaces and earrings. I make necklaces from seashells that I collect during my beach walks and adorn them with charms, semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and Swarovski Crystal. I also wire wrap agates and rocks that I find on my local beaches. My inspiration comes from my meditative time walking along the shore. Every shell and every rock has a story to tell. My job as a designer is to be a good steward of that story and bring out the very best of each piece.

Everything I create is from my heart. Each piece tells me what it wants to be. I always know that I am creating each one of a kind piece for someone special, that I just haven't met yet. If this jewelry inspires you, please share it with others!

Namaste, Mari Schuman