My Story
My father was a jeweler and we lived in the appartment above the shop. As a child I loved looking at all the shiny items in the shop. My father called me his little helper as I picked up the tiny pearls from the floor, when a necklace broke. Until I was hiding under a counter to watch the sales and – by accident- stepped on the button of the silent alarm and after a few minutes the whole shop was filled with police officers.
When I was about 15-16 years old I was allowed to help my father with the administration and was paid with pieces of jewelry. And my father gave me the chance to chose the collection for a new temporary jeweler shop nearby. I ‘advised’ them to import Danish silver pieces of jewelry and Israeli gemstone pieces. That became a succes. Shortly thereafter my father got ill and had to sell the shop,. That’s when I realized that there was no career for me there.
When my father died, my mother started to make pieces of jewellery for family and friends and later she started selling them. I was a tour operator by then and brought her gemstone beads from all over the world. As she passed away I inhereted 17 kilo of beads and other material. I started where she had to stop. My first sale in 2007 was a big event: someone who wanted to pay for my creation was a overwhelming feeling.
My best friend got cancer and she liked her jewellery so much. But she could not use her right arm, and putting on necklaces became a big problem. I studied on the ‘challenge’ and found out that using magnetic clasps would solve the problem. Since then I have an extra ‘eye’ for women who want to wear pieces of jewellery but cannot because of a ‘handicap’. I started also a light weight jewel line.
Then in 2011 I lost my job and since I am an active person I started a shop on Etsy. That was a big succes in terms of attention and appreciation, but no real succes in terms of sales. It is difficult to fight against shops who sell cheap Chinese jewellery. But I kept on fighting and making beautiful jewellery. And after the economic crisis women start buying gemstone and silver pieces of jewelery again.
My next big step is making an even bigger difference with my work. I am looking forward to meet my friends, customers and interested people in my own surroundings and help them chose that special unique piece of jewellery for you.
FlorenceJewelshop will never become a big company and I don’t want it to. I like to communicate with you, give you personal advise and sell high quality design jewels. But I love being able to travel the world in search of beautiful beads and to make a living out of it. If you feel attracted to my pieces and my ‘philosophy’, just have a look around. The doors are always open for you!
MY DREAM
Is to make beautiful pieces of jewellery, that are loved by you. Made of beads I personally have chosen on one of my travels in and outside Europe. That every piece of jewellry has a story, a story I like to tell you and fits emotionally in your world. The world is so beautiful, the people are great; we just have to pay attention that it stays that way. Are you ready to go with me on those travels through my photos and beads? Love to have you around.
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