I need a vacation.
But since I’ve had to cancel my own travels three times in the past year, I’ve found myself navigating the world through my stones instead. Lately, I’ve been caught in the blue between two seas: the sun-drenched Pacific, enjoyed most from the coast city of Malibu and the deep, storied waters of the Northern Baltic.
When I think of Malibu, I’m looking for that specific, pristine clarity. It’s a blue that feels like a deep breath—completely calm and tropical. To capture that in the studio, I always reach for Aquamarine.
It has that refreshing, crystal-clear quality that feels like looking straight through the water to the sand. For a bit more intensity, I’ll bring in Blue Topaz, or even Tanzanite when I want to add a hint of that violet-blue you see just as the sun is setting over the coast.
Then, there is the Baltic. It’s an entirely different world.
The Baltic Sea is deep, dark and storied. Its beauty isn’t about clarity; it’s about a sense of mystery that feels completely timeless. To translate that feeling into jewelry, I lean into the “velvet” blues. Sapphire is the anchor here—it’s a sophisticated, inkier blue that feels like it has a secret.
I also love using Lapis Lazuli for this; those tiny golden flecks of pyrite look like sunlight hitting the deep, dark water. And Labradorite, with its shifting flash, perfectly captures the way the Northern light changes the color of the sea every few minutes.
I usually set my Malibu-inspired pieces in silver to keep them feeling light and “coastal,” while the Baltic pieces feel right in gold—it highlights that sense of mystery and nobility.
These two places couldn’t be further apart geographically, but having their colors on my design table has been its own kind of therapy. They transport me to the coastal paradises I’ve missed this year and I hope wearing them does the same for you.
From the Studio…
If these tones resonate with you, I invite you to explore how this color story has been captured in these specific creations:
Multi Stone Necklace in Turquoise (Large): A study in the clear, sun-kissed clarity of Malibu Blue.
Lapis Dangle Earrings: A tribute to the deep, historical mystery of the Baltic Sea.