Michele and Paula

She is very strong. She was a single mom before she married my dad when I was eleven. So it was just me and her for a really long time.
 
She managed Toys R Us in the 1980’s as the head manager over a bunch of people, so I really have always viewed my mom as a little bit ahead of her time because I think women in the eighties weren’t really at that level yet.
 
I just view her as probably the strongest person I know. She is very loving but she can definitely be stubborn! I think I get that from her. She is the person you call if someone isn’t treating you right, she is not someone you want to mess with.

Do you ever wear any of her jewelry? Oh absolutely. The older we get, the more similar our tastes become but yes, we borrow each other’s jewelry all the time. In fact she was just fussing at me yesterday because I still have her pearls that I borrowed! What does wearing her jewelry mean to you? I guess it really signifies everything about our relationship. To me, it shows the comfort level we have with each other. I do feel like a little bit of her is with me when I’m wearing her jewelry.

What is your favorite thing about your mom? Probably our relationship. She really is my best friend. My mom is the person I talk to every morning when I am bringing the kids to school and usually in the afternoon. I guess because it was just us two for so long, we have a unique connection.   Another favorite thing about my mom is that she is the person that everyone relies on. She is the middle sister in her family and takes care of her own mother. My mom is kind of the person that holds the family together. She is the true matriarch. What would you like to say to your mother on Mother’s Day? Happy Mother’s Day to my rock, best friend, and best Pippy. I love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day Paula & Michele! xo Jewel of Havana

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Tom and Sheila and Their Sweet Granddaughters

Buddy and Shoo Shoo with Granddaughters, Finley and Emory

Finley: Exciting because we had the same necklace as our grandmother.
Emory: And it was cool because it was made special for kids!
Finley: Our grandmother got them for us and that makes us remember her.

Emory: She is our grandma and we love her so much.
Finley: Yeah, we love her! And we come to their house for Christmas.
Emory: Sometimes we get special treats with her and sometimes when we go on vacations with her she puts charms on our charm bracelet so we remember the trip.

Tom: Well, I'm not the best person on planet Earth with figuring out what to get for my wife, so she usually gives me hints. But I knew Shelia admired the jewelry, so it just gave me a jackpot way to get her gifts that she would really like. This particular piece was something that she really admired, and I knew she would like it and want to wear it.

At what point did your granddaughters take an interest in the necklace? Tom: Once she got it, she wore it over when we visited them and the girls couldn’t stop admiring it. That gave her the idea at that time to ask if we could come up with something. From your eyes, what was the girls reactions’ when you all gave them the necklaces. Tom: Oh I think they were thrilled! They love their Shoo Shoo and their Shoo Shoo loves them, so they were excited. Shelia loves her grandbabies and I certainly feel that the feeling is mutual. You know, we live far away, we are kinda long-distance grandparents, so we look for the opportunity to get together and do something they will like as much as we can. Tell me a little bit about the kind of mother and grandmother Shelia is Tom: She has dedicated her life to loving, supporting, and guiding her children through life from the time they were born and now in adulthood. She continues that dedication with the next generation as a most beloved “Shoo-Shoo”. I couldn’t be more blessed and thankful for her as wife, mom, and grandmother.

Shop the Look Leaf Bell Necklace-White Pearl Shop White Fresh Water Pearl Chandelier Earrings Shop Philodendron Leaf Necklace - Sterling Silver with Fresh Water Pearls Shop Happy Mother's Day, Sheila!

Why is it called Jewel of Havana?

So thrilled to share I've been named a 20 on the Rise 2018 winner in the Designer category.  To be selected out of over 3500 deserving nominees is such an honor and I look forward to getting to know the other amazing creatives on the list! The Girls in the Dressing Room For those of you who are new to Jewel of Havana, in my former career, I was a Broadway actress. Jewelry making and the business of jewelry was born in my dressing room backstage at Beauty and the Beast.

What is 20 on the Rise?

Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo and Kami Gallardo

My sister had been bugging me for months to get on an online dating site. I’m currently writing this book, called “Confessions of a Grad Student”. It’s about how the female scientist can survive grad school.

I’m single and dealing with loneliness… so I’m going to write a chapter on dating.  Kelly (my sister) made an EHarmony account for me without me knowing. She put all my information on it and the whole screen said “I’m sorry, but you cannot find love in the State of Louisiana”.  (LOL).... So that was a bit discouraging and I was put off by the idea of online dating. 

A couple months later Kelly was bugging me. I thought, I need material for this chapter, let me try Christian Mingle.  I fill out my profile and it’s pretty much what I expected...  I got a trucker from Shreveport who wanted to know what a PHD was.

Kelly asked me one day how’s it going?  I say, oh, pretty much how I expected and tell her a couple of stories.  So she hacks into my account, messages 20 people and Rick was one of them.

Rick just responded to be polite because he’s in a different state and then the conversation started getting really nice. A few months later for my birthday, he wanted to send me something. My family doesn’t do birthdays so if a guy is sending me something I was like… “Woe!  I thought we were Facebook buddies!” I’m not traveling; he’s not traveling; it was safe. This freaked me out.

He said we’ve been talking for months. We should at least meet.  And I was like, well… you’ll have to get a hotel and you’ll spend all this gas money. What if we don’t hit it off? And he said well, if you’re weird I’m just gonna keep driving to New Orleans  and have a weekend to myself. So I thought, OK, he has a backup and that took all the pressure off.

We ended up meeting here (Magpie Café) because it’s my favorite place and it turned into spending 4 hours here chatting and chatting. We drove to the Shah Center downtown and went to the art museum. Then we met Kelly (my sister who hacked) at Sushi Masa. That was our first date!

After dinner he asked if I wanted to meet up for drinks in maybe an hour after we freshen up? I was like, well… I’m kinda busy and Kelly interrupts me and says, no, here’s our address, pick her up at this time, she’ll be ready.  After that she deserved a trophy for the wedding! I opened up the speeches by presenting her an award for best meddler.

She biased herself to education. He has a master’s degree and he’s actually going back in the spring to get a degree in analytics… and he’s cute!

How did he propose? We had been talking about it for a while. So he tells me one day, hey, I need you to show up at Magpies (the one downtown) at 8:00 dressed to impress. Magpie…8:00, dressed to impress….got it! He wasn’t scheduled to come in to town so I thought maybe he has a gift waiting for me? Maybe this is a “we met here, anniversary, surprise date? I don’t know what’s going on. So I show up and he’s waiting there for me. We had breakfast and I asked him, what are we doing today?  And he said, I really don’t know what we’re doing today. We sit there and had coffee and breakfast and another coffee.

Well come to find out he had booked a photographer to capture the moment and there was a mix up with the time. Rick was trying to stall till she got there. She shows up and he pops the question! It was so sweet!

What made you choose to go with handmade jewelry for your wedding jewelry? It started with the color.  I had the blue wedding dress already. My love language is gifts so I like gifting people things and wanted to get my bridesmaids earrings that matched the color scheme. My mother has sacrificed so much for my education and putting up with my tears of loneliness. I really wanted her to have something nice. And I wanted Rick's Mom to feel special and have something nice as well. I had been looking for months for a blue that I really liked.  And then I saw a child’s bracelet at your stand and I thought oh my gosh that is the perfect blue! And I loved your style. It matched the theme and everything about it was perfect. The color, the style and that’s why I ended up going in the handmade direction. It was unique. I mean you’re not going to find another set of earrings like that.

I mean, you were really instrumental in that. I’m a scientist and my fashion sense lacks sometimes so I took a lot of my cues from you.  Everyone loved their gifts. I was not expecting my mother in law to like it so much but she texted Rick the day that she wore it and said I’m wearing Kami’s necklace to this important conference I’m going to and she loved it!

Oh yeah! I’ve worn them to church ever since then because everything in my wardrobe is blue and they match everything.

I think they really liked them. They matched the dresses really well and they looked so nice on all the bridesmaids.

I hope so… I hope so!

This Mother and Daughter Have Alot to Celebrate!

Elena and Amy

Mother of Five, Elena and her youngest daughter and 8th Grade Grad, Amy

Amy:
The best thing about my mom is that she is always there for me when I need her.

I would like to thank my mom for all the sacrifices she makes for me because I know I’m a lot to handle.

Catherine:
The best thing about my mom is that she always encourages me. I don't have kids, but I hear it's pretty hard to watch them leave the nest and have them be far away from you. Going to college 6 hours away from home, I can only imagine how hard it is for my mom, but she has never once discouraged me from following my heart. I know a lot of people who did or didn't go to certain schools because their parents wouldn't allow them to be too far from home. I am so lucky that my mom always supports me in whatever decisions I make, and wherever they take me. She also nurtures my passion for travel; encouraging me to take travel opportunities whenever they arise.

My mom sends me a positive message every morning, and I just want to thank her for that. I don't always say thank you (I'm in college and life gets hectic), but it really makes my day getting a sweet message every morning.

Do you have a piece of jewelry you treasure? Amy: I have a necklace that my mom gave me. The necklace is important to me because my mom gave it to me for my first communion and it’s a locket with a picture of mom. I wear it to have my mom always close to my heart. Catherine: I have a ring that I wear everyday, and my mom actually has a matching one. A few years ago, we were on a trip to Italy and on one of the last days we went to the Vatican. There's a gift shop there and anything you buy you can get blessed by the Pope. Every pope designs a line of jewelry and other items to be sold at this store; one of Pope Francis's line is a beautiful rosary ring. It's a ring with 10 notches so you can pray the 10 Hail Mary's from the rosary, and it also has a Tau, which is a favorite symbol of Pope Francis. It also has the word "Humilis" inscribed on the inside, which is Latin for "humble" or "humility." It's my favorite piece of jewelry partly because it's something that my mom and I share, and I think of her every time I see it. It also is one of my favorite reminders of faithfulness holding on to faith and humility no matter what life throws at me. Best Selling Graduation Gifts Double Angel Wing Necklace Shop Angel Wing Cross Necklace Shop Cross Bracelet Shop Pearl and Cross Bracelet Shop Angel Wing Cross Earrings Shop Angel Wing Cross Charm Necklace Shop

Shop the Look Red Coral Leaf Bell Necklace Shop Red Coral Calla Lily Chandelier Earrings Shop Double Angel Wing Necklace Shop Angel Wing Cross Earrings Shop I asked Elena about what it's like to see her little girl graduate on to high school: Elena: When I was growing up, everyone I knew graduated from 8th grade.  It was a rite of passage.  It was a pretty big deal.  It typically involved a mass, certificates of completion were granted and awards were handed out.  Most followed it with a lunch or dinner with family and friends.  All the 8th graders dressed up in their best dresses for the girls and coat and tie for the boys.  The ‘graduate’ was showered with gifts and money to commemorate the occasion.  In short, it was a big deal for the ‘graduating’ 8th graders before they embarked on their high school career.   My youngest child, Amy, is about to ‘graduate’ from 8th grade.  While our school doesn’t do the elaborate ‘graduations’ that I grew up with, I find myself filled with many emotions as I think about her starting high school.  After raising 5 children, I can see the light at the end of the child rearing tunnel.  This is definitely a good thing, but it’s also bittersweet for me when I think about closing this chapter of my life.     When I think about Amy, so often I think about what a sweet and happy little girl she has always been.  For Amy, every day has always been ‘the best day ever!’  When she was a very little girl,  she had some speech/language and developmental delays, but she was still the happiest little girl I’d ever seen. She was always smiling her big beautiful smile.  She is still always smiling (save for a few teenagery moments!).  In addition to those delays, Amy was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that affects her muscle control.

Even with an unusual gait, she was always smiling.  Fortunately, she takes medication that keeps symptoms at bay most of the time and she is able to function normally.  With the amazing work of our school system, her teachers and therapists, Amy overcame her delays and is now on the other end of the spectrum shining on stage in dance, theatre and singing.

I have often treated her younger than she is because that’s how I thought of her, as the ‘baby.’   However, it’s time for me to admit that she’s not a ‘baby’ anymore or even a little girl.  She’s a full fledged teenager ready to tackle high school and all that it entails.  
 
As the school year draws to a close, I want to celebrate Amy and all that she has overcome. I pray that she makes a smooth transition to high school and that every day continues to be ‘the best day ever!’

Becky, Joelle & Josie

Joelle, Josie and Becky - Three Generations of Moms

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I asked Joelle: It's so special you still have your grandmother in your life and a mom who is so young at heart. Can you share the best things about these two special ladies? ​First of all, it is very difficult to decide on “the best thing” about my mom and grandmother. So many things come flooding to mind. ​  The best thing about my mom is her energy. My grandmother and I may have a difficult time keeping up with her, but we probably wouldn’t have gone on so many “adventures” together without her and all her plans.  ​The best thing about my grandmother is the way she takes care of her family, friends, and all who enter her house.  Not only is she a wonderful cook, but I could also call her my personal stylist. And I can’t even tell you how many people have told me how classy and elegant she is. ​

Are there any pieces of jewelry you own that are special to you or remind you of them? I have several special pieces I like to wear things that mean something or represent the people I love. (I’m pretty sure I’m that way because of my mom.) My mom and I like the fact that the first letters of our names of our four generations are J, B, J, B. We also like to have pieces of jewelry that have family birthstones.  I actually made my grandmother a bracelet which included the letters and birthstones.   The ring I always wear on my right hand has my birthstone (which is also my grandmother’s birthstone) and my son’s birthstone (which is also my great-grandmother’s birthstone); and to tie in one more family member, it was given to me by my mom.  One other piece of jewelry that comes to mind, is a gold necklace which I wear on St. Patrick’s Day. It has a real four leaf clover within a clear glass marble (hence the reason I wear it on St. Patrick’s Day).  My great-aunt Nora (Josie’s sister) won it as a prize at school, and eventually gave it to my mom, who handed it down to me. Now, when my great-aunt talked to me about the necklace, she regarded it as just a small trinket; but to this little girl, it was a beautiful treasure and still is today.

Becky - Mother of Joelle, Daughter of Josie, Grandmother of Bryce - All around wonderful person Shop the Look Double Angel Wing Necklace - Copper Shop Leaf Earrings - Copper Coral Berry Shop Leaf Bracelet - Maple Leaf - Copper Shop Woven Copper Bracelet for Men and Women Shop

Is there anything you'd like to share with your Mom and Grandmother for Mothers Day? I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mom and grandmother for all of their love and support because I know I don’t thank them enough. I am still discovering all the small ways they have shown me their love by discovering the imprints they have left on me. ​

Josie and Becky - Grandmothers, Mother and Daughter

I have two favorite pieces of jewelry.  A few of years ago, Joelle realized that we have recurring first initials in our four generations (Josie, Becky, Joelle and Bryce). So she made all three of us bracelets with our birthstones and “BJBJ”.  My other favorite piece is a necklace from Jewel of Havana (imagine that).  It is an opal quartz and three small amethyst crystals.  I call it my “grandma necklace” because it represents my birthstone and Bryce’s.  I liked it so much that I now have matching earrings….a previous Mother’s Day present from Joelle !!!

My mom has amazing strength.  She is the last one in her generation and she continues on with unfailing faith and amazing energy.  I told her recently that even though our family is small, she has become the matriarch for several families.  I know how lucky I am to have her with me and so healthy of mind and body.  Even though sometimes she drives me CRAZY !!!!

Joelle, Josie and Becky with special appearance by our Security Department, Sidney

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Adoption Day

Adoption Day

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Zoey and Zaine

The Surprise

Birthday Gifts Giveaway

It's Our Birthday Anniversary!

My Birthday Present to You!

In my humble opinion, jewelry always makes for a fantastic gift. It's the perfect way to remind someone you love them again and again, every time they wear your gift. However, it's not always easy to pick a piece you know they'll love and WEAR! ​I love helping customers find the perfect present, but I know the process can feel a bit overwhelming so today I wanted to share my secrets! ​Ready?  Let's get started!

What is Their Skin Tone?

What color clothing do they wear?

Do they like delicate or statement jewelry?

Statement Necklace Collection - Lapis Lazuli Jewelry Statement Earring Collection

​For women who like statements: ​The Statement Necklace or Statement Earring Collections make for the perfect choice and will add a bold statement to any outfit, day or night. Statement Necklace Collection

For the woman who likes delicates: The Layering Necklace Collection is ideal because these simple, elegant strands add a subtle touch of beauty and can be layered for more dramatic effects.  Multi Stone Layering Necklace and Earrings - Stacking Necklaces

Layering Necklace Collection

How would you describe their personality or the reason for the gift?

Here are some common answers I give for gift suggestions:

Christening Baby Bracelet

For Little Girls: The Children's Jewelry Collection is perfect for baptisms, baby showers, flower girls, dance recitals, birthdays, preschool or kindergarten grads! Children's Jewelry Collection ​

Gifts for Good - Draped In Love Collection

For those who like Gifts that Give Back: The Draped In Love Collection - 30% of each piece sold goes directly to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.  Draped In Love Copper Jewelry - Gifts that Give Back!

For Anyone: The Into the Woods Collection is great if you have NO clue. Our leaf bracelets or necklaces are very popular gifts across the board.  Into the Woods - Real Leaf Bracelets

Into the Woods Nature Jewelry Collection

Zoila and Ana

Me & Mom - The Jewel of Havana - Mom of 4, Abuela of 6 (plus 3 grandpups) Shop the Look Lapis Lazuli Necklace Set $198.00 Shop

What's the best thing about my Mom? She is the absolute most SELFLESS person I know. There is nothing she wouldn't do for those she loves or for perfect strangers for that matter. She gives with a capital G. She lives her faith, is one of the most artistic  people I know (and I know a lot of artists) and anything she does, she does with attention to detail and love. If you've ever received one of her handmade gifts, you know what I'm talking about. She could have been a professional painter if she wanted. If you'd like to see the detail I'm talking about, check out my Christmas blog about our family Nativity tradition. Her love of learning new things is inspiring. I kid you not, she's better than tech support. We even took my computer apart and fixed it once when the real tech support told me they couldn't help. I'm pretty sure I got my "there are no problems, only solutions" mantra from her. If she doesn't know how to do something, she will be an expert at it in no time. I love her "let's figure it out" attitude!

On this Mother's Day, I would like to say:

Thanks Mom for driving me to every dance lesson, voice lesson, Girl Scouts, play practice, softball practice, and every other thing I ever dreamed of doing. (times 4 kids) For teaching me the importance of family first and that our friends are our family too. For always treating our friends like they were your children regardless of who they were or where they came from. For every after school art project you prepared for us. For showing me that no matter what life throws my way, I can handle it, because you did. For showing me all the ways I could be an artist and entrepreneur. For never saying I couldn't do it even when I knew you were scared for me. For giving us all a strong, fun, crazy family who knows how lucky we are to be American. For showing me that you are never too old to zipline! For showing me to always look for the solution instead of dwelling on the problem. And that there is absolutely nothing we can't do if we put our minds to it. Everything is possible because of you! I love you, Mom!! xoxo Ana

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful Moms, Grandmothers, Stepmothers, Adopted Mothers, Foster Mothers and all strong women out there who nurture us and teach us how to be the best we can be!