Carl's Thoughtful Gifts

He was a geologist and a scientist his whole life and a very left-brained kind of thinker. But as he got older, he became very affectionate and very very sentimental. In his last three years of life he was extremely that way.

Adrienne and Polly Ann Welder

Shop the Look

Between my sister and I, I think we each missed one Christmas in all the years we were together as a family. So, you know, Christmas has always been a big deal for us. We are always together. I just wanted to honor his death in some way and honor his memory at Christmas this year. Even though he was not there physically, I know that he was there spiritually.

Both my sister and my mother love jewelry—it really was my immediate thought in terms of a gift to them. And I think it’s something that they will always be able to wear, and when they do they can think of him.
 
My mother actually wrote me a thank you card for the gift and said she would be ‘hard-pressed to wear anything else’ after receiving the necklace!

You know, there were tears and lots of hugs and love. It really was such a sweet and emotional reaction. Later in the night, my sister unveiled her gift to my mother, a brand-new stereo system with a record player on it. We ended up spending the rest of the night listening to my dad’s old albums on it and just talking about his life. There were tears, laughs, and a lot of memories but I am glad that we were able to get through it together. It was very special.

I am a teacher at Saint Joseph’s Academy and my wife is the principal, so we are both very involved in the school. We were celebrating our 150th anniversary this year. We had some key people, including the chair of the committee, who help put all of the events on and some other people who had just been such a key part of the celebration and had given themselves to a degree that you cannot pay.

I wanted to give a gift, but I did not want to just give something that I could purchase anywhere. I had the idea to give something handmade. I have watched you make jewelry forever, so that was my first idea of something to give.  Additionally, I was fortunate to go a step further and help work on some custom pieces myself. 
 
At school, I created a mold of the school’s shield, which was the main focus of the jewelry. Then we worked together to make sure I was doing everything right and the jewelry would look good.

I think it just being centered around this celebration. This is how I really came to know these people. SJA is a vocation to me. My wife has been there for 23 years, I have been there for 8 years. It is special to us. The shield is the logo of the school so to incorporate that into the jewelry is something I was really excited about doing.

I was absolutely thrilled. I couldn’t wait to give them to my friends and my wife. My wife did not know that I was making a ring for her. She actually did not know that I was making a ring at all, I just told her that I was making cuff links, so she was surprised.

They were floored. I presented to them right before the gala began and they were very touched. I received a lot of secondhand stories of people who were telling me about seeing them and loved it.

SHOP THE LOOK:

Cool skin tones:

Warm skin tones:

​For women who like statements:

Statement Necklace Collection

For the woman who likes delicates:

Multi Stone Layering Necklace and Earrings - Stacking Necklaces

For Little Girls:

Children's Jewelry Collection

For those who like Gifts that Give Back:

Draped In Love Copper Jewelry - Gifts that Give Back!

For Anyone:

Into the Woods - Real Leaf Bracelets

Top Gift Pick for the College Grad

Double Angel Wing Necklace for the High School Grad

Leaf Bell Necklace for the College Grad

Top Gift Pick for the
High School Grad

Top Gift Pick for the Pre-School or Kindergarten Grad