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Snow In Havana - Strength, Courage and the Magic of Hope

11/18/2019

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Snow In Havana Jewelry, Statement Rings, Necklaces and Earrings in Pearl, Pyrite and Aquamarine
Zoila deVelasco Andricain in Havana, CubaZoila deVelasco Andricain - Mom, just two years before fleeing Cuba to America
Overcoming obstacles. Persevering through dark times. Leaning on those you love to hold you up when you are not at your best.
 
Life's unexpected events and themes of empowerment have often driven the creative process of the work I do at Jewel of Havana. In fact, I named the company after the strongest woman I know, my mother. My new Snow in Havana Jewelry line is a tribute to her story, and what an amazing story it is!
 
My mother first came to the United States from Cuba as part of Operation Peter Pan. Operation Peter Pan (or Pedro Pan) was led by Father Byran O. Walsh in response to the mounting political regime of Fidel Castro. As Castro began closing private schools, fears that the government would begin sending minors to work camps in the Soviet Union caused many Cuban parents to risk their lives and homes to get children out of the country and into Miami.
 
Children of all ages were sent to America alone, relying on shelters and group homes run by Catholic Charities. The operation began in 1960 but abruptly ended in 1962, following the Cuban Missile Crisis. Because of this, nearly all of the children were without their parents until the later half of the decade. Though most were eventually reunited with their parents, some never saw them again.
 
One of those children was my mother. She was 17 when she came to America, after working for the underground herself. I wanted to ask her a few questions about her own experience.

Mother and Daughter, Emma deVelasco and Zoila deVelasco Andricain just before fleeing Cuba
Two brave ladies. My mom and grandmother just before their world turned upside down.
If you could describe your experience in one word, what would it be?
I guess the word would be: “lesson”. A real life lesson.

The experience taught me so much about myself and how lucky I had been to be born from parents that had instilled in me the faith, values and discipline that would help me through the saddest and scariest season of my life. Parents that loved me to the point of sending me to safety to another country knowing well that their chances of escaping themselves from the island were very slim. Most important, I also learned, at that young age, the value of freedom, something that many people take for granted. 
What was the most challenging part of being in America?
Communication was probably the greatest challenge. I had studied English in school and was able to speak the language to get by. However, understanding people that spoke fast or use idioms that I was not familiar with was very difficult. At school, it would take me a very long time to complete reading assignments and since I had to also work to sustain myself, there was not much time for sleeping.
Do you think you learned anything about yourself throughout this ordeal?
I learned that God was truly my rock and my companion and that, feeling Him at my side, I was stronger than I could have ever imagined. That I grew up and matured in the time it takes an airplane to fly from Cuba to Miami. That I (a sheltered and pampered teenager) was able to hold a full-time job and save money, while at the same time still continue my education. That I was extremely grateful that my new-found country was full of generous people and opportunities that allowed me to heal and dream again.
Picture
Mother and Daughter, Ana and Zoila Andricain
Zoila and Ana Andricain - Mother and grateful daughter

Why Snow In Havana?

So, why Snow in Havana? Well, it’s a reference to one of my favorite books, “Waiting for Snow in Havana” by Carlos Eire, which chronicles his own story of fleeing Cuba under Operation Peter Pan. The combination of Erie’s story, that of my mothers, and perhaps even the unknown stories of the thousands of other Cuban children who came to America almost six decades ago, sums up some of the core beliefs I learned from my mother. We all have what it takes to weather any storm (even when we don't think we can). We do not know what life holds for us, but there is always hope and new beginnings and if we persevere, miracles can happen, and what could be more miraculous than Snow in Havana?

Introducing the Snow In Havana Jewelry Collection

Inspired by the strength and courage we all have within us to weather any storm. Jewelry elegant enough to dance the night away at the Tropicana in the romantic Cuba of my mother's youth, a symbol of their adopted country and the magic of hope and new beginnings.
SHOP SNOW IN HAVANA JEWELRY
Snow In Havana Jewelry - pyrite, pearls and silver statement rings, necklaces and earrings
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Keshi Pearls on the Red Carpet + Natural Blue Coral

6/15/2016

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Donna Murphy wearing Jewel of Havana Keshi Pearls on the Red CarpetDonna Murphy wearing Jewel of Havana Keshi Pearls on the Red Carpet
I just returned from an exciting gemstone buying trip to New York. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a former Broadway Actress and this past weekend was the Tony Awards aka the Super Bowl for Broadway. Not too long ago two time Tony Award winner, Donna Murphy, was spotted wearing a Jewel of Havana White Keshi Pearl Necklace and Earring Set on the Red Carpet! (You may know her as the Witch/Mom in the Disney movie Tangled or the PBS series Mercy Street as the Mother to name a few)

What Is a Keshi Pearl?
​
The word Keshi comes from the Japanese word for “poppy seed”. The term is used in Japanese for pearls that are formed without a nucleus and are usually the by-product of the cultured pearl process. The keshi forms when the oyster rejects the nucleus and begins to coat the irritant with layers of nacre.  Because keshi pearls consist of solid nacre, they tend to have a beautiful high luster. These pearls are not found in large quantities and can take 7 years to form. I love the unusual shape for making light weight pearl statement necklaces.

Keshi pearls are my most popular type of pearls and I’m often sold out. They aren’t easy to find in good quality at an affordable price but this last trip to New York, I scored some beautiful strands! I just put them out this week at Theatre Baton Rouge and have only a few left from the trip so rather than put them on the website, I’ve decided to offer them to my VIP list first. The necklace has one of my handmade sterling silver leaf clasps made from real impatiens leaves. This will probably be the last time I have Keshi’s at this price. I had to use every bit of Southern charm I could muster to negotiate the price for this quality.

White Keshi Pearl Necklace
Handmade Natural Blue Coral NecklaceNatural Blue Coral Necklace
Natural Blue Coral

Another rare find from my trip was natural blue coral in a coin shape. Many of you have seen the beautiful blue coral sets I had from Indonesia. They recently sold out but on this trip I was able to find enough to make a few necklaces. They are natural and legally harvested as they washed up on the shores of Indonesia after the Tsunami. The coins are 25mm in diameter and approximately 20.5” long, handknotted with silk and finished with one of my handmade sterling silver leaf clasps made from real lantana leaves.

If you are on the VIP list and are interested in the Blue Coral Necklace or a White Keshi Necklace and Earring set, just follow the link in your newsletter for your VIP private shopping access. If you'd like to see them in person, we are in the lobby of Theatre Baton Rouge for two more weeks during the run of The Little Mermaid.

If you would like access to the Keshi Set or Blue Coral Necklace and other very limited edition pieces,
join the VIP list here. VIPs are always the first to know about new designs, have access to special stones not on the website and receive free shipping codes each month. 

JOIN THE VIPS HERE!
White Keshi Pearl Necklace Set + Natural Blue Coral Necklace
Natural Coral at the Gem Show from Indonesia
This is the table at the gem show where I first met the suppliers from Indonesia. They collected coral washed up on the shores after the Tsunami.
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Mother of Pearl Jewelry: Unique, Natural and Beautiful

3/1/2016

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Black Lip Oyster Vintage Cameo EarringsBlack Lip Oyster Vintage Cameo Earrings
The rainbow-like iridescence of Mother of Pearl has been used as decorative enhancement in jewelry, clothing, furniture, musical instruments, and more for centuries.  Mother of Pearl is nacre, the same material that lines the shells of mollusks like oysters, mussels, and abalones, and that forms the outer shell of the pearl. It’s wavy grain is a result of seasonal fluctuations in a mollusk’s diet: the darker organic material laid down in winter months, the lighter and whiter nacre laid down in the summer months. When Mother of Pearl is carved directly from the shell, no two pieces are alike. Jewel of Havana has carved Mother of Pearl cameos, earrings and necklaces that are unique in that way, and sure to be noticed.

While a pearl’s shape is made by nature, Mother of Pearl’s shape can be man-made.  The shell can be powdered and reconstituted for any application. Through that process, much larger “pearls” can be created more affordably. Jewel of Havana has a full line of Mother of Pearl
necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, in a variety of colors that are made in this way.

Mother of Pearl has been regarded highly by mystics, who believe it helps with clarity and decision making, and alters negative energy. It’s also believed to boost intuition and psychic sensitivity, and to heighten the imagination.

You should care for your Mother of Pearl the same way you do your pearls. Clean it with mild soap and water (or our recommended all natural jewelry cleaner) with a very soft cloth. And let it be the “last thing on, first thing off” in your routine to avoid scratches and the build up of make-up and hair products. If you already love pearl, you’re bound to love wearing Mother of Pearl, as well. Nothing else feels or looks quite like it.

Black Lip Oyster Antique Cameo Rings
Black Lip Oyster Antique Cameo Ring
Pink Conch Shell Cameo Earrings
Pink Conch Shell Vintage Cameo Earrings
Black Lip Oyster Vintage Cameo Necklace
Black Lip Oyster Vintage Cameo Necklace
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Birthstones: Traditional Gifts of Jewelry in the Modern Age

1/22/2015

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Birthstones Month by Month
The practice of wearing a stone associated with your birth month is a popular and ancient tradition. Most gem scholars concur that this custom was originally inspired by the Breastplate of Aaron, which was set with twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, also corresponding to the twelve months of the year, and twelve signs of the zodiac. Each stone was thought to have heightened influence during the time of the year to which it was attached, so many people collected all the stones, and wore them in successive order.

Wearing a single birthstone associated with the month you were born is a more recent custom, beginning several centuries ago in either Germany or Poland. The modern birthstone chart was not developed until 1912, when the National Association of Jewelers adopted the official list most people are familiar with today. Either list can guide you to a special piece of jewelry to celebrate the birth of a special someone.

Jewel of Havana carries jewelry featuring many modern and traditional birthstones, including ruby,
amethyst, jasper, agate, opal, peridot, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. A birthstone ring, bracelet, necklace or pendant feels special to wear and makes a very personal gift, whether you purchase it for a friend, a loved one -- or for yourself!

Modern Birthstones

Garnet


January - Garnet


Amethyst


February - Amethyst

Aquamarine


March - Aquamarine

Diamond


April - Diamond


Emerald


May - Emerald

Pearl


June - Pearl /                             Moonstone

Ruby


July - Ruby

Peridot


August - Peridot

Sapphire


September - Sapphire

Opal


October - Opal /
                 Tourmaline


Citrine


November - Citrine /
                     Topaz


Turquoise


December- Turquoise
                    Blue Topaz
                                Tanzanite 



Traditional Birthstones

Garnet


January - Garnet


Amethyst


February - Amethyst

Bloodstone


March - Bloodstone /
              Jasper


Diamond


April - Diamond


Emerald


May - Emerald


Agate


June - Agate /                                        Alexandrite


Ruby


July - Ruby

Carnelian


August - Carnelian /
                Sardonyx


Sapphire


September - Sapphire


Tourmaline


October - Tourmaline

Citrine


November - Citrine


Lapis Lazuli


December-Lapis Lazuli
                   Zircon

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Pearl:  The Natural Beauty

6/16/2014

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Picture
Throughout human history, pearls have been sought after for their elegance and beauty. Before the advent of cultured pearl farming in the early 1900s, natural pearls were incredibly rare, and only the nobility or extraordinarily rich could afford them. Today, with more affordable cultured pearls making up the bulk of what’s produced, pearls are
more accessible to everyone.

Pearl is a “natural gemstone,” and the only gemstone created by a living creature. When a foreign object (like a grain of sand) gets into a pearl producing mollusk, like a mussel or an oyster, that mollusk’s natural defense mechanism coats the object with nacre. As layers of nacre build up, a pearl is born. Both cultured pearls and natural pearls are “real.” The difference between them is how the foreign object is introduced. In natural (wild) pearls it happens naturally, and in cultured pearls, it’s introduced by humans. You can’t tell the difference between a cultured and a natural pearl without an x-ray!

Traditionally, the ideal pearl was round, smooth, and white. But there’s a wide variety of shapes and colors available. Jewel of Havana’s pearl jewelry collection features fresh water pearl earrings and freshwater pearl necklaces and bracelets in white, gold, rose, peridot, black and even chocolate tones. Fresh water pearls are also prominent in the Children’s Jewelry Collection, with our christening baby bracelets, and ballerina bracelets being among the most popular.

Makeup and hairspray can build up and affect the luster of pearl, so let your pearls be
the “last thing on, first thing off” in your routine. Clean your pearl jewelry with mild soap
and water (or our recommended all natural jewelry cleaner) with a very soft cloth.
Dry them completely, and store flat.  Never hang your hand knotted jewelry.  Storing flat avoids stretching your silk and prolongs the time between restringing.

Pearl is the June birthstone, and considered the “stone of sincerity.” Historically, pearls  have been symbolic of purity and faith, and many believe pearl can boost personal integrity and help clear the mind. Regardless of why you choose to buy or wear it, the luster and iridescence of pearl is irresistible. Let us help you add to your collection!

Christening Gift - Freshwater Pearl Bracelet with Sterling Silver Cross - Children's Jewelry Collection
Christening Gift - Freshwater Pearl Bracelet with Sterling Silver Cross from our Children's Jewelry Collection
Pearl Jewelry Collection - Freshwater Pearl Earrings, Necklaces and Bracelets
Pearl Jewelry Collection - Pearl Earrings, Necklaces and Bracelets
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    Picture

    Ana Maria Andricain

    Ana is a metal clay certified artist creating handcrafted nature inspired artisan jewelry from her Baton Rouge studio.  If you love natural gemstones and metal, welcome home!

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  • NEW!
  • SHOP
    • Shop by Collection >
      • Statement Earrings
      • What a Wonderful World Jewelry
      • Snow In Havana Jewelry
      • Steel Magnolias Jewelry
      • Through the Looking Glass
      • Wedding Jewelry
      • Statement Necklaces
      • Into the Woods Nature Jewelry Collection
      • Layering Necklace Collection
      • Secret Garden Natural Stone Jewelry Collection
      • Angel Wing Jewelry Collection
      • Cameo Jewelry Collection
      • Children's Jewelry Collection
      • The Collector Series
      • Necklace Extenders
      • Gifts for Cancer Survivors
      • Copper Jewelry Collection
      • Woven Copper Jewelry Collection
      • The Beach Collection
      • Petite Gemstone Jewelry Collection
    • Shop by Gemstone >
      • African Green Opal
      • Amazonite
      • Amethyst
      • Ammonite Fossil Shell
      • Apatite
      • Aquamarine
      • Aqua Terra Jasper
      • Aventurine
      • Azurite Chrysocolla
      • Black Onyx
      • Blue Crazy Agate
      • Blue Opal
      • Brown Impression Jasper
      • Carnelian
      • Chalcedony
      • Charoite
      • Coral
      • Crazy Lace Rosetta Stone Jasper
      • Dolomite
      • Dragon Blood Jasper
      • Emerald
      • Grey Sheepskin Jasper
      • Jade
      • Jasper
      • Labradorite
      • Lapis Lazuli
      • Malachite
      • Maligano Jasper
      • Natural Agate
      • Opal Quartz
      • Owyhee Jasper
      • Pearl
      • Peridot
      • Red Creek Jasper
      • Rhodochrosite
      • Rose Quartz
      • Rhyolite
      • Ruby
      • Smoky Quartz
      • Snakeskin Jasper
      • Sodalite
      • Strawberry Quartz
      • Swarovski Crystal
      • Tourmaline
      • Turquoise
      • Turritella Fossil Agate
    • Shop by Style >
      • Rings
      • Necklaces
      • Earrings
      • Bracelets
    • Gift Certificates
    • Jewelry Cleaning Cloth
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • About Ana & Team
    • Testimonials
    • FAQ
  • BECOME A VIP!!
  • FIND US
  • Contact
  • Please Call Us: (225) 442-8985