Women’s History Month: Harriet Tubman, a Reminder to Follow Your North Star

Posted on by Suzanne

March is Women’s History Month. In celebration, Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company is featuring prominent women throughout the month and highlighting the impact they had on the world. And to add a little more fun to the history lesson, we are selecting jewelry charms that embody each woman’s unique personality and accomplishments. Today we are celebrating Harriet Tubman.

The Impossible Dream

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery as Araminta “Minty” Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland. After the death of her master, it seemed her fate and that of her three brothers was sealed, and they would be sold to the Deep South. Having already witnessed three of her sisters being sold, she resolved that escape was the best chance for her and her brothers. For safety and secrecy she changed her name, taking her mother’s first name and her husband’s last name.
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Women’s History Month: Maya Lin Breaks Barriers, Builds Diversity

Posted on by Suzanne

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company is featuring prominent women throughout the month and highlighting the impact they had on the world. And to add a little more fun to the history lesson, we are selecting jewelry charms that embody each woman’s unique personality and accomplishments. Today we are celebrating Maya Lin.

Monumental Maya

In 1981 Maya Lin, a 21-year old undergrad at Yale University, entered the consciousness of America when her design for the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial was selected from a competition totalling 1,420 entries. Her visionary design encourages interaction between the viewers and the memorial. Making no political statement, it commemorates the sacrifice and heroism of the 58,318 fallen soldiers through engraving their names in chronological order of loss on highly polished, black granite walls. The walls intersect like two V-shaped wings, one pointing to the Lincoln Memorial and the other to the Washington Monument. At the time of her design selection, it stirred reflection, debate, opposition, and intense controversy. Since officially opening to the public in November 1982, the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial has become the most visited monument in Washington, DC, and one of the most well-known memorials in the world.
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Women’s History Month: Meet the “Queen of the Waves”

Posted on by Suzanne

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company is featuring prominent women throughout the month and highlighting the impact they had on the world. And to add a little more fun to the history lesson, we are selecting jewelry charms that embody each woman’s unique personality and accomplishments. Today we are celebrating Gertrude Ederle, nicknamed “Queen of the Waves.”

Channeling Her Passion

Born in 1905, Gertrude Ederle was a champion swimmer by the time she was in her late teens. In 1926, on her second attempt, she became the first woman to swim the English Channel, finishing in 14 hours and 31 minutes, thus breaking the previous records set by male competitors. Her accomplishment dispelled conventional attitudes in the early 1900s about “the weaker sex” and proved that women could be great athletes. Eliminating that perception was the crowning achievement of her monumental career, which included being an Olympic Gold Medalist. Ederle was dubbed by President Calvin Coolidge as “America’s Best Girl.”
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Susan Butcher Day and Charms to Celebrate Four-Legged Friends

Posted on by Suzanne

March is Women’s History Month. In celebration, Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company is featuring prominent women throughout the month and highlighting the impact they had on the world. And to add a little more fun to the history lesson, we are selecting jewelry charms that embody each woman’s unique personality and accomplishments. Today we are celebrating Susan Butcher.

Love, Sweat, and Paws

Susan Howlet Butcher was an American dog musher, and the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. She was also the first musher to win four out of five sequential years. Granite, her lead dog, was with her for each win. Once a little pup who nobody believed in, because of Susan’s faith in Granite, and hard work by both, he eventually became one of the greatest lead dogs in Iditarod history.
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Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Celebrates Women’s History Month

Posted on by Suzanne

March is Women’s History Month. In celebration, Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company is featuring prominent women throughout the month and highlighting the impact they had on the world. And to add a little more fun to the history lesson, we are selecting jewelry charms that embody each woman’s unique personality and accomplishments. Today we are celebrating Amelia Earhart.

Amelia Earhart: Born to Fly

Amelia Earhart (A.E. to family and friends) knew she had to become an aviator during her first airplane ride with Frank Hawks, a well-known World War I pilot, on December 28, 1920. She later recounted, “By the time I got two or three hundred feet off the ground, I knew I had to fly.” She began flight lessons in 1921 with Neta Snook, the first female aviator to own an aviation business, and the first woman to run a commercial airfield. Six months later, A.E. purchased her first airplane, a bright yellow Kinner Airster biplane, appropriately nicknamed, “The Canary.” It was in this airplane that she broke the women’s altitude record by flying to 14,000 feet.
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Charm Giveaway: And the Winner Is…

Posted on by Suzanne

Many thanks go out to those who participated in our Journey Charm Giveaway. As part of our “Where Will Your 2019 Journey Take You” blog post (January 2), we asked that you share with us your favorite destination thus far in your life. We received many great submissions, but there can only be one winner…and that is…Penny Muncy Giesecke! Penny provided us with a beautiful story and an equally lovely photograph. Here is Penny’s story in her own words:

jewelry charm giveaway contest winner“While the accompanying picture does not entail much “vacation-related” scenery, the photograph was taken at The Pink Adobe in Santa Fe, NM, this past June. From left to right are my sister (Pamela Jones), my mother (Edith Muncy), my niece (Caitlin Jones), and myself. My family has enjoyed trips to Santa Fe through the years, enjoying the Indian Market in August, especially. My parents have celebrated many anniversaries there as well, having honeymooned in Santa Fe in November of 1954, dining for their first of many times at this lovely restaurant.

“This past year has been a “journey” for us. My dad passed away January 8, 2018, after a long battle with Parkinson’s, and together we have intentionally attempted to honor his life by caring for our mother’s heart as well as our own. This trip was a pilgrimage of sorts to celebrate his life and enjoy our time together in a very special place. As a family we have been fortunate to travel to so many wonderful places, near and far, but this trip was symbolic in that it affirmed we are indeed on a new path, one that is different, but filled with renewed promise and possibilities.”

As the winner of our contest, Penny got to choose any charm from our Journey or Heart’s Desire collections. She selected “Loves Books,” which couldn’t be more appropriate. Why? Because Penny works as a public school librarian, and most certainly loves books. In addition, the reverse of the charm features a vintage public library card! This was a match that was meant to be.

We can’t thank Penny enough for sharing her moving and inspirational story, and we wish her and her family much peace and happiness as they continue on their new path together.

Behind the Scenes with Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company Owner

Posted on by pickupsticksjewelry

With a long history in retail and design, here is a closer look at the Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company owner and how she got to where she is today!

How long have you been in retail?

It’s as though I was raised in retail. Many after-school hours and summers were spent working at my parent’s Asian import stores in Boca Raton, Riviera Beach, and Palm Beach, Florida. From waiting on customers, to reveling in gift wrap, to unpacking untold treasures from the Far East, I loved being part of my parent’s shops. Each day was like being in a foreign land surrounded by beautiful and exotic things. Unlike most of my friends, my mom went to work each day in a brocade Suzy Wong dress.

Who or what piqued your interest in Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company?

I feel that my path to Pick Up Sticks was a gift from my sister, literally. Andrea and I were an amazing team. In younger years our five-and-half-year age difference was apparent, of course, but as we grew older, we grew closer. Some of my fondest childhood memories were she and I in Saturday morning art class together, or spending vacations at the Jersey shore burying each other in the sand or digging for periwinkle shells.

In 2008, however, we banded together for a much more serious pursuit. Our beautiful mother suffered a major stroke, and Andie and I were called into action. We worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and care for Mom, while juggling our personal and work lives. It was a challenging journey that spanned not months, but years.

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Where Will Your 2019 Journey Take You?

Posted on by Suzanne

photo jewelry charmWelcome to a brand-new year full of wonderful possibilities! Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and envision the path that lies ahead. What type of journey will you embark on this year? For instance, your vision may take you to a new or exotic locale to explore foreign lands or fresh frontiers. Or your journey may be all about you. One that focuses on introspection and personal growth, attaining a long-desired goal or following a heart-driven dream.

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My, How Time Flies! Just 5 Days Left Until Our Grand Re-Opening Discount Ends!

Posted on by Suzanne

Trinkets and More!
Monday, December 31 marks the end of our Grand Re-Opening 15% Off Discount. We are pleased that so many of you took advantage of this site-wide savings that marked the re-launch of Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company…and there are still a few days left to stock up on your favorite fun, funky, and heartfelt Photo Charms and accessories at discounted prices.* A number of smart shoppers told us they took advantage of the month-long sale to purchase gifts for friends for the coming year. We think there’s nothing better than being both well prepared and a super-savvy shopper.

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12 Days of Holiday Cheer

Posted on by Suzanne

You don’t have to look very far to know that the holidays are here…in spades. Not only is every store, everywhere, Chrisma-fied wall to wall, they are practically sold out of decorations. I drove (in heavy traffic, of course) to 5 stores to find a simple 4-foot Christmas tree to adorn the studio… with no luck. You too might be finding that the gifts you were hoping to give or the decorations you were still hoping to purchase are already off the shelves as well!

I was musing with a friend of mine about my impossible-to-find tree, and how the Christmas season seems to start earlier every year, and she said something wonderful: “I think the reason people start decorating and purchasing gifts for loved ones so early is to capture the feel-goodness, happy memories, and sisterly love that the holidays bring, as soon as possible.” I love that.

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