Blog

I often get asked what my favorite part of being a designer is. For me, it’s surely the creative design process – the part where I sit down, put pen to paper, and sketch and sketch and sketch. When I’m in the studio by myself, there’s something about the quiet that allows my brain to flick on… well, on a good day anyway. [...]

Lots of my customers mix shapes and sizes when they’re at the ring bar, and it totally works for them. Your jewelry style and pairings should be an extension of your own style. If you’re a person who mixes patterns and accessories, don’t stop to think twice. This is part of the fun of creating your own stack!

People often walk up to the Ring Bar, try on a few, and ask me, “Can I mix these together?” They’re talking about the different metals: rose gold, yellow gold, black (oxidized) and silver. It’s a really common question, actually. While you might not want to hear this, it truly comes down to personal choice. 

My mom is one of the most amazing people in my life. Living 3000 miles apart isn’t always easy, but we manage by getting on the phone together nearly every day.  My mom is a woman I have always admired – she raised me, my brother and sister on her own while working as an elementary school teacher. [...]

Even though Sam loves being a part of the CMD team, it was becoming too much (nearly 1.5 hours/day, which we all know is not a very good quality of life). After some team brainstorming and good planning meetings, we got her set up with her very own home studio. I am thrilled we could make this happen! [...]

When someone walks into my shop and mindlessly tries on four pairs of earrings, then suddenly tries on the right pair and I watch her eyes light up—I just love it when that happens. And at our Ring Bar, it’s so obvious when someone feels like a million bucks once she creates her perfect square stack. 

This is a very special week, as my beloved grandma turns 100 years old on July 29! Does she look incredible or what!? I feel so grateful that my life has been surrounded by strong, inspiring women, and my grandma is a huge part of that unshakeable foundation. Gram has been a trailblazer since she was born in 1917, and [...]

These earrings rarely leave our lobes from June through September. Whether we’re out for a night on the town, making jewelry in the studio or just tucking our toes in the sand, these shiny hoops are quite literally by our sides. (Plus, they’re an especially lovely complement to a floppy beach hat.)

CMD runs on woman power, and we’re all the stronger for it. We were delighted to spend the last few days at our New York Production Studio, all the way across the country from our San Francisco HQ. While we may span time zones, our common passions, worth ethics and respect for one another keep us closely tied together. 

While we offer several variations of pre-made stacks, CMD also offers dozens of individual rings at our Ring Bar. This is a fun and creative way for our clients to participate in “interactive design” and put together stacks that are 100% personalized for them.

I’m often asked about the design process, and I must admit it always starts the same way—with prisma-colored pencils, a BIC mechanical pencil, and blank sheets of paper of any size. This is the foolproof trifecta that’s served me well over the years. When I sit down to design, I just start sketching away...

Seven is traditionally a lucky number, from its significance in ancient mythology to our modern-day references (7 days in a week, 7 colors in the rainbow, 7 little dwarfs for Snow White). Seven happens to be a favorite number around the CMD Studio, too. 

This past week, I was so fortunate to travel back to Virginia Tech and spend time with my 13 (yes, 13!) closest college friends in honor of our 15-year graduation anniversary. Being back at VT after all these years was refreshing, exciting, nostalgic, and made me incredibly thankful for such wonderful lifelong friendships. 

One of the beautiful things about rose gold is its effortless versatility. In the spirit of mixing metals (one of our very favorite things), we must mention how we love wearing rose gold alongside other finishes. Combined with matte silver, both metals play off one another for a whimsical, romantic vibe.

As I reflect on these 10 years of glory, pain, joy, tears, laughter, friendships, and oh-so much more, I must express both my gratitude and my nostalgia. I am overflown with happiness and pride, and though I am just a speck in the universe of creators, I live for this passion (truly, creativity keeps me sane).