Hidden Gems: Charleston blogger Jillian Attaway opens her jewelry box ✨💍

I love getting to know women through their talismans. A beaded bracelet from a family safari trip. Great grandmother’s art deco bangles from Paris. Each piece reveals a new story. Which is why I’ve started a new series, Hidden Gems, where I ask inspiring women to open up their jewel boxes.

We will kick if off with my friend Jillian Attaway, who writes the blog Rhyme & Reason. No doubt, her collection’s showstopper is her charm bracelet, given to her at birth by her mother and both grandmothers. Over the years, the matriarchs have given Jillian charms that mark her family’s travels and milestones. It’s heavy with 75 or so charms (and counting).

I love the bracelet’s balance of sentimentality and a sense of humor. Nostalgia with a wink. That’s what I strive to make in my own designs. Meaningful, without being overly precious.

The bingo charm is an example. For decades, her family has reveled in Bingo Night at the Cloister on Sea lsland every summer. There’s also a milk maid, a nod to her family’s role in the dairy industry with Carnation milk.

Jillian’s mother gave her the other charm bracelet with a Tiffany chain. Look at the Marriage License charm! The apple represents her time teaching kindergarten for 5 years. Many of the charms are from Croghan’s here locally, Charmco in NYC or from her travels.

Jillian’s Cartier bracelet is from the 70s. It’s an early gold-plated version of the iconic love bracelet by designer Aldo Cipullo. Fascinatingly, her bracelet is brand-markerd with the designer’s name, not Cartier’s. Years later, Cartier acquired the design and exclusively made them in solid gold. You can get one yourself here at Sweet + Spark, an online treasure trove of vintage jewelry.

Fine jewelry aside, Jillian loves the playfulness of Aerin Lauder’s designs. I love the versatility of these shell hoops. Slip off the shell component, and voila, a classic silver hoop. Genius!

I asked Jillian to pick a piece from my LOVER collection to add to her collection. She chose Regio / Follow Your Bliss pendant necklace, which I think is very fitting for her! After teaching for 5 years, she left her job to follow her dream of starting a blog, which is already a huge success. Following her bliss, indeed. Thank you Jillian for letting me get to know you!