Back in 2003, I was watching my friends juggle just about everything. Careers, relationships, children, houses, renovations — there always seemed to be something demanding their attention.
It occurred to me that everyone could use a little reminder to find some balance in their lives. And being a jewellery designer, I decided to make one.
That's how my Level Pieces began.
A little level with a bigger idea
I loved the idea of incorporating an actual working spirit level into a piece of jewellery. Something practical, a little unexpected and quietly meaningful.
The bubble moves as you move, and when it settles in the centre, you're level. It's such a simple mechanism, but I liked the connection between finding level physically and finding balance in everyday life.
Of course, jewellery can't magically make life less busy. But sometimes a small reminder is enough to make you stop for a moment and think about what matters.
A design that stuck around
What started as an idea inspired by my friends became one of my most enduring collections.
Over the years, I've made Level Pieces as necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. I love that the same little bubble can take on different forms while keeping the idea behind it intact.
And I especially enjoy hearing what the pieces mean to the people who wear them. Sometimes they're gifts for someone starting a new chapter. Sometimes they're personal reminders to slow down. And sometimes people simply like the fact that there's a tiny working level in their jewellery.
Still finding balance
More than twenty years later, life doesn't seem to have become any less busy.
I'm still making Level Pieces, and I still like the thought that a little bubble floating between two lines can be a gentle reminder to find your own balance — whatever that happens to mean to you.
A little bit clever. A little bit meaningful. And a reminder that balance is always worth looking for.