Jamie and Ashley – My Favorite People Volume 4

 

I am so excited to finally show off on of my favorite couples! Meet Jamie and Ashley. These ladies are so fun as individuals, but as a couple they exude an incredibly magnetic and loving energy. Hearing their story and designing their custom rings has truly inspired me.

I first met Jamie when she attended my yoga class. I was totally blown away when she emailed the nicest testimonial immediately after class. Unfortunately, I stopped teaching that class soon after and Jamie had been traveling, so our paths did not cross for some time. Imagine my surprise and excitement when I was contacted by Ashley to design an engagement ring for Jamie!

Ashley and Jamie met last year at the Gay Pride festival in New York. Ashley had decided to make the trip from Florida after having come out to only a few close friends. She worked up the courage to approach Jamie at a “girl bar” just minutes before midnight.

The next morning Ashley was already calling her friends to tell them she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Jamie – the feeling was mutual. After a vacation together in California and another week spent with each other, Ashley was quitting her job and packing for a move to New York. No wonder they told me she is the spontaneous one!

Ashley contacted me in February even though she had decided to wait for their one year anniversary in June to propose. I could tell in the beginning that Ashley was a little nervous about the design process. She didn’t know me so it was a major leap of faith on her part. She mustered great level of trust as I helped her source a previously owned diamond (Ashley was especially excited to could be, “eco-friendly and cost-friendly, too!”), place it in the perfect setting, and follow it all up with the wedding bands.

Let’s check out those beautiful rings!

Jamie’s engagement ring is a distressed white gold solitaire with an impeccable .86 carat previously owned diamond. Her wedding band has a wider style to mimic the look of her mother’s wide wedding ring next to a thin engagement ring combination. It is 14K of brushed white gold.

 

Ashley’s wedding band is made from 14K pink gold. She liked the pink gold and rounded edges but opted for the same distressed texture as Jamie’s engagement ring. They told me it represents, “the unique harmony in our relationship and the way we balance each other.” Two individuals who have become one!

Designing these rings was a wonderfully memorable and beautiful experience for me. They are such a lovely and loving couple, I know their lives together will be amazing. As they said it: “we both feel incredibly fortunate to have found our ‘other’, the one person we know we can rely on and trust.” They look forward to a future of “starting a family…in addition to our 3-year old Shih-Poo, Gus.” It sounds like a great plan to me!

I also have to share some of their favorite parts of the ring design process:

“It wasn’t a question of whether or not we would have our rings custom-made, but whom we would trust with this intimate, important responsibility. We wanted to take the time to create something we knew we would cherish for the rest of our lives, and we found we could trust Tracy to steer us in the right direction.” -Ashley

“We enjoyed filling out the questionnaire on Tracy’s website, sharing personal information about our story. We knew this would factor into our ring design, contributing to the uniqueness of the final product. Being part of the creative process and having that reflected in our rings—and knowing that we weren’t being “sold to” but, rather, creating something that represented both of us.” -Jamie

I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings  in the comment box below. If you enjoyed the story share the love!

If you are getting married soon and would like custom engagement and wedding rings of your very own, fill out my custom jewelry questionnaire or send me a message to get the ball rolling. For more information on my eco-luxury jewelry design services, click here. View some of my other creations in my portfolio or you can also contact me directly.

 

6 Comments

  1. Christina on September 29, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    Ashley and Jamie are truly amazing people, both individually and together! Anyone who has the opportunity get to know them, or be touched by them in some way, are lucky individuals. They both are an inspiration for so many people.
    Ashley has been my best friend for 10 years, and when Jamie entered the picture a little over a year ago, I couldn’t be happier! My husband and I both knew that morning we got the call, after they met, that she had found her soul mate. Such a beautiful couple! Truly!
    Tracy, the rings are beautiful and couldn’t have been designed any more perfect!

    • admin on September 29, 2011 at 7:46 pm

      I love Ashley and Jamie! Great women! Thanks for the note Christina and I am so glad that you are inspired by them as much as I am.

  2. Kathleen on September 30, 2011 at 6:16 am

    Such a gorgeous story, Tracey! Thank you soooo much for creating ART for LOVE… and in particular for supporting LGBT marriage in this story. I LOVE your work. The pink gold is exquisite and recycling the “forever” diamond is a wonderful way to support eco-LIFE! Such an inspiration! xo

    • Tracy Matthews on September 30, 2011 at 11:13 am

      Thanks Kathleen!

      Eco-Jewelry is an awesome way to continue using our earth’s precious resources! Jamie and Ashley are a great couple!

  3. Laurie Rosenfeld on October 2, 2011 at 1:44 am

    Tracy, gorgeous rings and a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing. Custom-made pieces are extra special!

    • admin on October 2, 2011 at 12:24 pm

      Thanks Laurie!

      Beautiful rings for a special couple!

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