Juniper Skies converges many of my passions into my own special joy project. In early 2024, I took a step back from what was then known at Juniper Designs, needing to focus more energy on my clinical practice at the time. After some deep reflection and initially thinking I'd maybe not reopen Juniper, I realized was more passionate than ever to grow my business into a thriving legacy as I enter the second half of my working years.

A few pivotal moments have shaped a new direction that culminated in renaming Juniper Designs to Juniper Skies in December 2024. First, I began experimenting with precious metal clay a few years ago, which allows me to turn clay into metal, sparking a deeper interest in metals. Then, a visit to a natural history museum with my family left me in awe of gemstones, especially labradorite. I wanted to incorporate these into my pieces but realized I'd need to learn new techniques like metalsmithing, stonesetting, and/or lost wax casting. I realized I was definitely at my limit of "new skills" and especially new equipment I could take on, so I instead researched suppliers for high-quality metals and gemstones and created my Winter 2024 collection. This collection featured baroque pearls, labradorite, and moonstone. I really loved this beautiful collection. I thought this was as close as I'd get for now to my vision of crafting pieces with high quality metal and gemstones, but I yearned for greater control over the design process. I began researching options to work with a manufacturer that would enable this vision and have now begun working with a US-based Responsible Jewelry Council certified company that specializes in ethical sourcing, CAD design, and high quality metal casting and stone setting services.

Adjacent to these developments, I led a silent auction fundraiser in my community, which reconnected me with my lifelong passion for community service and newer passion for supporting and partnering with small businesses in my community. This experience, along with my passion for healthcare reform as a psychologist, inspired me to integrate a mission for advocacy and community development into Juniper Skies. Juniper Skies supports health care reform efforts through sales profits and fundraising events. This confluence of passions into a mission-driven business has sparked a feeling of purpose that now is finally able to override the self-doubt and hesitation I have felt about all of this. A friend said to me that God is already there where I am going and I feel a little like, who am I to question a calling? This wouldn't be so deep in my heart if it wasn't meant for me.

Renaming Juniper Designs to Juniper Skies strengthens the connection to nature that has always inspired my brand. The sun in my logo represents warmth and optimism, while the juniper tree symbolizes strength and resilience. And the skies? They’re limitless, offering endless possibilities for creation and new opportunities ahead!