The mother/daughter relationship: sometimes it’s fraught and others it’s infallible. Almost always, it involves jewelry. My relationship with my own mother certainly does in many ways.

My mom has given me many pieces of jewelry, one of my favorites being her silver charm bracelet. As a child growing up I would sneak into her bedroom and peek into her jewelry box. I was mesmerized by all of the charms on this bracelet, collected upon various travels and points in her life. I was so curious about the stories behind all of the charms. I would fantasize about the places I would go and the charms I would collect as I grew up.

I was honored when my mom gave me her charm bracelet for my 25th birthday. When I turned 30, she had a New York charm engraved, celebrating another milestone. The little girl who used to admire that bracelet would have been proud. The woman she turned into was even more so.

Yes, that line was so cheesy it’s melting and oozing all over the place. But seriously, if you’re anything like me, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the things we do. I know my mom doesn’t either, which is why I’m going to do it for her.

The most meaningful connection that my mom and I have with jewelry is one shared through creation. After graduating with a degree in jewelry design, I launched my own brand called elle & belle, named after my mom, Elizabeth, and my grandma, Isabel. When I moved to New York to complete my master’s, I left all of my tools and raw materials at my parents’ house. My mom saw them and asked if I could teach her how to make my signature heart necklace, so I did. But she didn’t stop there. She taught herself new techniques and put her own spin on the brand.

My mom has always been a very creative person, I have no doubt she has influenced my desire and drive to create. I will always remember one Christmas morning when I was young, my brother and I came downstairs to find an army of life sized robots that my mom had made out of boxes and aluminum foil. Of all of the other store bought toys strewn about the room, those were the ones that my childhood self was most awe-struck and mesmerized by. I'll always remember that feeling.

Despite already knowing of my mom's talent for creation, I'm awe-struck again at the jewelry business she has built. She taught herself how to photograph her pieces, promote them on social media and run a flourishing Etsy shop. I don’t tell her often enough, but I am so proud of her for everything she’s accomplished in her second career.

My mom is a very detail oriented person and her finishes are impeccable, far better than mine ever were. This is something her clients notice and appreciate about her pieces and is a quality that I truly admire about her.

My mom came to visit me this past Mother’s Day and it was a very special visit for me. I learned more about her life’s adventures, the ones that had contributed to that collection of charms. Even through those meaningful conversations, I didn’t have the chance to tell her how much she is my inspiration and my guide. So instead, I thought I would tell everyone.