My Manifestation Chain
The newest addition to my jewelry collection is the modern version of a charm bracelet
Shitters! There’s been a lot of talk about manifestation out there lately…
I just know the people who voted #3 are sooo fun to hang out with… I love and accept all of my readers (especially the ones who like & subscribe) exactly as they are <3
In general I would say I oscillate between practical and woo. Practical in that it makes perfect sense to me that in a world that’s increasingly unstable, where feel we have less and less control, manifestation feels like a practice we can take into our own hands to change our lives. Woo in that I do still believe in the ability to manifest your desires into reality.
Today’s letter is actually about jewelry, but I say all of this because manifestation is the theme of my latest piece(s), and if you’re at all inclined, I think it’s fun, unique, and replicable in your own way. Meet my Manifestation Chain!
I was inspired by my friend Madison Snider Podpirka of Fewer Finer (who has the best taste in all things!)—she keeps a collection of vintage charms that all relate to her husband Rich on a gorgeous vintage chain. I loved the look (and the idea of a themed charm collection!) so much that I wanted to create my own version!
I always liked the idea of jewelry as talismans and keeping my manifestations close, so over the past year, I started collecting charms that represented things I hoped to bring more of into my life. While the chain itself was an investment (unstable world = insane gold prices), the vintage charms were oftentimes smaller purchases I could make when I found the right ones (or when they found me!).
I’ve only been wearing them for a couple of months now (I started collecting some charms before I had a chain!), but I love how they’ve come together so far. They’re tactile and beautiful, and move around throughout the day, so different ones become more visible at the front of the cluster at different times. But I also love the meaning behind it, and that it’s something I can continue to add to. I still consider this the early stages, and I can’t wait to find more over time!
I’m including more on my specific charms below—I’ve found some really cool ones, if I do say so myself!—but now that I’ve caught the bug, I’d love to start new collections around different themes too. I’ve always loved Madison’s version, which is definitely replicable for your own relationship. I went to college in Nashville, and while I never wore a class ring, I would LOVE a Nashville-themed chain with a few Vandy-themed anchor and star charms! And I don’t have kids, but if I do one day, I’d want to collect charms themed around their interests as they grow up and then give them the chains one day. The possibilities are endless, the result is special and meaningful, and they’re such fun conversation pieces—in the time since I’ve started wearing it, SO many people have asked about it and wanted to replicate for themselves!
My Charms (So Far!)
1. Custom Envelope & Letter Charm: Dare I say the coolest charm in my collection! This was a custom charm that I worked with Fewer Finer to bring to life! I knew I wanted an envelope charm (inspired by vintage versions below), but they were able to create one that actually opens up to reveal a gold “letter” that we could engrave. I chose “Shitters!” as a nod to this newsletter and the hope that it continues to grow and flourish (insert a collective “aw” from the crowd!!), but I also love the idea of engraving a charm like this with a message from a loved one or in their handwriting. If you like the idea, reach out to FF—they can make you one too!
If you’ve been here a while, you know my love for all things Fewer Finer (they’ve made so many of the pieces I wear every day!), but they truly shine when it comes to custom projects. Their hand engraving is stunning, they’ve updated so many old pieces into modern heirlooms, and I’ve seen them make 3D charms of everything from people’s pets to Crown Affair’s Dry Shampoo (can you even??!!). Fine jewelry is an investment now more than ever, but they bring things to life in such beautiful, creative ways, and I really value the quality of their pieces.
*Full disclosure, this charm was gifted to me by Fewer Finer, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to work with their team to bring it to life! (The rest of my FF collection is all pieces I’ve bought for myself though, so know that I genuinely love their work!)
2. Vintage Champagne Bucket Charm: This is such a fun one! It’s a vintage 14K gold charm I found on Etsy and immediately loved. It was a fit for my collection because I’m always manifesting more joy and things to celebrate! Its uniqueness is part of what drew me to it (and I’m sure why it’s gotten so many compliments in the time since I’ve started wearing!), but I found two similar charms if you like the style: 1, 2.
3. Vintage Keys to Love & Success: This is a special one (or should I say two!). I first saw this charm in a Valentine’s-themed vintage drop by Fewer Finer a couple years back (they do these via IG stories every so often, and always have the best finds!). It was before I had started collecting charms or even had a chain to wear them on, so I didn’t jump on it right away, but I loved the ‘key to my heart’ motif, and that this particular key read “love” on one side and “success” on the other. But by the time I decided to come back for it, it was gone! Dramatic, I know, but I couldn’t help but feel like the keys to everything I wanted had just slipped out of my hands… Fast forward to December—I was looking to add a love-themed charm to my collection, but most heart charms out there felt a bit trite to me. This one had always been in the back of my mind, and on a whim I tried to see if I could find something similar. Imagine my surprise when I found the exact same one on eBay! (Found one more for you here too!)
4. Diamond Bezel Charm: Not technically vintage, but I suppose a natural diamond is older than anything else here! I wanted to add at least one diamond to my chain—to me, they symbolize enduring brilliance, beauty, strength, and success, and who doesn’t want more of that? I know lab diamonds have exploded in popularity over the past few years, and I’m not anti in all cases, but because this chain is manifestation-themed, I felt a strong pull towards picking a natural diamond (and at this size, I was surprised by how close the two options were in price? Lab options to me should feel like a deal, but in this case they didn’t really). As of now, I’ve made a loose rule of thumb for myself—if the piece is strictly decorative/for fun, I’m okay with lab, but if it’s supposed to be symbolic or meaningful, I still prefer natural. But I’m always curious to hear about how others are thinking about this!
I asked a version of this same question in the last letter I wrote about jewelry about a year and a half ago—I’m so curious to see if/how the responses change.
5. Vintage Airplane Charm: This was another great find via Fewer Finer’s vintage drops, and I feel like I manifested the charm itself! I found it shortly after I wrote this newsletter saying I was on the hunt for vintage charms, and the collage featured one that was basically identical to this! For me this represents travel and new experiences, which I always hope to have more of!
That’s my collection so far, but this is forever a WIP and I always have more ideas brewing! I put together a collection of more vintage charms I love here for anyone who’s feeling inspired or wants to browse!
The Chain
I consider myself VERY particular when it comes to chains. The weight, the links, the finish—all of it. So naturally it took me a LONG time to settle on the perfect one for this collection. Mine is Fewer Finer’s Napa Chain. It has the perfect proportions (not too chunky, not too fine) and is made of solid gold, giving the piece a nice weight without being too heavy. Instead of the classic round rolo chain shape, the links are oval—a subtle difference, but one that I personally prefer. Mine is currently 25 inches, but I’m getting another inch added for a bit of extra length—I’ve found myself loving the longer look!
There are similar-ish options at lower price points—I considered these from Kinn and Jennifer Fisher too—but I knew I loved the weight and feel of the original, and where possible for the pieces I plan on having forever, I’d rather save for what I actually want than spend less on a version that I’m not as happy with. (Pro-tip: Fewer Finer runs two annual sales that I always try to take advantage of—the next one is in April!)
Next On My Wishlist
Technically I’m in negotiation for my next piece as we speak (!), but I’m not counting my chickens until the bird is in hand, so mum’s the word for now! But after that, the next thing on my list is this Flexible Collar style. I’ve eyed it often over the past two years—it’s a choker-style omega chain designed to sit close to the neck, and it looks SO good with pendants. (I love that FF’s is actually flexible and comes in shorter lengths—most are stiff welded chains that come in a standard 16 inches, which sits lower on my neck than I’d want for this.) It’s an older style that’s come back over the past few years, and I wanted to make sure it was something I’d love long-term, but I’ve only gotten more excited about it over the past year! (This version from Nicola Bathie is way more budget-friendly if you want the look, but I can’t vouch for the longevity of gold-plated.)
I think it would look fabulous dressed up for an occasion or down with a t-shirt/sweater. Diamond pendants feel like a natural fit, but you can also have fun with it! My friend Nan Philip styles hers with this gorgeous shell pendant by CCWW—splurgy, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it since she shared!
Other Things I’m Loving Lately
I’m not one to lose my head over every new makeup release, but Mary Phillips killed it with this foundation—so lightweight and SO gorgeous on the skin! While visiting my parents earlier this week, I thought I would be fine using a popular drugstore cleanser… I rarely break out these days, but I got two new ones over those few days. Saint sofie pavitt came to the rescue with this via an easy pickup at Sephora! Her new SPF is also phenomenal, and I can’t get enough of the name (literally). Speaking of Sephora, you can now find our favorite Green Banana there too! And Forgrave gave us a code for their custom tea caddies! (PRIYANKA15) Maybe top of mind because it was just my mom’s birthday, but it’s a perfect mom gift if I’ve ever seen one!
Related Reading
If you’ve been here awhile, you know I love talking jewelry—if you have thoughts, questions, things on your eye, or just want to chat about what you’re into/ excited about, drop a line!! I could talk about this all day!
Ah love this! Flexible collar is must! I picked it up back in the fall and it's so fun + a lil sexy for layering or wearing by itself. So different from other chains, so perfect for adding a little versatility!
Obsessed with this concept. I think I also saw Madison share a charm collection related to her family’s mountain house? It inspired me to start collecting charms that represent my happy place in the San Juan Islands. It really does feel like the grown-up version of the charm bracelet I was obsessed with as a little girl.