Making the Things Little Jacki Would Have Loved
If you've ever wondered where the idea for Calathea Collective come from, I'll let you in on a little secret: a lot of them come from a very sparkle-obsessed little girl. She always loved colorful things and accessories, especially if they sparkled. This little girl had absolutely no concept of "too much sparkle."
She was me, and she still runs the show around here.
My Favorite Creative Compass
When I'm designing something new -- a bracelet, a pair of earrings, a necklace -- there's one question that always finds its way into my head: Would little Jacki have loved this?
If the answer is yes, I know I'm onto something. Because that version of me didn't overthink. She just knew what made her happy. The sparkly things. The pretty "little somethings" you'd beg your mom for at the store. The pieces that made getting dressed feel like the best part of the day.
Everything I make now gets filtered through her eyes first. And I think that's why so much heart ends up in every single piece — because I'm not just making products, I'm making the things I've genuinely loved my whole life.
The Moment That Inspired This Post
Most recently it was the clip-in hair charms. The second I finished the first charm, I just stood there in my studio thinking, Little Jacki would have LOVED these.
I immediately texted my mom saying "I just made something I would've BEGGED you to buy for me!" And she agreed I would've really wanted one as a child.
And that feeling? That's the whole reason I do this. Getting to make the exact things my younger self would have flipped over — and then sharing them with all of you — is a kind of full-circle joy I don't take for granted. Every time one of these little somethings leaves my studio, I like to imagine it landing in the hands of someone who lights up the same way she would have.
Made With (So Much) Heart
I say this a lot, but it's true down to my bones: I absolutely love everything I create. Nothing goes into the shop unless I'd happily wear it, gift it or hoard it myself. That's the promise — from little Jacki, grown-up Jacki and every version in between.
So here's to the sparkly bracelets, the necklaces, the earrings and now the hair charms. Here's to making things that feel like childhood magic, all grown up.
Thanks for being my kind of people. Little Jacki would have loved you too! 💛
Xo,
Jacki
