Sara

I was 13. I started with seed beads strung on elastic, and over the course of about a year, I made enough bracelets to fully cover both of my arms. Then, in one horrifying moment, I spilt thousands of nearly microscopic beads on the carpet.I was livid. It took a couple of years for the scar to heal, and by that time I was busy finishing up high school and heading off to college.

Eventually, at the inspiration of my sister Steph, I started beading again, but with a different (and improved) aesthetic. Caught between jobs, I had the idea to design custom necklaces for friends and family. As it turned out, I mostly lost money, and I had to go back to work, but that’s okay. Losing money making art proved to be a lot more fun than a traditional work environment. I’m a finance major. There’ll be time for traditional work.

Purple Papaya Designs

I started selling jewelry in early January 2006 under a different name, Serena Mas Forte Designs. That name meant a lot to me: Literally “quiet but strong” in Portuguese, which is my design and life philosophy. Unfortunately, a long, Portuguese name doesn’t mean much to most others, being hard to remember and a bit serious sounding. So in April 2006 I renamed my business to “Purple Papaya Designs,” which I have no plans whatsoever to change.

Then and now, my jewelry is designed to be simple. It should enhance the wearer’s natural beauty, not outshine it. However, each piece is also designed to make a statement. I want the woman wearing my jewelry to get noticed and be admired.

I prefer to use the finest materials, which speak for themselves without loud, complicated additions. For a modern woman, this is the most chic and flattering style. I also take great care to make sure each piece could literally not be better made. I’m mortified at the idea of putting my name behind a product of anything but excellent quality.

Other Facts

I’m a German studies and finance major, with a Portuguese minor. When not fielding classes or one of my two jobs, I enjoy fine things (cuisine, music, or Alexander Pope, or something) with my boyfriend Jason. I also enjoy web design (as you can see, possibly), which is a lot like jewelry making–the details make or break the look. I like arranging colors, spacing things out to my particular way. I’m a latent Libertarian, I don’t like movies (generally), and I would rather keep the peace in almost any situation. I’m idea and motive driven. I used to play jazz piano, but mostly classical. I’m waiting until I start my i-banking job, and then I’ll buy a Bösendorfer. I was born in Roanoke, VA, and I like to pretend to myself that I was born in the lost Colony of Roanoke, VA (not the lost colony of Roanoke, NC, either). That is all for now.