Welcome to my new feature for December, the Spotlight Corner. Here I will be sharing some of my favorite pieces and the stories behind them.

Kicking us off today, I am shining the spotlight on a brand new piece, Diana’s Princess Pearls, the signature piece of a brand new collection, Royally Inspired, .
https://doriestdesigns.com/product/dianas-princess-pearls-set/

If you take a stroll through my collections you will notice two common themes, pearls and sparkle, my two favorite design elements. I have loved pearls of all types for as long as I can remember. I had my own single pearl necklace as a little girl and I can still recall rubbing the pearl over my teeth, still the best way to easily know if a pearl is real or not. Pearls have always made me think of timeless beauties like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.

But then in 1981 I was introduced to a young woman only 9 years older than me who would make an impact on me for the rest of my life. That woman was Lady Diana Spencer, Princess Diana. I gobbled up everything I could about this shy, pretty young woman, learning everything about her. I will never forget how I felt watching her marry her Prince, it was like a fairy-tale unfolding before my very eyes.

But alas, like most things, the fairy-tale was never real and began to unravel before the world. As Diana grew becoming an icon and a voice for many people and I grew up too, I began to realize she was so much more than that shy young 20 year old. I read many books about her and followed her through life, feeling connected to her. She suffered and I suffered, she triumphed and I triumphed, she grew and I grew, and then finally she left the planet too soon and I was devastated. Yet, she will always hold a place in my heart, my kindred spirit and a eternal symbol of triumph in adversity.

So this simply elegant strand of pearls was born out of my love of a shy, quiet, deeply caring young woman who was much more beautiful than any of us realized. It’s a Princess length (18 inch) necklace made with Swarovski pearls and a crown clasp. The earrings are also simply elegant pearls with Swarovski crystals because a Princess can never have too much sparkle after all.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek at the story behind the pieces. Stay tuned in following weeks for more pieces, and more peeks.