Friday, June 4

Profile: Elizabeth Showers

One glance at jewelry designer Elizabeth Showers’s blissful collection and it is obvious that she inherited her mother’s eye for color. Beautiful shades of azure, turquoise, pale green and lemon reign supreme. Elizabeth began her creative journey at her grandmother’s kitchen table. “I have such great memories of being with my grandmother. I can remember at age 5 making clay leaf necklaces spray-painted gold with hand-painted ornaments.”

Prior to launching her jewelry collection Elizabeth struggled with an eating disorder. She entered recovery from anorexia at age 20 and soon rediscovered her creative passion while taking jewelry-making classes. Eager to reengage in a creative endeavor Elizabeth began selling her semi-precious jewels to friends. Once she formally embarked on her new career, Neiman Marcus launched her first major collection.

Passionate that women should feel as beautiful on the inside as they do the outside, she created her company logo in the shape of a star. “Hope Star” is the symbol she now places on almost all of her jewelry to serve as a reminder that women should feel beautiful every day.

Elizabeth designed the Hope Star Jewelry Collection to benefit two eating disorder charities, National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and The Elisa Project. Today she is an ambassador for the two eating disorder awareness organizations and a member of The Dallas Museum of Art. You can find Elizabeth’s designs online and through regional retailers. You can also see her new sterling silver jewelry collection on QVC.

Elizabeth is graciously giving away one sterling silver Hope Star pendant with white sapphire to an All the Best reader. Simply leave a comment and one reader will be selected next week.


How would you describe your personal style?
Simple, easy and fun. I am not fussy (well, except when it comes to messing with my hair).

What inspires your creativity and designs?
Bold colors especially turquoise. I also love unusual architecture and art. I am creatively inspired by travel. I absolutely love to travel especially to foreign countries—Thailand, Spain, Italy, South Africa and Botswana are some of my favorites. My two of my favorite places in the US are Orcas Island and New York. Meditation, yoga and kickboxing put me into creative mode as well!! And of course my mom [Jan Showers] will always be a huge source of inspiration.

What is your most prized possession?
My Pug-Lab-Boxer-Mastiff-Mix Mutt dog, Whitney. However I don't think she is really a possession. Truthfully, I think she possesses me. I also adore my chocolate brown 50th anniversary-edition Mini Cooper with it's incredible toffee colored leather interior, turquoise stitching and white piping—when I drive it, I feel like a kid playing in a go-cart.

What is the one thing in life you cannot live without
?
My best friends

Who are your style icons?
Grace Kelly, Kate Winslet (I love how comfortable she is in her beautiful womanly body), Jennifer Garner (I sometimes want to be Sydney Bristow, her Alias character), Tina Fey in all her hilarious glory; my maternal grandmother of whom I called "Mom," and my real mom of course!

Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?
IT'S A TIE: 1) Tina Fey and her team of writers; 2) I would love to do a project with Kenneth Cole. I love his passion for developing public awareness around important humanitarian movements. He is definitely a great role model in my industry. He inspires me to use my Hope Star/feel beautiful message in an even bigger way.

What books are currently on your bedside table?
I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett and loved it!
Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
Next by Michael Crichton
The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

What is your favorite luxury in life
?
Being able to make choices! And, escaping to a great movie, especially when it's TEXAS HOT outside. For the great movie "luxury" I can either be alone or holding hands with the cute man I am dating (like teenagers in the back row).

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Laughing and hanging out with my best friends for a fun weekend getaway!

Past or present who has most influenced your direction in life?
It's a toss-up between the following: my parents, my sister Susanna, my maternal grandparents, my nanny Willie from my childhood and my dog Whitney for her unconditional love.

39 comments:

  1. It's nice to see such a beautiful product with personal dedication to a good cause. Too often it seems like the charity is an afterthought in these sorts of things. Wonderful designs, worthy cause!

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  2. The earrings are my favorite, stunning...just love the colors. Janell

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  3. Oh, I love her memories of her time with her grandmother. I am now a grandma and hope my 3 little granddaughters are touched my our time together. Her pieces are gorgeous.

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  4. style certainly runs in that family!

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  5. What a great way to look at luxury in life. She sounds like an interesting person and I have admired her pieces at NM. Too bad more stories of artists like her aren't shared, it makes the jewelry more meaningful. Thank you for an interesting post!

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  6. When you make your path from uncomfortable to comfortable and your talents rise to the top you're always richer for it. Great thing is others benefit from it also.

    Great post!

    Bette

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  7. I simply love the designs and causes behind the pieces! The hope start is beautiful!

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  8. What a beautiful collection! And the story behind it is so inspirational.

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  9. I ordered a piece from Elizabeth Shower's collection that benefited eating disorders. She emailed me a personal note and mailed a handwritten note. I have been following her career and her collections ever since. She is talented, kind and lovely.

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  10. "Fussy Hair", pretty designs would make me happy even on the worst of bad hair days- love the hope star necklace. I would give it to a friend who is living with cancer. (if I won!)
    pve

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  11. Great article! I love her jewelry....so stunning! I love her comment about holding hands with the cute man she's dating - like teenagers. I'm 46, dating and doing all those sweet things you did when you were young. And I have to say, it's better the second time around.

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  12. I have been admiring these pieces at my local shop on St Simons Island. After reading this interview the jewelry has more meaning. Thanks for sharing, Ronda. and continue on with your lovely jewelry, MS. Showers, they are just fantastic.

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  13. Elizabeth - If you are any bit like your mom you are just fabulous too! When Ronda and I were in Dallas she was just a doll. I had a special gift made for her but have had surgery and been sick but, will try to send it out to her next week. I really love your jewels too... especialy the fabulous ring Ronda pictured! Have a great weekend and I'd love to meet you if you are in Dalls when Ronda and I return this summer... Best Regards,
    Marilyn

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  14. These pieces are incredible!

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  15. Her collection is simply gorgeous. What do they say about the apple not falling far from the tree?......

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  16. just read the profile of elizabeth on her website - like the inspiration behind the hope star -

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  17. Love the jewelry and all of the inspiration behind it. So much talent in the Showers family!

    Regards,
    Joanna

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  18. Thank you Jan, for honoring women and their beauty, both inside and out, with the Hope Star. Every mother of young women should know about your jewelry! I simply adore your pieces.

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  19. My sister suffers from an eating disorder. It's not an easy thing to recover from. We need more advocates like Jan. Kudos to her!

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  20. Inspiring story and unique jewelry creations. Wonderful post. Thank you.

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  21. The pieces are beautiful and support such a wonderful cause. My grandmother was a great inspiration for me, too. I spent many days at her kitchen table creating pretty little things
    and her legacy has been passed to my daughters as well.

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  22. I have been a long time admirerer of Elizabeth's collections.....unfortunately it's a little out of my price range! Adore the turquoise pendent in gold shown above! Keep the collections coming Elizabeth! I love to see them!

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  23. Thank you so much for introducing me to Elizabeth Shower's work. Her designs are unique and creative; just stunning. I also enjoyed your interview and her positive direction and contribution after a difficult personal experience. Very inspiring.

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  24. I appreciate Elizabeth's story and her ability to share with others how to move beyond a difficult disorder and follow your passion. Wonderful family memories and of course beautiful jewelry.

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  25. Stunning jewelry! I especially love the earrings - such beautiful combinations of colors and stones.

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  26. Nancy from AlabamaJune 5, 2010 at 9:02 PM

    Thanks for introducing us to this designer, who sounds beautiful both inside and out. Her jewelry certainly is!

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  27. Beautiful jewelry designed by a beautifully spirited lady. As my grandmother used to say, "She's as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside."
    Shelley

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  28. Such a beautiful woman doing beautiful things for us all! Such an inspiration! Elizabeth - You make Dallas so proud!

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  29. A beautiful journey Elizabeth. Continued success and joy in your personal life and your beautiful, stunning designs.

    Helen Tilston

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  30. Love your style. And I love my Mini Cooper, also.
    Kris

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  31. What a wonderful way to raise money for great causes. I just purchased a ring and can't wait to receive it. Thank you for bringing this terrific designer to my attention.
    CJB

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  32. Her hope gives me hope. Thanks for the great article.

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  33. Elizabeth's new collection is gorgeous. That turquoise pendant is to die for! And an amazing woman behind the jewels? That makes the collection even better. Here's wishing her happiness and success with the launch and her causes.

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  34. Those earrings are amazing! Fantastic article.

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  35. We agree, that's why Amanda Pinson Jewelry & Forty Five Ten on Taigan.com carry her line.

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  36. What a talented lady, thanks for sharing your story. The necklace will look great on me, I really hope I win it.Thanks JoDell

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  37. Thank you for featuring such a wonderful and talented artist who also promotes such an important cause! In my teens/early twenties I battled an eating disorder. Now in my thirties, I counsel and speak to high school and college aged women about looking inside to find beauty and strength. So good to know of others doing the same! Thank you!

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All the best,
Ronda