Designing Moms: Meet April

April not only has an exquisite eye for detail as seen in her beautiful jewelry, but a vision that encompasses a gallery of artists who echo her personal passions and work. What a dream to also be able to live and work in your studio! I feel lucky that April and I got a chance to meet one day (she purchased a wool zip top bag to help display her jewelry) and cannot wait to read more of her work and life!


Name: April

About: I am a hopeful soon-to-be-mother through adoption. When I searched my heart, adoption seemed the right path to become a mother. My husband and I are awaiting news on a referral from Central Asia for a baby girl. It has been a long road and International Adoption is very unpredictable. But we have faith that the right little one will come to us.

Work and Play: Berkeley & San Francisco
I lived in San Francisco for 18 years and then bought a wonderfully creative building in Berkeley in 2005 which is the umbrella for my home, my jewelers studio, my husband's sculpture & public art office & last but not least my gallery. My dream is that our new space allows me to have my career and also be a mom.

What I do:
I am a Jeweler, who owns a gallery: Shibumi Gallery which features Contemporary Art Jewelry, Sculpture and by event Ocelot Clothing.
I also do design consultation, my specialty is artwork and object placement and making a space feel harmonious. I love it when things are considered!

What inspires my design: Nature is always inspirational. I love organic shapes, subtle beauty, Japanese influence. I have also been inspired by traveling and I love visiting any country who people works with their hands or has colorful dress. Randomness and balance are two qualities I play with in my work and challenge my eye.

What's my day in the life like: I wake up every day with my two Siamese beauties and my husband in bed. Since we live in a live-work space, two things I love in the morning: coffee out & a walk by the bay. The rest of my day can range from seeing clients in the gallery, enameling and creating in my studio, communicating, organizing & blogging on computer, looking for interesting new stones and trying to be a good business woman all at once.

And now to fit in my future "baby o"! Luckily I have a few really wonderful people who work with me at Shibumi and I am slowly learning to delegate to newer fresher talent! I'm taking it seriously and know I need room to be a mom.

I'm so appreciative to have a creative group to turn to when I need like minded folks around for inspiration and company. I also hope we inspire other mothers to keep in touch of their creativity in their lives.