This Is Me: Jewelry That Celebrates Who You Truly Are

There’s something about musicals that speaks to my soul in a way no other form of art or entertainment ever has. The emotion, the storytelling, the music—it all comes together in a way that goes beyond words. It’s like a direct line to the heart.

I still remember my very first Broadway musical when I was 13 years old: Beauty and the Beast. Sitting in that velvet seat, watching the stage come alive—it felt like a dream. That memory is etched into me forever. And then came Wicked and Finding Neverland, Chicago, and Hairspray and I swear, I melted right there in my seat, every single time. Tears streaming down my face, heart bursting—it was more than entertainment. It was transformation.

There’s a unique kind of magic in musicals—the way they capture both the grand and quiet moments of what it means to be human. And for me, one of the most powerful examples of that is The Greatest Showman. It’s visually stunning, yes—but more than that, it’s a love letter to the beauty of being exactly who you are, no matter how different, unexpected, or unpolished that might look to the world. “This Is Me” isn’t just a song—it’s an anthem. A declaration. A reminder that we are allowed to take up space, even when we feel broken or unsure.

The lyrics echo a truth that resonates deeply:
“I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me.”

That kind of unapologetic truth has power. And while we might not always march boldly through the world singing it, we can carry pieces of that energy with us. Sometimes it shows up in the small things: a color that brings you joy, a pattern that makes you feel seen, a pair of earrings that just feel like you.

For me, jewelry is one of the most personal ways we tell the world who we are. It’s not just an accessory—it’s a quiet companion, a spark of confidence, a way to honor the parts of ourselves we’re learning to embrace. At Anam Cara Clay Goods, that’s the heart of what I create—pieces that feel true. That reflect your story. That help you show up, little by little, as your boldest, brightest, most grounded self. So today, I invite you to reconnect with what makes you feel most alive, most rooted, most you. Let’s explore three beautiful ways jewelry becomes a mirror—and how the right piece can help you share your story, your way.

Style as a Fingerprint: Discovering Your Signature Look

✦ My Story: Finding My Fingerprint

Before I started Anam Cara Clay Goods, my jewelry style was… different. More muted. A little safer. I didn’t always feel like it reflected who I was deep down—but I couldn’t quite name what was missing.

But then, something shifted. As I started creating jewelry with my own hands—pieces that came straight from the art living in my heart—I began to see something take shape. The colors I reached for without thinking. The playful textures. The mix of organic and geometric. The slightly quirky, joy-filled combinations that made me smile.

Without even realizing it, I was rewriting the patterns. Not just in my jewelry, but in my life. I was finding me.

And when I looked at the collection spread out on my studio table one afternoon, it hit me: I had found my fingerprint.

I even made a fun Mini Style Guide so you discover your own style fingerprint! Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Think of your style like a fingerprint—utterly unique and deeply personal. It’s not about copying the latest trend or following a perfectly curated Pinterest board (although, let’s be honest, we’ve all been there). It’s about coming home to yourself. Your signature look is where you land when you stop trying to be anyone else and start dressing in alignment with how you feel, what you love, and who you are becoming.

Jewelry is one of the most powerful tools in your style toolbox because it’s so versatile and so personal. A single pair of earrings can elevate your mood, shift your outfit, and communicate your essence—without you ever having to say a word.

You might be someone who:

Is drawn to rich earth tones and organic shapes that echo a connection to nature and grounding.

Can’t resist bold colors and wild asymmetry, reflecting your creative, free-spirited soul.

Lives in sleek, minimalist studs, because you love ease and clarity and a quiet kind of confidence.

Rocks oversized statement pieces, because you love making an entrance and owning your presence.

Whatever your vibe, that’s your fingerprint. The key is to notice the patterns. Not the patterns others expect—but the ones that keep showing up for you. And to give yourself permission to lean all the way in.T

✦ Tips and Advice:

• Trust your instincts.

  If you love something even though it's not “on trend,” that’s your individuality speaking.

• Color confidence is a form of self-celebration.

  I once wore bright turquoise earrings with a deep blue dress, and three people stopped me to say, “That combo is SO you.”

• Let your everyday pieces reflect who you are at your core.

  Your go-to studs? They count. Your clay hoops you wear on repeat? That’s your signature showing up.

• Look at your closet.

  What colors and styles dominate? Let your jewelry echo your fashion personality.

• Give yourself grace to evolve.

  What felt like “you” three years ago might not now—and that’s a good thing. You’re not static, and neither is your jewelry story.

• Start noticing your YES.

  That little thrill you feel when you put something on and say “This is so me”? Pay attention to it. That’s not frivolous—it’s truth.

• Create a mini jewelry capsule.

  Pick 5–6 pieces that reflect your “style fingerprint” and rotate them intentionally for a week. What do they say about you? How do they make you feel? Which ones do you reach for even when you didn’t plan to?

• Let your jewelry match your mood.

  Some days, your individuality shows up in vibrant color. Other days, it’s in a soft neutral that says “I’m grounded today.” Both are valid. Both are you.

• Resist the urge to dilute your style.

  When something feels “too much,” ask: Too much for whom? If it feels like YOU, that’s what matters.

Jewelry With a Backstory: Meaningful Pieces That Tell the Tale

✦ Try This Mini Exercise:

Think of the most meaningful piece of jewelry you own.
Ask yourself:

• What memory or story is tied to it?

• Why do you hold it so close?

• Is there a way to wear something today that reminds you of that feeling?

• What new stories are you creating through the pieces you wear now?

You might even write a small note and tuck it inside your jewelry box: “This piece reminds me of ____. I wear it when I need to remember ___.“
Let it become a living journal you wear.

Jewelry has always been more than just something we wear—it’s something we carry. The stories, emotions, people, and places tucked inside even the smallest stud or charm can stretch far beyond what the eye sees.

A necklace worn on a milestone day.
A pair of earrings gifted by someone who just knew your style.
A bracelet you bought during a season of becoming, one that reminds you who you were becoming—and still are.

The pieces we treasure most often come with history. And that history turns them into heirlooms of the heart. When you wear meaningful jewelry, you’re doing more than accessorizing—you’re keeping a memory close, honoring a relationship, or grounding yourself in a personal truth.

Meaning breathes life into jewelry—and turns it from something beautiful into something unforgettable.

And what’s even more beautiful? We get to choose what our jewelry means. We can assign memory to a moment. We can say, “This piece reminds me of the day I finally said yes to myself,” or “These are the earrings I wore the day everything changed.” And that intentionality transforms even the simplest piece into something sacred.

✦ My Story: Memory in the Making

When my Aunt Lynn passed away in 2022, I was gifted some of her jewelry. She had such a bold, quirky, and confident style—unapologetically herself. Her pieces were vibrant, eclectic, sometimes unexpected… but always her. At first, I wasn’t sure if I could wear them. They felt so her, and I worried I wouldn’t do them justice. But then I thought about what she would’ve said: “Wear the earrings, they’re meant for you now.”

And so I did. One day, I matched a pair of her silver drops with a beautiful blue gemstone with a simple outfit, and I felt her with me—her creativity, her character, her joy in standing out. Now, I wear those pieces when I need courage, when I want to channel her design sense, or when I simply want to feel closer to her.

But that’s not the only backstory. When I began Anam Cara Clay Goods, I noticed something beautiful starting to happen. Customers would share the meaning behind their purchases:
“This pair reminds me of my mom.”
“I’m giving this to my best friend to celebrate her new job.”
“I needed something to mark this moment, and these felt like me.”

It made me realize: the earrings I make don’t just match an outfit—they match a moment. A feeling. A memory in the making. And now, I intentionally wear new designs on meaningful days—market debuts, collection launches, or personal milestones—because I want those earrings to hold that moment forever.

✦ Tips & Advice:

• Create memory makers.

  Pick a special piece to wear on a big day: an interview, your birthday, a first date, your first market as an artist. Let it become the “I wore this when…” piece in your story.

• Let others in.

  I had a customer once tell me she gifted a pair of Anam Cara earrings to her sister for a bridal shower gift. Now, every time her sister wears them, she remembers that special time in her life.

• Custom pieces matter.

  Custom pieces with initials, meaningful colors, or subtle symbols can root a piece in your story. Don’t be afraid to ask for personalization—or to create it yourself.

• Wear legacy.

  I often wear my Aunt Lynn’s jewelry when I need her strength. It reminds me that I come from a line of strong, creative women.

• Turn ordinary into meaningful.

  You don’t need a dramatic story to make a piece meaningful. Sometimes all it takes is naming it. “These are my ‘moving forward’ earrings.” “This bracelet is my reminder to stay rooted.”

Whether it’s a pair passed down from someone you love or a piece you bought to mark a turning point, meaningful jewelry holds space for what matters. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be flashy. It just has to be yours. Let your jewelry tell your story—past, present, and the unfolding chapters still to come.

Play and Power: Letting Yourself Experiment

✦ Try This Mini Exercise:

Challenge yourself to wear one piece of jewelry that feels like a stretch.
That might mean:

• A bigger earring than usual

• A color you’ve never tried (hello, chartreuse!)

• A shape or texture you’ve always admired but never felt “bold enough” to wear

• Layering earrings in a way that feels a little wild (stud + hoop + charm? yes, please)

Then, take a moment at the end of the day to reflect:

• How did it make you feel?

• Did it shift your energy or mood?

• Was there a moment where you forgot about it—and just felt good?

• Did anyone comment? (More importantly: did you smile when you saw your reflection?)

Write it down. Celebrate it. Repeat it.

Expression doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be you. And that “you” might shift from day to day, moment to moment. Jewelry is a safe, joyful, low-stakes way to try something new, to stretch a little, to ask: What if?

What if today I wear something unexpected?
What if I let my earrings say what I’m too shy to?
What if I stopped worrying about whether it “matches,” and just wore what makes me feel alive?

One day you're all about soft, neutral textures—subtle, grounding, quiet. The next day, you’re layering raspberry and tangerine like you’re made of fire and joy. And both of those expressions are real, honest, and valid. That’s the power of play. That’s the invitation of individuality—it isn’t rigid. It’s fluid, alive, and ever-curious.

The more you allow yourself to experiment, the more likely you are to discover something surprisingly true about yourself. Play leads to authenticity. It invites us into deeper knowing. And often, it’s in those moments of joyful curiosity that your real style—the kind that makes you feel like you—starts to emerge.

✦ My Story: Learning to Trust the Weird and Wonderful

When I first started experimenting with color and form in my jewelry designs, I was terrified. Some of the combos I made felt… weird. Too quirky. Too bold. Too me.

But as I kept creating, I noticed that the pieces I felt most unsure about—those were the ones that caught people’s eyes at markets. I’d put out a pair of bright turquoise half-moons with antique gold accents and think, Is this too much? And inevitably, someone would pick them up and say, “I don’t know what it is about these, but I love them.”

The more I played in my creative space, the more I realized that play is where freedom lives. That’s where the good stuff bubbles up. The pieces that felt like a stretch at first? They became the signature looks that now feel like home.

Now, I give myself permission to make things just because they make me laugh. Or pause. Or feel something unexpected. I wear those earrings that don’t match anything—but somehow match me. And when I look in the mirror and see a little spark of mischief, or whimsy, or boldness? That’s when I know I’m doing it right.

✦ Tips & Advice:

• Give yourself permission to explore.

  Even if no one else “gets” it—if you like it, that’s enough.

• Try "style moods."

  Ask yourself: “How do I feel today, and how can I wear that?”

• Layer it up.

  Mix metals. Combine clay textures. Put studs and dangles in the same ear. It’s your canvas.

• I’ve had market customers say, “I’d never wear something like this… but I want to.”

  That spark of desire? That’s your individuality waking up.

• Not everything has to be deep with meaning.

  Sometimes you just wear a pair because they’re ridiculous and fun—and that, too, is beautifully you.

The Quiet Power of “This Is Me”

When you wear jewelry that feels like you, you’re not just making a style choice. You’re making a soul choice. A conscious decision to show up as your truest self—even in the smallest details. You’re saying: I know who I am—or at least, I’m learning. And I’m not afraid to be seen.

And the beauty of it is, you don’t have to shout to be heard. A pair of earrings. A favorite ring. A charm you never take off. These aren’t just accessories—they’re expressions. Quiet declarations of identity. Soft but powerful statements that whisper: This is me.

Your jewelry doesn’t have to match anyone else’s. It doesn’t have to follow a rulebook or live up to an algorithm. It just has to resonate with you. That resonance—that hum of alignment—is where the magic lives. So this month, as we lean into the theme of embracing and celebrating our individuality, I invite you to do something intentional:

• Try something bold that scares you a little.

• Revisit a piece you’ve forgotten but used to love.

• Choose a pair of earrings not because they’re trending, but because they feel like a mirror.

Ask yourself: What story am I telling? What part of me is asking to be seen? How can I wear my truth in a way that makes me feel alive?

Because every piece of jewelry can be a soft anthem of individuality. A quiet celebration. A moment of “I see me.” And every time you clasp that necklace, hook that earring, or slip on that bracelet, you’re not just finishing an outfit—you’re finishing a sentence that says: “This is me.” And that, dear one, is more than enough.