We recently had the absolute pleasure of working with the astonishingly creative and talented Brooke of Porter Gulch Designs and her stunning new collection of fine, handmade jewels! Brooke’s story is incredibly inspirational and one that I have personally drawn from many times with regards to leaving ye ol’ office job behind and pursuing what is in your heart. While grinding the hours away at her Wall Street finance job, Brooke started taking jewelry making classes during the little free time she had left in hopes of adding some much needed creative energy to her life. A real knack for metal-smithing revealed itself and before she knew it, she was churning out beautiful designs and falling in love with jewelry making. Her jewels first went to friends and family, and it wasn’t long till others wanted a piece of Brooke’s lovely handmade work. With the startup of an etsy shop, Brooke started selling her pieces and gaining notoriety. The insane thought of leaving her salaried position to cultivate her growing little business started to take root. And with a gigantic leap of faith and trust in herself, Brooke did exactly that. She now owns and operates her jewelry business based in San Francisco, and even with the inherent challenges associated with self employment, Brooke has never been happier. A journey near to my heart … during the countless hours I mulled over whether or not to leave a career I had worked so hard for (one of the toughest and scariest decisions I’ve ever made), I thought about my dear friend Brooke and her journey A LOT, and found solace and genuine inspiration in her story. It was the simplest of concepts – identify what makes you happy and do more of that … throw your whole self into it and find a way to make that sh*t happen – a concept far easier daydreamed about than done. But holy moly, there are few things in life as powerful as when you follow your heart in the pursuit of what truly makes you happy. Thank you from the bottom of my happy heart, Brooke, for being the inspirational lil powerhouse that you are!

So, do yourself a favor and head on over to her etsy shop, Porter Gulch Designs! In addition to her brilliant necklace, bracelet, and stacking ring designs, Brooke also makes stunning engagement rings and wedding bands! We’re honored to have been a part of this project!