So what is "High-Quality Materials?"

If you're new to The Trove (hi!) or even if you've been around for a minute (hello to you too!) , you may have come across something like this, "made with high-quality materials". 

So what does that even mean? Is it worth the price tag or is it just a fancy term so that our jewelry sounds better?

Yes and no. Yes, it DOES make our jewelry better. YES, it does make it worth the investment. However, NO it's not a term we just throw around to make it sound better. 

How many of us have been browsing our local department store and are overjoyed when we find a cute pair of earrings, an adorable ring, or maybe the perfect necklace? Sure, the happiness and joy of finding that unique piece may last for a bit- maybe a few months, maybe a few weeks, maybe even a few days depending on how much we wear it. The joy is overshadowed -fast- by the trace of green you start finding on your finger. The metal that you can now see visibly peeling off of the pendant on your necklace. The horror of feeling your ear piercings itch, only to find that your earlobes are now green as well!

Well, that $10 price tag we were excited about back then doesn't seem so worth it now. (Do you know how many value menu cheeseburgers you can buy with a dollar? Whether you support that or not, you can buy 9-10 depending on how much tax is in your city...that's a LOT. But I digress.) 

Here at The Trove Hawai'i, we HATE that. With passion.
We hate that the confidence, happiness and pride you feel when you find that perfect piece of jewelry can be so quickly squashed. This is why we choose to create our pieces with materials that won't leave you hanging after they've had their run with you. We're here for the long-term relationship, not the summer fling. 

There is nothing better than finding a piece of jewelry that is uniquely you. You know, the one that just fits with your persona the second you see it. Which is why we only create pieces using Sterling Silver, 14k Gold Filled Material and Rose Gold Fill Materials. 

So what is that stuff?

Sterling Silver: Many of you are probably familiar with this, but do you know what it actually is? Sterling Silver is often marked by the 92.5 sign, which means that in order to qualify as Sterling Silver, it must be at least 92.5% pure silver. That other 7.5% is composed of another metal- generally copper. (If you're thinking, "wait, what? Sterling has copper in it?" You're not alone.) Although we do use fine silver sometimes when the design calls for it, fine (or pure) silver is incredibly soft. It's malleable, bends too easily and picks up scratches and scuffs a bit too quickly for our comfort. Sterling Silver is perfect because it wears like silver, but with a bit of added durability.

It may tarnish if left to sit for a while, but it is easily polished up with a variety of household products. It won't wear down and change colors, it's silver through and through.
(Personally, we love using Argentium Sterling Silver. It's a very specific type of Sterling Silver containing 93.5% silver and substituting most of the copper with germanium. That's a lot of fancy terms, but the main point is that it tarnishes less, holds its shape and is super strong. We use it in place of regular Sterling Silver as much as we can.)

14k Gold Filled and Rose Gold Filled: These two are probably what throw people off the most when they first hear it. Many people turn up their nose until we can explain (you'd be surprised how many people have vivid, bad memories of the above green-skin experiences!). 
Gold Filled and Rose Gold Filled are NOT the same thing as plated jewelry. Plated jewelry (most of what you find in department stores and chain boutiques) are often mass-manufactured (thus the low cost), and are given a quick covering of whatever color you choose. When that layer comes up, you get green skin and multicolored jewelry. It's almost like a lightly spray-painted piece of furniture that hasn't been sealed. We all know how that goes.
Gold Filled and Rose Gold Filled are a very thick layer of gold or pink gold that is bonded (with both heat and pressure) onto a base metal (often brass). Instead of a light covering, this is a much thicker piece, that is STUCK on that base metal. Think of it like this- instead of just spray-painting that used chair, you've sanded it down, painted on your new color with durable paint made for furniture, and then sealed it with a protective top-coat. That's the difference between plated and gold-filled. 

We use 14/20 Gold Filled and Rose Gold Filled. Meaning it's 14k gold (the 14) that makes up 1/20th or (5%) of the overall weight. In order to be Gold Filled a piece HAS to meet the 5% requirement. And although that may not seem like a lot, it's more than enough. It wears the same as solid gold, without the crazy price tag. It is thick enough to solder together, wear all day everyday, and keeps its color through polishing. 

So when we say high quality materials, we mean it. 
We guarantee our pieces and are always happy to polish, repair or replace any of our pieces that fails to meet these standards.  

It's December and for many of us, it's a time of closure-the ending of a year. Time to look back upon the past 12 months, see what we've achieved or didn't, take note of the changes...or if you're like me try to remember what your New Year's resolution was.

This year has been huge for us here at The Trove. I'm sure many of you know the obvious change- we switched away from solely operating online and opened our own Brick & Mortar business! (B&M is business talk for a physical location btw, we now have our own little flagship store!).

Sounds simple right? A natural progression in the business?

It totally was NOT.

I'm finally confident enough in our little store to share what we went through, to give you an idea of the nitty-gritty and to happily tell you, I would totally do it all again. (And I think Sam, my boyfriend, would agree. Although, he would probably do so with a very hesitant roll of his eyes).

So what was it like opening our own B&M? 

It was hard. It was knowing everything you prepared for isn't enough. Knowing that you need x amount of funds and you only have y and oh my goodness, rent is due every month-whiich you plan for. But, then there's that $10 charge to that one company that you signed up for 3 months ago and forgot to use, and then there's the electricity bill that you don't even know what will amount to, and then there's getting hit by a scammy credit card company that wants to charge you $800 just because you were nice enough to listen to a phone call with them. It's waking up with a migraine and popping some advil because really, there's no one to call in sick too. Not to mention all the renovation that we did the hard way.

But it's also happiness and pure joy. It's waking up each morning, under no obligation to rush around for someone else's benefit. It's looking around and wanting to change something- then doing it immediately because you are your own boss. It's the pride and extreme love you feel when people actually show up at your Grand Opening...and look like they're having fun! The relief you feel when you get that first sale, or even the 100th (we just hit that number recently). The amazing amount of support you realize exists in your community, and the new friends you make every day.


So, I've decided that through December- I'll share a bit of each step we took (and are still taking) along the way. Starting from the beginning and working our way through. I wouldn't choose to live my life any differently, and I hope that perhaps this series will help YOU- you who are thinking about risking it all and stepping out on your own. If you get a little tingly feeling of excitement while reading that-well, this is it, know that you're destined to be your own boss. Because once you get that feeling, there is no going back. It lingers and festers until you take that and nurture it into a blazing fire.So, here's to hoping that through my mistakes, failures, successes and ahas you can save yourself some headache and gain a whole lot of joy!


Going to join us along the journey? I'd love to "meet" you, please feel free to comment below and let us know where you are in your path to entrepreneurship!

I'd like to invite you to join me in partaking in our September Creative Challenge!
It's no secret that social media is one of the GREATEST tools around. Whether you have an online-based business, want to reach local customers or even just enjoy engaging with others social media is a powerful resource. We're throwing a little twist in though-think of it as the icing on a cake (or even better-sprinkles on an ice cream cone).

Have you ever joined in on a challenge? They're a ton of fun! But ours is a little different. Not only have we designed this challenge to help you gain ENGAGED followers (aka clients) but we've also created it to be extremely flexible. Why? Because we created it with YOU in mind!
-the excited, budding entrepreneur 
-the enthusiastic, Instagram newbie
-the cool, comfortable business owner
-the multi-talented, mompreneur
-( or if you're like  us) a combined bunch of the above,
held together with STRONG coffee and the occasional drink or two 

This is for YOU!
The vivacious, skilled, confident, successful individual that you are (whether you know it or not)! 

Remember that part about sprinkles? We're adding our own flair to this challenge and ENCOURAGING you to use your imagination. No fill-in-the-blank lines here.  We're here to guide you in stretching those creative wings (don't worry, we'll be there to help you fly!). 

Here's what it is: On September 1st, we'll send you a list of short prompts*.
*By prompts we really mean ideas, little starters to get your creative juices flowing. Actually, from now on let's refer to them as sparks. Because really, that's what they are- little fire starters, ready to become ablaze...all they need is you!

Along with that list of short prompts, we'll also send you the rules for the challenge. (Although, to quote one of our favorite pirates... "The code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules.")

That's totally not it though. Throughout the challenge we'll be here to encourage you and keep you on the right path! Think of it as a supportive community.
In addition to fun emails, you'll also have access to our exclusive Facebook group! Ask questions, meet others, or even just browse related topics.

Want to join?
Just sign up below and hit subscribe!
(Don't worry, there's no hidden obligations-this one's on us.)

That we will be opening our own (PHYSICAL) location within the next few weeks! We received our keys today and will start work bright and early to begin renovations. Our dream of having a small storefront + art studio has become a reality. 
As we work to set up this new space, we will be shutting down our online store for a short period of time. Don't worry though! We are only doing this so that we can perform necessary updates and overhaul our website. We're planning on creating a cohesive experience-so that no matter where you are you can enjoy the items that our instructors and artists have to offer!

Hi everyone!

The reality of having my own art studio/storefront is quickly becoming a reality! Many of you know what my vision is and that I have dreamt of this for quite a long time. For those of you who don't quite yet understand where I am trying to go, please let me explain:

I'd like to open an art studio/boutique. My goal is to provide children and young adults with a safe and fun space in which they are allowed and encouraged to express themselves. I'd like to offer classes that are affordable (or better yet free!) and have an open area where everyone is given the support to be successful. Although there will be plenty of opportunities for all ages, one of my passions is helping the youth of our community to grow and expand their reach beyond our small town. This is why, along with other handmade artists, I would like to allow these young adults to sell their items in my storefront. Ideally, by allowing them to do so they will learn valuable life skills (such as responsibility, money management and relationship development) along with being able to generate a small income (college fund anyone?) that will allow them to get a step-up in our community. 

The storefront will also be a good way to show our youth that following your passion is worthwhile and to allow them to have visible role-models. It will also enable me to further support our community. I plan to feature a variety of artists (mostly local) in a wide range of fields. I hope that one day some of the artists will serve as mentors and positive role-models to our youth. I believe that by supporting our handmade artists, we are not only supporting our local economy but also stimulating a positive environment for our younger generations to grow up in. 

Ideally, it'll be an open floor plan with a couple large tables, a small kid-friendly area and a small storefront. If there's space I'll add a sectioned off area for my metalsmithing studio. Classes and activities will range anywhere from jewelry-making (that's my forte!) to yoga and everything in between. I would love to have open mic's, mini craft fairs and lots of open studio time. I believe that anything that makes a person engage their creativity and feel passionate is an art and that developing this in our community will only make us better as a whole. 

Right now, everything is moving very, very quickly. If you'd like to contribute anything at all (time, furnishings, displays, your handmade goods, your teaching expertise,  anything helps!) or just like the idea of what I'm trying to do please let me know! Every kind word counts. This is all a little scary for me, I don't normally put myself out there like this. However, I know that in order to make this happen it'll take the support of my community behind me. Thank you!



In short: A safe, creative space in our community for all ages to gather and grow together. 

I have a confession. I'm obsessed with succulents. Not in a "oh they're cute, I have a couple" way. I mean I'm addicted. I've even ordered them online and had them shipped. Here in Hawai'i, it's hard to find variety.

They're beginning to take over my outdoor table. They've already taken over my planter box. I've even begun hanging them so I can squeeze more in around my house.

The worst part is, I can't stop. I am constantly searching for new varieties, constantly snapping off a leaf here and there from my poor plants.

Which brings me to one of my new favorite words, propogation. Succulents are so fun because they're cheap! And by this I mean they reproduce like crazy, they can grow from anything...a leaf, a piece of stem, a root, seeds...anything! This is why, when I first excitedly explained this, my bf looked at me and said "so basically, they're weeds." He just didn't see it then. I mean, look how cute they are!

So back to propogating, what I do is I gently snap off a healthy leaf. By healthy I mean one that's not yellowing, dying, etc. I've found that those leaves that look like they might die or yellow never last long enough to produce babies. However, healthy leaves can last months. How? I have no idea. All I know is that after I pluck off these healthy leaves I place them on top of soil (or a terra-cotta dish if I'm lazy) and let them dry out. Ideally you'll pluck a whole leaf, with a tiny bit of stem attached. Once this has dried out and calluses over (usually about 2-3 days for me, though it ranges based on climate) you can mist it every day or two. I've found that my leaves like shade or indirect sunlight. Once it's callused over, you can either place it into a little bit of soil or you can wait until you see some roots/growth. Voila, baby plant. Eventually the old leaf will wither away, although I have heard that snapping the leaf off of your rooted baby will help it to grow faster, anyone with experience please let me know!

Have fun playing with your plants but be careful, they're addictive! I mean, look at how awesome these Haworthia are that I just got in the mail, don't you want some now too?

Hello! I'm a little anxious writing this, my first blog post on my first website. It's a little nerve-wracking. Almost like a first date, or a first business meeting with a new client, or an interview. Because that's what this kind of is right? It's your first impression of me. And in life, first impressions are formed fast, often times before you even hear the person you're observing speak. It's like you skip all the formalities and get to see straight into my thoughts. What type of blogging personality do I have? I'm not sure, maybe I'll find out along the way!

Here's a few things about me that I think will give you an idea:

* I grew up in Hawai'i, but I also lived in the mainland for about 5 years. Both shaped me & although I think I'm more of a sunshine/beach person, something about crunchy fall leaves & crisp blue skies resonated in me.

* I have a degree & I like to argue that I am using my tuition money! I first took a metalsmithing class my Sophomore year of college. I wanted to take ceramics but my roommate at the time convinced me to take that elective instead. I ended up in the class all through college, then rediscovering it as a hobby about a year after graduation. Here I am today!

* I'm in my mid-20s and I think I've finally got it figured out, what I want to do. We'll see though, life throws some curveballs.

* I hope this blog will be a spot to share my interest and get to know some of you. I'm an insane diy-er, succulent addict, food lover and adventure seeker. I'd love this to be a positive, public diary of some sorts.

Thanks for reading through my ramblings!