Cha - Cha - Changes

The butterfly is the epitome of "change".

This little caterpillar is born to our world and has to face many adversities. The birds and larger bugs are trying to get her right from the beginning.  If that's not enough, she then has to start her climb up to the tallest of trees she can find all the while protecting herself from being devoured by larger and stronger creatures.  Finally when she makes it all the way to the top of the tree and is totally exhausted and she just wants to rest, a huge blanket encases her and she thinks she is dying!

So much stress and struggle.

BUT - you already know the end to this story - and it's a good one!
All of her struggle was not for not - just when she thought she could endure no more and she was dying, she emerges as a gorgeous butterfly.  All the while when she was struggling and striving, she was learning and growing; developing into a beautiful butterfly just waiting to spread her wings and show her beauty to the rest of the world. 

I love this tale. Imagine in your life if you went through a transformation that left you totally unrecognizable to the rest of the world? How would you adapt - would it be good or bad? 

Many believe that the butterfly represents transformation, but it is also believed that it is a symbol for the ability to deal with change - elegantly and with grace.


Are you or a close friend dealing with something in your lives that you can't figure out if it's making you stronger or about to kill you? I've been there. Maybe a butterfly charm would be a great reminder to hold up your heads and spread your wings and float right on past all the turmoil and craziness that is happening in your life right now.

The Mightly Elephant

When I design a new charm I do research on the meaning behind that animal or symbol. Elephant aren't just for the circus anymore!


Elephants are not all that different from our human species in the way they care and communicate with the other members of their herds.  They have the capacity to feel emotion such as pain, jealousy, love, joy and rage.  Some scientist have even noted that elephants are able to communicate telepathically.  Wearing this animal charm as your totem might help you to communicate better with your family members.

Often known for their amazing strength elephants are also very graceful and able to walk silently through the jungle even thought they are the largest land mammals on earth. Strength and grace are two other characteristics attributed to this pachyderm.

Did you ever wonder why these great big, enormous animals are able to be held in one spot by just a small stake attached to their foot?  When captive animals are very little their keepers will put steel shackle around their foot and attach it to a stake that they will drive into the ground.  The little baby elephants aren't strong enough to pull the stake out and escape. For years this same process is repeated over and over so when they are finally large and strong enough to pull the stake out of the ground they are so conditioned that they aren't able to do it - that they don't think they can.  So the old adage that "an elephant never forgets" is not too far from the truth.  And the fact that they live up to 60 years - wow - that's a lot of memories. An elephant charm might be a great reminder of things you don't want to forget!

ChickeeBoom: jewelry with meaning

I'm excited to start posting. I love the creative process and all the symbolism that can be found in our everyday lives.  Hopefully some of the information I share on this blog will be helpful in both your professional and personal lives. I know I am looking forward to this experience - glad you are here with me!

A little bit about my jewelry:
ChickeeBoom jewelry is meant to be worn everyday as a reminder for you or as a symbol to the world of what is important to you.

Each of my silver charms and leather bracelets can represent different facets of your life.

Whether it's a praying mantis charm to symbolize your spiritual retreat to Bali or your beautiful new baby's initials. I want your jewelry to be special and meaningful and give you that warm feeling in your heart or a smile to your lips when you hear the charms jingle or wear a bracelet on your wrist.