The Story of Mezze

\'me-'zei\ to relish, to take pleasure in; enjoy

BACKGROUND

I have always loved jewelry; whether it is in the form of a bold necklace that acts a centerpiece to an outfit or a delicate pair of earrings that add a subtle glimmer, I am rarely without it.

After enrolling in a silversmithing course, I found that I had a desire to experiment with forming, cutting and coloring metal. The excitement at seeing something created out of  nothing and watching the evolution of my work take shape into wearable pieces of art led me to create Mezze.

DESIGNS

I am an avid traveler (certainly there's a better word that describes this than hodophile?!) and many of my designs have been galvanized from the places I've been and people who have touched my life. For me, they are physical reminders that evoke memories I will always cherish. I love all that is simple and elegant, but every now and then I get a little mischevious and will make something edgy or whimsical. Read the descriptions closely and you will have a glimpse into the personal significance behind many of my designs.

MEZZE, THE NAME

Often, I am asked about the name Mezze, what it means and how I came up with it. The simple story is that I owe the creation of the name to my aunt. She offered it as a suggestion one sunny afternoon when my family and I were sitting around her kitchen table relishing the after-effects of one of her fabulous meals. In Arabic, the most common meaning of mezze is that of an assortment of small food dishes. The true meaning goes much deeper than that.

Meals are traditionally a time when people come together as a unit, to participate in a community ritual that is as old as humankind. Because I now live far from my family and friends, these recollections are sacred and bring nostalgia for a time long ago. We all have memories of such occasions and these can often elicit powerful emotions and sentimentality for particular people, events and places. The memories are varied, assorted and different, just like the dishes in a mezze. Eliciting emotion is what I hope my jewelry will do for you. It has been created for you to relish, take pleasure in and enjoy.