Hi! Let me introduce myself! I'm Jaynie, the jewelry lady, AKA Katie and Anna's mom. I have been in the jewelry business forever (REALLY !!!! almost 40 years!!!! IKR!?!? I can't believe it myself!) and I still LOVE what I do! If you are wondering, I had a real store, brick and mortor variety, and worked in that store for 25+ years! I am crazy about high quality, unusual gemstones and wonderful beautifly designed jewelry. I went to college, just like you, working my way through, in the jewelry business (suprised?, didn't think so). I tried working in my field..... hated it, lasted a summer, back to the jewelry business! I took some time off to get my Graduate Gemologist Degree from the Gemological Institute of America (in LA, it was awesome!) so I would really KNOW my gemstones. My first solo business was as a jewelry appraiser, I liked it, but it was just not creative enough, I needed to play with the gemstones more, make jewelry, make people people happy-er!
When my oldest daughter, Katie, rushed in the Fall of 2014, we were soooooo excited. It is a tradition at our house to mark all significant life events with a special piece of jewelry, and that is where this wonderful journey began. At first I just designed for her sorority ΚΚΓ, but then her roommates loved it, and wanted me to design for their sororities, ΠΒΦ, and ΑΧΩ.... And the designing began. I wanted to be able to give back to the sororities, help to raise money for the women involved and the wonderful philanthropies you each support, so I became a licensed vendor.
I have spent hundreds of hours designing these keys for you. My daughters reviewed the designs giving me valuable feedback! Each key had to be perfect, representing your sorority, something beautiful to wear to chapter, a special gift for your Big or your Little, maybe a gift from a mom to her daughter.... something you will be proud to wear for years to come. These keys are not "fast fashion", they are a classic, like a cardigan sweater. It is my hope that you will wear them for years after college, when you go to sorority functions, fundraisers, when you meet your big 10 years from now for lunch, and that maybe you will pass it to your daughter when she becomes a legacy. That's the thing about fine jewelry, it lasts..... think about the wonderful jewelry that has been handed down in your family.... That is the extra special thing about good jewelry... it is worn... for a long time, and it gathers memories (by the wearer, and those seeing it worn), after a few years just touching it brings back those warm happy memories....
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity and pleasure to design these lovely pieces for all of you lovely ladies. Your sororites have opened the doors of opportunities, philanthropy, and lifetime friendships. I hope your keys will become imbued with all those positve energies, and when you put them on you will always feel happy.
Since I started this page I have closed that brick and mortar store to devote myself to GreeKeys full time. I have now set up a full workshop of my own so that I am taking the precious metals, and casting them myself, then polishing them and shipping them out to you. From the design to the finished piece, it is all being done right here in Maryland, just outside Washington DC.
Designed and Made in Maryland, from the Worlds Finest Materials!