A Labor of Love

Have you ever noticed that you can feel when something was made with love?

There’s an energy to it.

Maybe it’s a meal someone made for you, a garden someone tends, a class someone teaches, or something made by hand. It isn’t only the finished product we experience. Somehow, a little of the person who created it comes through, too.

I was reminded of this recently while reading Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie. Her September 1 reflection is called “Make It a Labor of Love,” and the idea stayed with me: we get to choose the energy we bring to the things we do.

I love that.

Because I think we sometimes forget that work can be more than something we have to finish.

It can be an offering.

When I sit down at my table to make jewelry, there are stones and cards and cord everywhere. I choose each stone. I thread each piece. I make it, sometimes take it apart, and make it again.

And while my hands are doing the work, there is always an intention behind it.

Courage. Love. Grace. Protection. Becoming.

I don’t know who will eventually wear the piece I’m holding. I don’t know what she’s going through or why a particular word might speak to her.

But I love knowing that something I made with my own hands may eventually become part of her story.

That’s the energy I want Amae Jewelry to carry.

And maybe that’s something worth thinking about this Labor Day weekend.

Whatever our work happens to be—raising a family, teaching a class, running a business, caring for someone, making something, growing something, or simply doing the ordinary tasks that make up a life—we get to decide what we put into it.

Not every day will feel inspired. Not every task will be something we love.

But whenever we can, perhaps we can bring a little more of ourselves to what we do.

A little more intention. A little more care. A little more love.

Because the things we put our hearts into have a way of carrying that love forward.

Make it a labor of love.

Love,
Traci

They Were Supposed to Be Fosters…

My two angels

The story behind Who Rescued Who?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve brought home strays.

Dogs. Cats. Squirrels. Birds. Pretty much anything that looked like it needed somewhere safe to land.

When I was a kid, I’d try to hide them from my mother — in the basement, the garage, wherever I thought she wouldn’t find them right away.

She always did.

And apparently, that instinct extended beyond animals. I’ve brought home a few stray humans over the years, too. 😂

Some things about us are just there from the beginning.

So when I eventually started fostering dogs, it didn’t feel like something new. It felt like something I’d been doing my whole life.

And then these two showed up.

They were supposed to be fosters.

That was the plan, anyway. ❤️

They came into my life through All About the Dogs Rescue. I was supposed to give them a safe place to land until they found their forever homes.

Turns out, they already had.

Mine.

If you’ve ever loved an animal, you know how quickly the line between rescuing and being rescued starts to blur.

We give them a home. We feed them. Walk them. Worry about them. Rearrange our lives around them. Clean up after them. Spend ridiculous amounts of money on them.

And somehow, they give us even more in return.

Companionship. Joy. Loyalty. Comfort. Laughter.

They sit beside us through the hard days. They celebrate the good ones. And somehow, they always seem to know when we need them most.

Somewhere along the way, you start to wonder:

Who rescued who?

That question became the inspiration for my newest Amae piece.

I chose Dalmatian Jasper for the necklace because its traditional meanings — joy, loyalty, protection, grounding and playfulness — felt so perfectly connected to the animals we love.

Three simple Dalmatian Jasper gemstones sit on nylon cord.

And at the back of every necklace, tucked quietly near the clasp, is a tiny charm with one word:

FOREVER.

Because that’s what they became.

Family. Forever.

But I wanted this necklace to do more than celebrate the animals who have already found their people.

15% of every Who Rescued Who? purchase supports All About the Dogs Rescue — the same rescue that brought these two into my life — helping them continue their work and helping more animals find their way home.

Today is National Dog Day.

But if you know me, you know I’ve never needed a special day to celebrate animals.

Apparently, I’ve been doing that since I was a kid hiding stray dogs, cats, squirrels and birds from my mother in the basement. 😂❤️🐾

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

SHOP WHO RESCUED WHO?

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL ABOUT THE DOGS RESCUE

What is your Amae moment?

What If You Said Yes Before You Felt Ready?

Do you see yourself in her? Maybe you're standing at the edge of your own next chapter, wondering if you're ready to say yes.

How many times have you told yourself:

I’ll do it when I’m ready.

When I have more time.
When I know more.
When I’m less afraid.
When I’m sure it will work.
When the timing is better.

I know I have.

But lately I’ve been wondering…

What if ready never comes?

Looking back, some of the things that have mattered most in my life began with a yes I wasn’t completely ready to give.

Teaching yoga. Starting something new. Traveling somewhere unfamiliar. Putting an idea out into the world before I knew exactly where it would lead.

I could have waited until I felt certain.

I might still be waiting.

Sometimes “I’m not ready” really means “I’m afraid.”

Of course, there are times when no is exactly the right answer.

We need boundaries. We need to trust ourselves. We don’t have to say yes to everything.

But when I find myself backing away from something I actually want, I’ve learned to ask myself:

Am I saying no because this isn’t right for me—or because I’m afraid?

Those are two very different things.

We tend to think courage comes first.

First we become brave. Then we take the leap.

But I’m not sure that’s how it works.

Sometimes we say yes with shaky hands.

Sometimes we take the first step without knowing what step five looks like.

Sometimes we do it scared.

Sometimes the yes comes first. And the courage catches up.

Your yes doesn’t have to be enormous.

Maybe your yes isn’t quitting your job or moving across the country.

Maybe it’s taking the class.

Booking the trip.

Having the conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Trying again.

Opening your heart.

Doing something by yourself.

Choosing yourself.

Letting go.

Beginning.

Becoming.

Sometimes the smallest yes quietly changes everything.

So, what are you ready to say yes to?

That question became the inspiration behind our Say Yes Collection.

Because “yes” looks different for each of us—and sometimes we need a little reminder of the one we chose.

Say Yes to Love.
Open your heart—to someone else, to yourself, or simply to more of what makes you feel alive.

Say Yes to Adventure.
Go somewhere new—even if “somewhere new” is simply outside your comfort zone.

Say Yes to Becoming.
Give yourself permission to change, grow, and become whoever comes next.

Say Yes to Possibility.
Leave a little room for the unexpected. You don’t have to know where something will lead to be curious enough to begin.

Say Yes to Beginnings.
Start before everything is figured out. A beginning doesn’t require certainty—just the willingness to take the first step.

Say Yes to Courage.
Do the thing even when you’re scared. Because courage doesn’t always come before the yes.

Sometimes, it catches up.

Wear your yes.

The jewelry isn’t there to make the decision for you.

It’s there to remind you of the decision you made.

That’s what I love about meaningful jewelry.

A necklace can become more than something we put on in the morning. It can hold a memory, an intention, a promise we made to ourselves—or a reminder of the person we’re becoming.

And on the days when doubt creeps back in, you can reach for it and remember:

I said yes to this.

Keep going.

Maybe you don’t need to feel ready.

Maybe you just need to pay attention to the thing inside you that keeps whispering yes.

You don’t need to know exactly how it will turn out.

You don’t need everyone else to understand.

And you definitely don’t have to wait until you’re fearless.

Sometimes the yes comes first. And the courage catches up.

So tell me…

What are you ready to say yes to?

Explore the Say Yes Collection →

Wear a reminder. Honor your journey.

5 Ways to Choose a Meaningful Gemstone Necklace That You Will Actually Wear

Have you ever picked up a piece of jewelry and thought, "This just feels like me"?

I believe that's because the most meaningful jewelry isn't chosen for how it looks—it's chosen for how it makes us feel.

Over the years, I've watched people choose necklaces to celebrate new beginnings, remember someone they love, find courage during difficult seasons, or simply remind themselves to keep moving forward.

If you're wondering how to choose the right gemstone necklace, here are five ideas that might help.

1. Think about what you need most right now.

Instead of asking, "What's my favorite color?"

Ask yourself:

"What do I need more of in my life?"

More courage?
More peace?
More joy?
More hope?
More confidence?

Your answer is often the best place to begin.

2. Choose a stone with meaning.

For centuries, gemstones have carried symbolic meanings. While they aren't meant to solve our problems, they can become beautiful reminders of the qualities we want to invite into our lives.

A few favorites:

• Labradorite – Transformation and trusting your path

• Moonstone – New beginnings and intuition

• Sunstone – Joy and optimism

• Garnet – Courage and strength

• Amazonite – Speaking your truth

Sometimes it's not about believing in the stone itself—it's about believing in what it reminds you to practice every day.

3. Let your intuition guide you.

Have you ever been drawn to a piece without knowing why?

Trust that feeling.

The necklace you keep coming back to often has something to teach you.

Sometimes our hearts know before our minds catch up.

4. Think about the story you want to carry.

The jewelry we wear often becomes part of our story.

Maybe it reminds you of:

• A difficult season you survived.

• Someone you love.

• A promise you made to yourself.

• The courage to begin again.

Years from now, you'll remember why you chose it.

That's what makes it meaningful.

5. Wear it often.

A meaningful necklace isn't meant to stay in a jewelry box.

Wear it on ordinary Tuesdays.

Wear it to important meetings.

Wear it to doctor's appointments.

Wear it when life feels wonderful.

Wear it when life feels hard.

The more often you see it, the more powerful the reminder becomes.

More Than Jewelry

When I design a necklace, I'm not just thinking about gemstones or colors.

I'm thinking about the moment someone puts it on.

Maybe it's the day they decide to believe in themselves.

Maybe it's the day they say yes to something new.

Maybe it's simply the reminder they needed to keep going.

That's the kind of jewelry I hope to create.

Because the most meaningful necklace isn't the most expensive one.

It's the one that reminds you who you are.

Looking for a necklace that reflects your journey? Explore the Amae Jewelry collections and find the reminder that's right for you.

Why Yoga? Why Jewelry?

Now, there’s a question I’m asked all the time.

"How did you go from teaching yoga to making jewelry?"

The truth is... I never really did.

For me, they've always been part of the same journey.

For more than a decade, I've had the privilege of guiding people through yoga. I've watched people arrive carrying stress, uncertainty, grief, excitement, or hope—and leave standing a little taller, breathing a little deeper, feeling more like themselves.

Those moments are why I teach.

But then something always happened.

Life would continue.

The worries would come back. The doctor's appointment would arrive. The difficult conversation would happen. The celebration would finally come. A new chapter would begin.

I wanted people to have something they could take with them.

Not just another thing.

A reminder.

That's how Amae Jewelry was born.

Every necklace begins with an intention. Every gemstone is thoughtfully chosen for its meaning, and every design is created to remind you of something you already know but sometimes forget—that you are stronger than you think, braver than you feel, and capable of finding your way forward.

Yoga helps us create the moment.

Jewelry helps us carry that moment into everyday life.

Maybe it's a necklace you wear before a job interview.

Maybe it's the stone you reach for before surgery.

Maybe it's the reminder to follow your heart, trust yourself, celebrate a new beginning, or simply take one deep breath.

Whatever your story is, my hope is the same.

That when your fingers find that necklace, you'll remember how you felt when you chose it.

Grounded.

Hopeful.

Strong.

Supported.

Because sometimes the smallest reminders make the biggest difference.

Whether we meet through yoga, a meaningful conversation, or a piece of jewelry, my mission has always been the same:

To help you feel supported through the moments that matter most.

With love,

Traci

What moment are you in right now?

Whether you're celebrating a new beginning, finding your courage, healing from something difficult, or simply looking for a reminder to trust yourself, there's a piece of jewelry created with your journey in mind.

Explore the collection and find the necklace that speaks to your heart.

Or, if you're not sure where to begin, take the Goddess Quiz to discover the gemstone and necklace that best supports the season you're in right now.

Take the Goddess Quiz