By the end of 1940, aged only 26, my maternal grandmother Gunda was on a boat to Canada and a whole new life. She had my 1 1/2 year-old mother with her and was pregnant with my aunt Bettina. They were on the last government-sponsored ship taking evacuees from England.

My maternal grandmother Gunda Lambton (née von Davidson) lived what seems like more than one life. She was a creative and resourceful person who always found a way through the difficulties she encountered. As an artist, she used whatever tools and materials she could find and afford. She never stopped creating and learning and even went on to become a published author in her 60s. She still had new books in the works at the time of her death, aged 99.  

This post is about her early life in Germany. 

Irene Barbieri shares about her Washington, DC jewelry store, Mia Gemma.

Just a few weeks after the thrill of seeing Wendy Whelan wearing my earrings, I got a call from a friend, "I'm watching a documentary about the Little Prince and one of the experts is wearing your necklace!"

Jay Szor tells us about his hidden gem of a jewelry store.