Musings, Oregon

Heart in Oregon Necklace Giveaway

April 13, 2015

heart in oregon necklace
I’m a sap for sentimental jewelry. I love wearing pieces that connect me to a story, and when I found these sweet little Heart in Oregon necklaces on Etsy, I just knew I’d be wearing one soon. I bought mine last week (and I’m wearing it right now!), and I’m excited to send a matching one out to one of you lovely readers: anyone, anywhere on the planet.*

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the widget at the bottom of this post.

Congratulations to winner, Irene W.!

Read on for tidbits from jewelry designer Amanda Senten at Freshy Fig about her jewelry design, her childhood memories, and her upcoming travel dreams.

Bethany: I see that you’re a fellow native Oregonian (high-five!) and a lifelong jewelry maker. When you think back to favorite jewelry-making memories from childhood, what do you recall? What kinds of materials were you using and what did you do with your finished pieces?

Amanda:  I made Native American beaded earrings starting from the age of about 8.  I would make earrings all day long and then pray my mom would have friends over for me to sell them to. I was a little hustler ;)

B: That’s so funny! When I was about eight years old, I used to crochet these little purses and then sell them to my penpals for $5.00 One friend’s mom sent a $5.00 check, and I kept in tucked away in an envelope for well over a year before I found out from my mom that it wasn’t polite to hold on to uncashed checks. Whoops! Lessons from young entrepreneurship, I guess?

So…anyway…which places stick out most from your first explorations around Oregon as a kid?

A: Honestly, the Tri Met buses are a huge part of my memories as a kid.  Both of my parents were drivers so if there wasn’t a babysitter, I was ridin.’

B: Both! Wow. You must know the routes around the City of Portland like the back of your hand…


B: Your Oregon necklaces were recently featured on @OregonExplored, a great account featuring dreamy shots from all around our beautiful state. Do you have any other favorite Oregon-focused Instagram accounts you especially enjoy following?

A: I follow a style blog called @Lavendascloset that I really enjoy.  She’s west coast based and just posted a photo at Barista on Alberta Street today. She seems like a very sweet girl with a beautiful eclectic style.

B: I love collecting and wearing jewelry that holds a special connection to people and places in my life. For example, I bought a silver ring in Cathedral Square just before I moved home from New Zealand in 2004, and I still wear it on my right hand to this day. Do you own a particular favorite piece of jewelry with ties to a special place?

A: I wear my dad’s ring on a necklace.  He passed away last year and whenever I see the ring, it reminds me of the way his hand used to look wearing it.  It was made for him by an old girlfriend, Tami Dean, a famous Oregon jeweler.  She was a big inspiration to me as a kid and I was able to make a few things in her studio.  So it is a very special piece all around.

freshyfig travel

B: Where would you most like to travel to next, in Oregon and overseas?

A: I would love to explore the Gorge area and Hood River quite a bit more! As for venturing overseas, Indonesia, Vietnam and South America are places I’d love to explore in the near future.  My stepmom and sister are Vietnamese so I believe I’ll travel with them next year!

B: That sounds like a great list! I’ve been lucky enough to get to work in the Gorge lately, and I was just in Hood River two weeks ago on my way to a jobsite. I need to get back there again soon and just take time to unwind and explore…

Amanda, thanks again for taking time to share a little bit about your story. I’m so glad our digital paths crossed! I love my sweet necklace, and I’m excited to give one away to a reader. I’ll be keeping an eye on your Instagram account to see more of the treasures that you find and make, and I’ll be excited to see where your future travels take you.

Find more of Amanda’s jewelry creations and inspirations around the web:

@freshyfigjewelry | Freshy Fig on Etsy | Freshy Fig on Pinterest | Freshy Fig on Facebook

Note: you can find several other states in her catalog…I’ll just be forever partial to Oregon.

*Giveaway open to anyone, anywhere on the planet, so long as they make mail deliveries to your neck of the woods…

Heart in Oregon Necklace Giveaway

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15 Comments

  • Reply GrandmaBeckyL April 13, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    I am an Oregon girl myself and would enjoy this necklace alot.

  • Reply Kim Dinan (@RTWsomanyplaces) April 14, 2015 at 5:56 am

    My heart needs this (I miss Oregon so much!!). Thanks for the opportunity to win :)

  • Reply Judy April 14, 2015 at 7:44 am

    I like your interview style, Bethany! My favorite piece of jewelry is my Mom’s wedding ring that she had when married to my Dad. He died in 1994 and she gave me the ring in about 2006 or so. I wear it on my right hand.

  • Reply Irene Woolfolk April 14, 2015 at 7:46 am

    I have always wanted to get a tattoo similar to this….but this little necklace is much prettier :)

  • Reply Nikki Dunbar April 14, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Oh I love this! So cute and I love that it’s small enough to be versitile!

  • Reply Carmel M. April 14, 2015 at 9:42 am

    I second what Kim says! I miss Oregon so much. Even though I was born in Washington and live here now, my heart will always belong to Oregon. Lovely!

  • Reply Melissa Atkinson April 14, 2015 at 9:54 am

    What an adorable necklace! One of my favorite pieces of jewelry is a blue bracelet my brother and sister in law brought back from their honeymoon to Mexico. It’s made out of blue shells that were cut into long strips and pieced together vertically and go all the way around the wrist. I loved getting such a sweet piece from family!

  • Reply Nita April 14, 2015 at 10:23 am

    I kinda think my wedding band is cool with my husbands fingerprint engraved on it. Love this necklace.

  • Reply starners April 14, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    My favorite piece of jewelry is a sea turtle pendant necklace I bought in Hawaii at a market. It reminds me of a couple significant times in my life– trips that I took where I saw sea turtles. Sea turtles mean peace and joy to me. I love this Oregon necklace because I moved to Portland to have my heart healed.

  • Reply Emily Forsha April 15, 2015 at 11:07 am

    I honestly don’t wear much jewelry, but I have been searching for a small Oregon necklace like this for about a year. I’ve seen a few variations but this is by far the best I’ve seen!

  • Reply Sue April 19, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I’d better enter to win this giveaway–I won something before from you! Thanks :)

  • Reply Beth Skinner April 19, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    Loving this necklace. I am missing Oregon immensely these days. I don’t wear much jewelry at the moment (not even my fave: my wedding ring!) because in Central America where I am living, it’s dangerous as I would be seen as “wealthy” and become a target for theft.

  • Reply Blair McMillan April 19, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    What a lovely necklace! My heart lives in Oregon!

  • Reply Crystal C April 19, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    You always highlight the most beautiful and thoughtfully made things ❤️

  • Reply Britnee April 20, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    I love Oregon and I love this necklace!

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