Chemainus jewelry designer Sheri Dusseault is getting the chance of a lifetime this week as her Dandelion Wish necklace is included in the gift packages given to 100 celebrities in GBK’s 2016 Golden Globes Celebrity Gift Lounge.
Her Jasmine Thyme Designs, in association with The Artisan Group, was chosen to share the magic in the run-up to the famous awards night.
The Gift Lounge takes place Jan. 8-9 at an exclusive location in Hollywood.
Dusseault is a life-long artist and designer, best known for incorporating the flowers and other botanicals that she grows, dries and dyes herself into handcrafted resin and pressed flower jewelry and gifts.
The necklace that will be gifted to celebrities at the Golden Globes is made from jewelry-grade resin and real dandelion seeds.
Dusseault is thrilled.
“It’s all very exciting. I got invited to be part of The Artisan Group. They do a gifting to the Golden Globe nominees and before you know it, I’m doing it.
“The actual gifting will take place this week and with any luck I’ll get some fancy celebrity holding my necklace or wearing it or tweeting about it. I’ve never done anything like this. I was laughing with my son the other day. Here I am living in this little mill town of 4,000 people but with the Internet now, you’re everywhere.”
Dusseault first became aware of this chance some six to eight months ago.
“It’s been a process. First of all, I got invited to be part of The Artisan Group but you then have to go through a jurying process. Then I got accepted. The timing was absolutely crazy because I had to get those 100 necklaces done and to the organizer by Dec. 10. Meanwhile, my Etsy shop was just going crazy [with pre-Christmas orders].”
Her friends and family are shaking their heads in amazement over what’s been happening, she said.
“Everyone’s been going: ‘What?’ and I’ve been saying: ‘It’s probably no big deal.’ But, what you really hope for, as an artist, is one of the celebs tweeting about it. At the actual lounge, on Thursday and Friday, [the publicist] is going to try to post an actual picture for each one of us, showing one of the celebrities with our items.”
Such a photo would really be helpful for an artisan trying to spread the word about her products and Dusseault is hoping she’ll be lucky.
This particular necklace is not unique; you can buy one yourself, at a cost of $31.
“It’s my best seller actually; people can order it through my Etsy shop. I don’t have an actual shop on the Island that sells it right now but they can order it online,” she said.
Dusseault describes her inspiration for the necklace this way: “Remember as a child, blowing on a dandelion puff and wishing your very hardest? Maybe some grouchy grown up told you, you were just spreading weeds but you knew your wishes were being carried by the wind to that magical place where dreams come true. This necklace captures that childhood innocence.”
She chose to gift the Dandelion Wish Necklace at the Golden Globes because, as she says, “Even the rich and famous have wishes.”
The necklace will be presented in wrapped tissue paper enclosed in a pretty organza bag decorated with a flower. Included will be a card that says, “May the wind carry your wish and may your wish come true.” The package will be nestled inside the Artisan Group’s classic black swag bag.
Jasmine Thyme Designs jewelry is available online at www.JasmineThyme.etsy.com or check her out on Facebook.
Dusseault has been working with resin in her jewelry creations for about two years. She had a brick and mortar store for more than 20 years, where she designed all the clothing and most of the jewelry.
