METAPHYSICALLY INSPIRED DESIGNS
Bon Chance jewelry and accessories feature crystals and minerals believed to promote a more joyous, healthy, abundant and stress-free life. The designs come from the intention to provide unique style and empower bold, feminine energy.
The Designs
Bon Chance creations are all one of a kind. The pieces you see on this site were designed and created from characteristics and inspirations of the stones. It really is all about the stones. What emotions do they evoke? Which Chakras do they touch? How should they be showcased to bring out their natural beauty? I feel the energy of the stones. They become friends. I hate to part with them. But we all have a journey — including the beautiful gemstones that pass through Bon Chance. And I know that they are blessing me as I create the jewelry and accessories that I hope will bless the lives of my friends, and you and yours.
Inspiration
Each piece begins with an inspiration. The inspiration may be from the stone itself or a from a desire to create a piece that inspires the wearer to enjoy greater creativity, nurturing and security, protection or better communication. I also create pieces designed to simply enhance a particular energy center or Chakra. (For more information on Chakras feel free to download my Chakra guide in the resource center.)
Inspiration often comes from time working in my gardens – the colors or patterns in a flower, the shape of a leaf, the beauty of a bird or butterfly. Nature speaks to us when we allow ourselves to quiet the inner voice in our heads and let her whisper her secrets to us.
Stones, like all things, are energy. I have learned that you can actually feel their vibration. This energy often inspires a particular design, whether it’s choosing the companion stones or the style of chain or setting. There have been times that I have woven a silver nest with a stone in mind, but upon bringing them together the energy just doesn’t click. And when that happens, I pivot to another pairing rather than force the original intention. It’s a choice – to feel the vibrations and know that the energy I’m sending out to my customers will be uplifting, nurturing and inspiring for them.
About
My infatuation with jewelry came at an early age. As a young child living in Greenwich Village, New York, I enjoyed my parents and their many interesting friends. One of my favorite couples lived next door. Ben was an artist and Patsy was a poet with impeccable flair. One wonderful day Patsy gave me her childhood charm bracelet — my first piece of jewelry. Not only did it have beautifully colored enamel charms in the shapes of animals and a silver horseshoe, there was one special charm that you could spin, and when it spun, it spelled “Good luck”.
Bon Chance Accessories was born that day. Of course, I didn’t know it then. That powerful charm is still with me, and it brings me joy to this day. “Bon Chance” is a play on the French “good luck” with a little yin yang twist. If it is true that good luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, then whatever we can do to be prepared seems wise.
I believe that the phenomenal metaphysical properties of gemstones and metals can pave the way for that rare combination of preparation and opportunity. And that is what Bon Chance Accessories is about.
The Process
Before beginning any creation, I meditate — asking the good spirits, angels and guides for inspiration and insight. I believe that the wisdom of the ages is there for the asking and that we only have to reach out.
If I am designing for a specific person, I like to have their photograph available. When I’m creating a commission piece for someone who I haven’t met I’ll ask for a little extra information to help make the piece special to them. For instance, if this person is in a profession where public speaking is essential, but they have trouble finding their voice, we will focus on stones that awaken the related chakras and that encourage confidence, communication and clear expression. Or for an artist I’d choose stones associated with the creative vibration. I also like to know the birth date in order to incorporate any astrological elements that may allow more effective energy.
And since it doesn’t do any good to design a piece for someone if they won’t wear it, it’s good to know about any aversion to particular stones or metals. I had a friend who got headaches when she wore, or even held Tanzanite. She felt that the energy vibration of the stone was too high to work with her own energy vibration.
The Artist
I’m Julie Casper and I hope you enjoy the designs and stories I share on this website. I began a really fun career in graphic design many years ago for some of the same reasons I’m now designing jewelry — color, form and visual beauty. I was originally drawn to the elegant lines and stunning colors in graphics — and I still am! Graphic design led me to my soul mate and wonderful husband, Paul, who is ever-encouraging and enthusiastically champions my artistic journey.
Taking a new path holds great appeal. It’s like learning new forms of dance — while you still need all the basics of balance, grace and strength, it’s an exciting world of new movements and music. And so it is with designing jewelry. I still need that essential sense of design, but it is woven into different forms and materials. While I started Bon Chance over a decade ago, it still provides an exciting path that feeds my desire to create, work with my hands and indulge in the beauty and energy of crystals, gemstones and metals. I have been fortunate to take workshops and classes from extraordinary jewelers and metalsmiths from around the world. The ongoing opportunities to learn new techniques also keeps my creative fires burning.
“I have commissioned pieces from Bon Chance for three of the special people in my life. The jewelry is beautiful and the presentation packaging amazing. A wonderful experience!”
“For all my long-time friends’ 50th birthdays, I worked with Julie to create special necklaces that were unique to each personality. They were all beautifully wrapped with a message about the stone chosen. It was the perfect way to celebrate this special birthday and the treasured friendship.”