Behind Bluemoonstone Creations: An Interview with Pamela Forman

Radiating with positive energy and a passion for design, Pamela Forman, owner and designer of Bluemoonstone Creations, recently met up with Green River Silver Co., to tell us more about the business she has created.

What is your background? How did you come up with idea to start your own business?

I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, in Illustration. After owning a bohemian boutique in Providence for many years, while doing freelance illustration, I began designing jewelry for a couple of design companies where I remained for 15 years.

Traveling to Bali on a yoga retreat in 2008 was a transformative experience for me. Integrating my love of design and the Hindu culture, I decided to start my own line of Sterling Silver jewelry. Launching my first collection of 32 necklaces in 2012 was the beginning of Bluemoonstone Creations.

How has Balinese culture influenced your designs?

My fascination with the Hindu culture began when I first started practicing yoga. The spiritual aspect of Hinduism combined with Yoga is what motivated me to travel to the island of Bali. My experience there inspired me to start designing my line of jewelry. All of my designs contain symbolic meaning and healing benefits. Enlightenment, love, harmony, balance and protection are all major themes. I travel to Bali regularly where I have made close relationships with highly skilled artisans, and a manufacturer, who help bring my ideas and drawings to life.

What is the process of getting an idea for a piece of jewelry to the finished product?

Every design I create starts on paper. I draw out everything in front view, side view and back view and write out detailed descriptions for each piece. I then send my designs to Bali to give them a preview before I arrive. In the meantime, I order my stones from India where I have visited and established a great relationship with reliable stone dealers, who sell me top quality gemstones. My stones are shipped directly to Bali, from India and Thailand, where they are examined for quality control. When I arrive in Bali, I work closely with highly skilled artisans in the making of my finished samples. Once I approve the new creations, I bring them back to America, where I launch my new line at Green River Silver Co., my Bloomingdales Trunk Shows, other retail locations and my website.

What is the meaning behind the name of your company and what types of stones do you like to work with?

I have always been drawn to Moonstones every since I was a little girl. I’ve also been intrigued with Astrology, and combined with my interest in Hindu culture, both have inspired my designs. This the basis of the spiritual meanings behind my jewelry, and since almost every one of my pieces has at least one Moonstone, I decided to name my company Bluemoonstone Creations. I also incorporate Tibetan Turquoise, Baltic Amber and Carnelian into my “Freedom Collection.”

What are you currently working on and what are your plans for the future?

Currently, I am busy with lots of Trunk Shows at Bloomingdales, which will be followed by my first wholesale show, the Jeweler’s of America Show at the Javitz Center in New York City. I am also getting ready for StyleWeek Northeast, held in Providence, which features up-and-coming jewelry and fashion designers from around the Northeast. Next I will be designing a line of Sterling Silver rings to debut in Spring 2015, so stay tuned!

For the future, I hope to expand and grow my company. I now have over 100 handcrafted pieces, which will be expanding even more. I do everything from designing to marketing and bookkeeping for my company. It’s a lot of hard work but I love what I do each day which makes it all worth while.

Walk into any Green River Silver Co. store and you will immediately recognize Pamela’s beautiful and articulate designs. Her passion and spirituality are seen in her pieces, each one with a symbolic meaning. Come check out Bluemoonstone Creations’ latest handcrafted designs!