Trinkets in Time

There's some pretty interesting stuff coming out of Johns Creek resident Sandra Boylan's basement these days.

Boylan and Pam Stoughton were on vacation a couple of years ago sipping wine and discussing the fashionable jewelry owned by their mothers, both diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The longtime friends started discussing how they could preserve the pieces or give them new life.

Thus, the two set up shop in Boylan's basement and their company Renewed Heirlooms was born in August 2010.

While the pair travel all over the world picking up antique pieces, such as military victory medals, religious medals and vintage charms, to design into one-of-a-kind wearable pieces, they also create jewelry from clients' own family heirlooms.

"Clients will say, 'I've got this thing sitting in a drawer and I don't know what to do with it,' said Boylan. 

For instance, said Stoughton, one of their first clients was a woman who wanted bracelets fashioned for her mother and grandmother from Victorian shoe clips worn by her uncle. "It's quite a learning experience," said Stoughton of learning about clients' family backgrounds. "We both love history."

"Each piece tells a story – who wore it, what they did," Boylan added.

Clients may also see a piece of jewelry on a website and ask the pair if they can create something like it, and the friends will embark on another treasure hunt.

"We never do the same design twice," said Boylan, adding that each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity.

For more on Renewed Heirlooms or to do a little shopping, visit www.renewedheirlooms.com, company's Etsy shop and their Facebook page. Patch readers can add the coupon code PATCH for a 10 percent discount. 

Their jewelry can also be found at The Art House in Atlanta (Buckhead), Veronica's Attic in Sandy Springs and Co-op 28 in Los Angeles and at various trunk shows. Renewed Heirlooms also donates pieces to charity fashion shows.