“I’ve always loved stories about how moving apart can bring people closer together in unexpected ways. Now I have one of my own.” Jayne Devencenzi, owner of Jayne Cairns Designs, felt a pang of uncertainty when her daughter Angela broke the news that she had accepted a teaching position in Beijing. Neither woman knew it would become another way for the close-knit Devencenzi family to share something special.
“It really was Angela’s move to Beijing that started it all,” says Jayne. “We both had heard about the fabulous freshwater cultured pearls found in Beijing from a family friend. Angela knew I’d be taken with them, since designing jewelry has always been a passion of mine. She was right. When Angela first brought me a bag of sample pearl strands from China, my life changed. I just didn’t know how much at the time! When our family traveled to Beijing that first Christmas to visit Angela, I couldn’t wait to see the Pearl Market. Even seeing the Great Wall was second on my list! Angela and I spent many hours exploring, marveling at the beauty of the pearls and designing incredible pieces.”
Jayne has now made several trips to Beijing. During her first excursion, Angela introduced Jayne to Wanshu, a pearl supplier and jeweler in the region’s huge Pearl Market. Before long, Jayne was combining pearls with crystals, shard pendants, blown glass and lacquered cinnabar.
Soon Jayne—mother, teacher, counselor, author, and designer—was sharing her jewelry with friends and family. They were the ones who urged her to introduce her inner artist to the world, and Jayne Cairns Designs was born. Jayne chose the name as a tribute to her Australian great-grandmother, Jayne Cairns. She and Jayne’s mother, Susan, were also very creative women whose wisdom, guidance, and appreciation for the beauty of each moment have had a lasting impact upon her life.
As you explore Jayne Cairns Designs, we invite you to take your time and enjoy the artistry in each exquisite piece. Consider the collaboration and respect shared by the women who bring you these treasures—women whose combined gifts bridge cultures, generations and continents to bring a little more beauty into your world.
—Jayne Cairns Designs