GUEST INTERVIEW WITH KIRKS FOLLY COLLECTOR BONNIE HOWARD

We are delighted to have with us this week BONNIE HOWARD, a longtime fan of Kirks Folly and one of our favorite customers. Welcome Bonnie, and thank you so very much for agreeing to this interview. We have a lot we’d like to cover so let’s get started!

  "A girl can never have enough glitter!"

We understand that you collect jewelry and have a large Kirks Folly Collection. When did you start collecting and how did your Kirks Folly collection begin?

I started collecting jewelry when I was 4 years old—I just love anything sparkly and beautiful!  I had started buying all different types of costume jewelry with my Mom at yard sales and antique stores and then fell in love with Kirks Folly because of the beauty and magic of your pieces. About 10 years ago I acquired my first piece—a Fairy pin, of course!  Then kept collecting—another fairy pin, mermaids, seaview moon, cloudwalker—I love it all!

We remember meeting you and your mother, Maureen, at one of our QVC live shows. We thought it was fantastic that you had come so far to attend the show and that you knew so much about our jewelry. What do you recall of that first meeting?

When we heard you were having a live show at QVC I just wanted to go so badly in hopes of meeting you. I love the designs and have them all over my room—for me, it would be a dream come true.  Since I am chronically ill, I didn’t know if I’d be able to make the trip.  Thankfully, my body cooperated with me and we made it all the way to QVC.

 That day was rather surreal, I couldn’t believe I was there actually meeting you in person. I was so happy to meet you and Jenniefer and George.  I was overwhelmed by your kindness and sincerity and what I remember most is that I could feel the goodness radiating from you. You truly are the love behind the magic of Kirks Folly. You all made me feel so welcome—it was one of the best days of my life!

Some of Bonnie's mermaid collection!

It was at your suggestion that we created our handsome merman Riptide. What inspired your idea that we make a merman?

The Canning Jewel

When I was little mermaids always fascinated little me.  Then one day I read a story about a “merman” who saw a beautiful woman walking by the sea and he came up out of the tide, kissed her and wanted her to go live with him in his palace under the sea forever.  That story made such an impression on me.

Another day I was at my Grandmother’s house looking at one of my vintage jewelry books, when I saw a pendant of a merman, called the “Canning Jewel.” This was a spectacular piece, believed to be from India. It was made in the 1800’s, set with one large baroque pearl that made up the merman’s chest, table-cut diamonds, enameled gold and Indian rubies.  I always wished that I could own the original, but luckily Hattie Carnegie, a famous jewelry designer of the 20^th century, made a replica of this piece and after many years of searching, I was able to acquire one.   During my search I noticed there were really no other merman pins available.  So I thought it would be great to see an updated version of a handsome merman and just knew you would do an incredible job.

Riptide!

You exceeded my expectations!!  Riptide is so perfect!  He is just what I imagined.  He’s masculine, strong but graceful—a difficult thing to capture in a figural piece.  I love the details from his webbed fingers to his six-pack abs, his aurora borealis green crystal encrusted tail and his enameled fins. I can picture him coming out of the sea, just like in the story that I read.

 It was so much fun experiencing the creative process with you and seeing Riptide developing from sketch to model and then production.  He is truly the Merman of the 21^st Century!

You are an extremely creative person with a wonderful imagination. Not only did you draw an amazing map detailing the Realm of Kirks Folly, but you also wrote a compelling, magical story about that realm and our family. You titled it “The Legend of Kirks Folly.” We absolutely adore both the map and the story. Can you tell us how you came to create them?

Partial of the Kirks Folly Fairy Realm Map created by Bonnie

Thank you for the kind words, Helen.  I truly believe that our imagination is a gift from God so I can’t take all the credit!  I’m so glad that you liked the map and story. I thought about the idea of the map as we were driving back home after meeting you.  I wanted to come up with a way to thank you and your family for making my day so special.  I had never created a map before and thought what a great way to capture the Realm of Kirks Folly—a magical, beautiful land with Follydust Mountains, a Pixie Pine Forest and a Glitter Stick Path and that if you wish hard enough— for all of us dreamers—the map can take you there.

 I felt the map needed to have a story to go with it to capture the journey that your entire family has taken to build Kirks Folly. And I thought it would be fun to tell the story of your lives in a “fairytale” style.  When I was well, it would have taken only a few weeks to do, but it took me almost 2 years to complete as I had to work on it a little at a time—sometimes I wasn’t sure if I would ever finish it. I am so glad God gave me the strength to complete it.  It is the last piece of art that I have been able to create.

Well, we love it! It sits in our conference room where we can view it every day. What other objects do you collect?

Besides Kirks Folly, I have collected a variety of other costume jewelry over the years. I’m partial to the watermelon and ravoli stones in the Delizza and Elster designs(also known as Juliana) and have a few Hattie Carnegie pieces.  I love designs by Kenneth Jay Lane, Richelieu, Florenza, and Sarah Coventry.  I also have a collection of jewelry books that I enjoy – one day you must do one for Kirks Folly!

Gizmo, Bonnie's smart little Chihuahua!

Bonnie, share with us something that brightens your day.

I have an adorable fur baby named Gizmo, he is a long-haired Chihuahua, but unlike most Chihuahuas, his ears flop down, to me this makes him extra special and he always looks like a puppy. He is so smart and loveable and he likes to burro down right beside me in the covers – he always brightens my day.

And what is your favorite saying?  

My favorite saying is, “One day closer to Jesus” - When you are chronically ill, each day closer is something to look forward to.  Life has thrown me a lot of challenges, but my faith gets me through.

Your story is so inspiring! Thank you again, Bonnie, for sharing your Kirks Folly story with our readers. It’s been a real pleasure to share you and your thoughts, because we think of you every time we see our special one-of-a-kind Fairy Land map. Readers this is one talented lady, click here to read The Legend of Kirks Folly and to see more images from Kirks Folly Fairy Realm map. 

Bonnie, we hope that you'll continue to SPARKLE THE WORLD for a very long time! 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF OUR MARCH DRAWING:

ANNIE-AVOICEINTHEWIND