Sabattical End

As my sabbatical comes to a close, I've had time to reflect on what I want Aide-mémoire to be moving forward.

We live in a late-stage capitalist culture that pushes constant growth – the idea that success means doing more, earning more, and scaling endlessly. But that's not the path I want. I've realized that staying small, intentional, and sustainable is what feels right for me and for this business.

Since stepping back, I've relocated to Port Townsend, Washington – a slower-paced place that's been good for both my creative energy and my health. I've joined a local artist collective here, where I show some of my other handmade goods, and I'm focusing more on community-centered work. Within the next year, I hope to open a small showroom in Port Townsend for by-appointment visits. In the meantime, I'm offering occasional in-person (at the collective) and video consultations. I will soon have a regular virtual consultation schedule available.

We're also leaving behind traditional social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, as these no longer serve how I want to connect. If you want to keep up with releases, restocks, and behind-the-scenes updates, please sign up for the email newsletter – that's now our main channel for staying in touch.

A New Website & New Era

With the help of my friend and brilliant designer Jody, we've been quietly working on a complete website redesign. The new site brings in more color (inspired by the teal and padparadscha sapphires I love so much) while staying true to the minimalist Aide-mémoire aesthetic. It's still a work in progress, and we'll be continuing to refine it over the coming months.

In the background, I've also been navigating some pretty dramatic shifts in the gold market. Since pausing made-to-order work last year, the price of gold has jumped nearly 40%. That kind of volatility creates real challenges for small businesses like mine, especially those working in precious metals.

I've spent a significant amount of time reworking our pricing structures so that what you see on the site reflects current gold costs in real-time. I know that can make budgeting for a wedding more difficult, and for that, I truly apologize. (Also, could someone please tell Costco shoppers to stop hoarding gold coins 😄)

To offer more accessible options, I'll be expanding our selection of wedding bands in sterling silver. Historically, I've avoided silver for wedding bands because it's a much softer metal and doesn't hold up as well to long-term daily wear. But I'll now be offering it in wider and thicker band style, which are more durable and better suited to life's everyday knocks.

If you're on a tighter budget but still want a meaningful, beautifully crafted ring, these new silver options might be a great fit. They can also serve as starter wedding bands, a thoughtful and affordable choice for now, with the intention of upgrading to gold or platinum down the road, perhaps on a future anniversary.

What's Available Now

All jewelry on the site will now fall into three categories:

1. Core Collection

These are made-to-order pieces that are always available and crafted in partnership with a select group of U.S.-based jewelers. They're designed for consistent availability and timeless simplicity.

2. Bespoke Collection

These are my designs tailored to your choice of metal, size, stones, and finish. To keep this process sustainable, they'll only be available during open slot periods. When slots are open, you can order directly from the website. To get notified, make sure you're on the email list.

3. Custom Requests

These are modified versions of existing Aide-mémoire designs rather than fully custom designs from scratch. They include changes like adjusting the stone size or type or altering the band profile or dimensions. You'll fill out a request form to inquire, and these will also be available on a slot basis.

Add-ons like hand engraving and flush-set stones are generally available year-round; however, please note that they require additional production time.

I'm grateful to everyone who's supported this journey – whether you've followed Aide-mémoire for a decade or just discovered it recently. Thank you for giving me the space to step back and for being part of what comes next.

With gratitude,

Aran