Turning her passion into creation

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This article was published 02/12/2014 (4182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lise Fiola has gone from encouraging others to follow their dreams to pursuing one of her own.

The married mother of two is the owner and operator of Peridot, located at 1574 St. Mary’s Rd. in St. Vital, which opened its doors in November.

The new jewelry boutique showcases Fiola’s own creations made of semi-precious stones and quality metals and combines her love of fashion with the mystical properties of natural stones, with the intention of creating a physical and spiritual experience for the customer.

“I like to think that the stones absorb the positive energy that I feel while creating the pieces,” said Fiola, 37, who lives in Royalwood. “The other jewelry lines that I carry are trendy and fashionable and made of leather, stainless steel, sterling silver and wood. The ambience in the boutique is informal and the jewelry is displayed in unconventional ways, which creates a fun and unique experience for visitors.”

In years gone by, as a consumer, Fiola said she couldn’t find any jewelry in the market she would wear that didn’t cost a fortune, which has prompted to her to specialize in creating a line of “quality pieces at an affordable price.” The average price of an item in her store is $30 and nothing costs more than $60.

“Originally, I tended to design my pieces for professional women, but the response to the store so far has been across the board. We also carry items for teens,” Fiola said, noting she would encourage more men shopping for their significant others to stop by the store. “I love adventure and encouraging people to dream.”

Fiola’s passion for adventure makes for a backstory as colourful as some of her creations. She has a master’s degree in international development, which led her to Mexico to conduct field research for her thesis, which is where she met her husband. Fiola ended up staying there for four years and at a local university.  

Her most recent job in Winnipeg was a supervisor role at the Employment Manitoba Centre on St. Mary’s Road, which she left in March, where she became more and more fascinated with the accessories worn by her co-workers.

“When you’re doing employment counselling, you’re encouraging people to follow their passions and their dreams. Peridot, which is the birthstone for August, is said to enhance inner guidance and help you follow your natural path,” she said.

“I’ve been making jewelry for six years and selling online for two years. During my last job, jewelry was becoming an obsession to the point that I was becoming obsessed by people’s accessories,” she added, with a laugh.

So whether you’re shopping for a fashionable druzy stone necklace, a trendy pair of earrings or a one-size-fits-all coil bracelet, stopping at Peridot might be the perfect fit.

“I feel as though this store is unlike any other store out there. I’m able to customize almost any item and can work with any budget. I love connecting with people in the community, so if they want to stop by and say ‘hi’ that would be great and something I’d look forward to,” Fiola said.

For more information, go online at peridotbylisefiola.ca

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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