Our newest Starling darling is our friend Angela Sutherland, CEO and co-founder of the subscription-based baby food company, Yumi, which provides nutritious, organic and chef-curated baby meals. This mother of two, along with her co-founder Evelyn Rusli, has started a revolution in the baby food industry.
Aside from the fresh and delicious baby meals, Yumi is also providing families with the priceless gift of time - more quality time for fun and play, and less time spending time planning, shopping for, and cooking meals for the little ones. This also means more time for self-care, which as we all know is one of the most important things a new mama could have.
Angela welcomed us into her stunning home in the Hollywood Hills on a sunny early-summer day, and walked us through her beautiful jewelry collection. She told us about her favorite heirlooms, how being a mother has affected her jewelry choices over time, and a sweet story of a ring's mistaken identity!
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How many jewelry boxes do you have?
I have several jewelry boxes mostly because they all have a specific purpose (ie, a separate box for my watches), or only enough space for one piece.
Aside from your engagement ring what is your favorite piece of jewelry and why? Or top three if you really can’t pick just one! Tell us about when you got it?
My Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace. It’s just such a classic, beautiful piece and is perfect for special occasions.
My ruby ring. I love the deep red color and unique shape of the stones. I initially bought it simply because I loved the design, and the pop of color. When I wore it to a family gathering in Canada (where my husband’s family is from), a few people noticed it right away and congratulated me on ‘paying homage’ to the family’s Canadian roots. I was so confused at first, but then realized that they thought it looked like the Canadian maple leaf! I just went along with it at the time, and now it makes for a great story. And I suppose it does look like a maple leaf, so they weren’t wrong. Now when I wear it, I think of that funny moment with my family and it makes me smile.
What is your oldest piece of jewelry?
A gold bracelet and necklace duo that was given to me by my mother, and it was given to her by her mother. I love the unique, intricate details - it’s really so different than anything else in my collection. And of course it holds such a special place in my heart because it was passed down through the women in my family who were most important to me.
What is your most recent piece of jewelry?
A few diamond pavé stacking rings from Starling, actually! I love them because they are so dainty and easy to wear, and they add a little extra sparkle to my everyday workwear.
What are your everyday pieces of jewelry?
I go through phases. I used to wear jewelry everyday, mostly earrings and rings. Then I had a babies and I was so worried about hurting them, or my hair would get caught in my earrings so I just stopped wearing a lot of my jewelry. But now that my kids are a little older, I’m starting to fold in more pieces and I’m starting to have fun with it again. I think jewelry is such a great form of self expression and even the smallest, most subtle pieces can add so much to your look.
Any jewelry superstitions or rituals?
I don’t consider myself an overly superstitious person, but I do keep jewelry forever because I feel like they collect energy, and I want to have the memories that come with it. So maybe I’m actually more superstitious than I think!
What does “keepsake” mean to you? What piece of jewelry comes to mind when you think of keepsakes?
To me, a keepsake is something that tells a special story and holds a little tiny place in my history. I love wearing a piece knowing that it holds a memory, a moment in time that was personal to me, or someone in my family. The history transcends the piece itself; it’s not about the specific stones in the ring, or the fancy mechanics of the watch. The pieces of jewelry that I treasure most are those that represent a moment in time with the people I love.
What’s your first memory of jewelry?
My first memory about jewelry was on my mom. She loved jewelry and had a beautiful collection. I just remember, as a little girl, how much I liked how everything sparkled.
Tell us the story of getting your ears pierced!
I’m half Vietnamese and it’s traditional to pierce your ears as a baby - so my ears were pierced since birth. I have more piercings that I got later in life!
What’s your favorite Starling piece?
My favorite piece is a small gold & diamond midi ring that I wear on my pointer finger. I love the distinct shape of it, and despite its daintiness it really makes a statement and catches your eye! (Look out for this piece on the Starling site soon ;)
