There’s No Better Friend
August 4th was National Sisters Day and our founder, Lisa, found herself reflecting on her sister Ellen, whose spirit sparked the creation of Sister Sister Jewelry. Ellen left Lisa in 2019, her vibrant life ending far too soon. More than Lisa’s sister, she was her best friend and confidante.
Launching Sister Sister Jewelry was Lisa’s homage to her. Lisa started with a collection honoring Ellen’s beloved friends, which has now grown to over 50 unique designs, each celebrating the extraordinary women.
What began as a personal tribute to Ellen has evolved into a broader celebration of interconnected lives and lasting legacies. This project is more than making jewelry—it’s about creating heirlooms that embody the spirits of remarkable women, ensuring their stories echo across generations.
Who was Ellen?
She loved dark nail polish. Her favorite lipstick was any shade of red. She always picked sunflowers because they reminded her of her and Lisa’s stepmom. She devoured hash browns not in the mornings, but right before bed. She had a natural gravity that pulled you in and once you were there she listened for hours without judgement. She laughed at the most inappropriate moments in a manner that demanded attention from the entire room. She didn’t have a drink of choice, but instead preferred wine, tequila, and Pisco Sours; in that order. She kept a nasty habit of gifting me the same present that Lisa planned to give her. It was always something to stack: necklaces, bangles, or rings.
A Favorite Ellen Story
Ellen and Lisa waited until their dad fell asleep and quietly tip toed out. Their laughter ricocheted off the buildings as they navigated the narrow streets of Firenze to Santa Croce. Italy isn’t known for their beer, so that’s why they threw back Dragoons, an English pale ale. It doesn’t make any sense, but then again, sense wasn’t what they were going for. They tried to creep back in under the radar. But it was 1am and their dad was pissed. They had their excuse ready: They got gelatos.
Lisa found a post-it note amongst Ellen’s things where she wrote: “There are no failures in life, only life experiences. The only failure is not trying.”
