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The Secret These Pearls Have Been Keeping
Some stories live quietly inside the materials we hold onto. This grape-inspired pearl pendant began as two cherished memories from different seasons of one woman’s life — a childhood tradition at SeaWorld and slow, unforgettable evenings in a vineyard. Here’s how those moments became a piece of jewelry she can carry close to her heart.

Alex Reynolds
Nov 136 min read


Turning a Rough Weekend Into Corgi Magic 🐾✨
Running Corgi Pendant CAD Model Progress When Life Kicks You in the Teeth, Corgis Are Always the Answer You know those weekends… When everything seems to pile on at once… When you feel like you got your teeth kicked in from every angle… When all you want to do is curl up under a blanket and pretend the world doesn’t exist? Yeah. That was me. Completely drained and still moving anyway. And while life has moved on — as it always does — I still felt like hiding in a hole. But i

Alex Reynolds
Nov 35 min read


From Bats to Corgis: Designing Jewelry That Celebrates What You Love Without Apology
Corgi Costumes from the Tour de Corgi Parade What do a regal corgi and a Victorian bat have in common? More than you’d think. I designed the Victorian Chiroptera Necklace over a year ago, inspired by a collaboration with Sheri Lauren and a Halloween event featuring musician Jack Elliott and his vampire saga. The piece drew from the romantic elegance of Victorian-era jewelry — a way to give bat lovers something refined, meaningful, and timeless to wear with pride. Victorian

Alex Reynolds
Oct 209 min read


Too Tired to Shine? What a Grad School All-Nighter Taught Me About Preparing for Tour de Corgi 2025
Is it possible to prep like crazy and still show up energized for the big day? Back in grad school, I thought I had found the secret. But...

Alex Reynolds
Oct 37 min read


Finally, Corgi Jewelry You’ll Actually Want to Wear: The Story of How This Collection Began
From Parade to Pendant: Designing a Corgi Jewelry Collection Worth Wagging About If you’re a corgi lover, you’ve probably gone shopping...

Alex Reynolds
Sep 88 min read


The Story Behind “The Princess That Punched Me for Trying to Save Her”
Why I Named My Comic-Con Panel “The Princess That Punched Me for Trying to Save Her” I used to think I was being a gentleman. Back in...

Alex Reynolds
Aug 710 min read


Corgis in Costumes, Rocks in the Creek, and a Sketch on the Wall
Oh the sweet heaven of a belly scratch in the fresh grass A Parade of Corgis Every fall in Fort Collins, something strange and wonderful...

Alex Reynolds
Jul 2911 min read
Something Fluffy This Way Comes…
There’s a new jewelry line brewing here at Charming Quail—and it’s unlike anything I’ve designed before. This time, the inspiration...

Alex Reynolds
Jul 172 min read


AS THE HONEY DRIPS: the story of the honey bee ring deepens
Well I’m excited to tell you that I’ve just dropped a handful of videos that continue the behind the scenes story of creating the honey bee ring. Rather than going on and on about it all, I invite you to click on the video below and enjoy journeying along with me, through the trials and tribulations, as well as the celebrations. All aboard! Playlist - Honey Bee Ring: The Story

Alex Reynolds
May 271 min read


Pre Father’s Day Event
Jerry W. Engler’s book, Just Folks Well, Sunday, June 1st, 2025, Sheri Lauren and I will be hosting a pre Father’s Day event, including...

Alex Reynolds
May 271 min read


Feeling Lost Shopping for a Diamond? Start Here.
Shopping for a diamond for the first time can feel overwhelming. Cut, color, clarity, carat—there’s a lot to take in, and it’s not always...

Alex Reynolds
May 141 min read


The Honey Bee Ring Begins: Dinner Was Late Because This Had to Happen
I got the kids settled into playing some video games, creating a little quiet space for myself. It was time to start cooking dinner, but I wasn’t in the kitchen. I was at my computer, clicking away at the 3D model of the bee ring. I knew if I didn’t start cooking soon, dinner would be late, which would make getting the boys ready for bed late, and getting them to bed late. It would throw the whole schedule off, but I didn’t care. This honey bee ring design had been living in

Alex Reynolds
Apr 301 min read


When the Sketchbook Fights Back: Designing the Honey Bee Ring
When Beautiful Isn’t Enough Have you ever poured your energy into something all day, only to stare at it later and think... “meh”? That was me yesterday. I spent hours sketching concepts for the Honey Bee Ring — ideas that were nice, maybe even beautiful. But they didn’t feel right. They looked a little too traditional, too expected. Like they could have come from anywhere. And that’s just not the kind of jewelry I want to make. So I went to bed. Or tried to. And that’s when

Alex Reynolds
Apr 233 min read


Natural, Synthetic, & Imitation: What’s the Real Deal with Gemstones and Diamonds?
Confused about the difference between natural, synthetic, and imitation stones? You’re not alone. Whether you're shopping for an...

Alex Reynolds
Apr 163 min read


Hanging by a Thread: The Story Behind My Chiroptera Necklace Design
I almost scrapped the whole thing. The sketches weren’t working. The bat had no personality, no soul. It was just… fine. And "fine" isn’t enough for something meant to be treasured. I stared at the page, feeling that familiar frustration—the kind that whispers, “Maybe this isn’t going to work.” But I wasn’t about to settle. This needed to be a necklace that bat lovers wouldn’t just wear, but would be one they’d fall in love with. The Missing Piece I leaned back, staring at th

Alex Reynolds
Apr 13 min read


Best Metals for Everyday Jewelry: What Lasts a Lifetime?
Have you ever found a beautiful piece of jewelry, brought it home, only to find later that it got bent out of shape—or worse, lost a...

Alex Reynolds
Mar 114 min read


From Hesitation to Creation: The Story Behind My Victorian Bat Necklace
🦇 From fear to creation: How a vampire musical saga and Victorian aesthetics inspired my first bat-themed jewelry piece. Read the full story!

Alex Reynolds
Feb 264 min read


Embracing Failure, Exciting Announcement!
So I really haven’t talked about it till now, but I submitted to be a speaker at the 2025 Founded in FoCo convention. The theme this...

Alex Reynolds
Dec 12, 20241 min read


Warm Cider, Holiday Lighting Ceremony, & Live Music - Meet & Greet
5-9 PM, Nov. 1th, 2024 Follow the music & the sweet smell of cider up the stairs Museum of Art Fort Collins Room 215 Jewelry Designs, Art...

Alex Reynolds
Oct 31, 20241 min read


Get Spooky Chic: Creating A Victorian Bat Necklace For Your Fall Wardrobe
The moment is almost here. This Victorian style design is going to be Charming Quail’s 1st official jewelry line. It’s perfect for that cute, Halloween accessory. And it’s a great way to add some vintage Victorian style to your wardrobe all year round. It’s also a great way to add a touch of Gothic style to your ensemble. The inspiration came from Jack Elliott ’s musical vampire saga. Sheri Laruen suggested we ask if he would play live music at our Oct. presentation on the F

Alex Reynolds
Oct 18, 20242 min read
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