
By Lizann Lightfoot
The military spouse community is full of creative entrepreneurs who have started a business aligned with their passions. It should come as no surprise that several military spouses have created jewelry companies that provide unique items to the military community. We got in touch with some of them to learn more.
Nomades
Nomades was started in 2009 by four Marine wives who wanted to tell their stories of life in the military–deployments, moves, jobs, kids, marriages, and more. The Nomades Collection is comprised primarily of charms for custom charm bracelets or necklaces. Nomades jewelry is made of .925 sterling silver and manufactured in the USA.
Charliemadison
Charliemadison offers handmade glass bead bracelets, necklaces, and oil diffuser jewelry. You can order something patriotic like their Military Tribute Bracelets, or you can choose a color that matches your favorite outfit. There are even options to design your own bracelet by choosing from a variety of colors, charms, and tassels.
Hively, a Navy spouse whose husband retired after 20 years of service, has lived all over the world and now resides in Maryland. All Charliemadison jewelry is handcrafted in her home studio. She donates 5 percent of all sales to military organizations such as The Milspo Project, the Duskin & Stevens Foundation, and Operation Purple Camps run by the National Military Family Association.
Bang Bang Ballistic
For a unique military flair, check out Bang Bang Ballistic–a jewelry company that fashions jewelry out of spent bullet casings and ammo rounds. Purchase a brass pendant made from a flattened bullet case or earrings made from the primer of a 9mm or .45 round. The bottom of a 12-gauge shotgun round makes a lovely pendant for a necklace. There are even items like cuff links or money clips that would make a great gift for a man’s birthday or Father’s Day.
The founders are an unlikely pair of artists. Fred Bassett ended up in the jewelry trade by accident. A friend brought him some spent shells from a 21-gun salute and asked if he could make them into memorial earrings. He soon had more requests for unique jewelry made from bullet casings. His business partner, Shanna Rodenberg, is a veteran who served in the Army National Guard in Afghanistan. When she returned, she worked with Bassett, a family friend. Rodenberg says that creating jewelry that is meaningful to someone in the military community is like therapy for her: “It’s a way to honor them continually.”
Lizann Lightfoot is an associate editor at Military One Click and a Marine Corps spouse. She can be reached at [email protected]