Butterfly ‘puts wings on hope'

Friday, Dec. 19, 2008

Heather Maertens of Maertens Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Solomons said she attended a fundraiser for the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer at The Old Field Inn in Prince Frederick and learned about the symbolism of butterflies and the foundation's motto, "Put wings on hope."

"I thought of Kristen immediately, because butterflies are her piece," Maertens said, of Kristen Hobar, who creates her own pieces of jewelry for Maertens Fine Jewelry and Gifts in Solomons.

Butterflies are a symbol of rebirth, renewal and happiness, she said. "Butterflies remind us how beautiful, delicate and fragile life can be," Maertens said.

Maertens Fine Jewelry and Gifts participates in fundraisers and believes in giving back, Maertens said, and she thought of creating a butterfly as a fundraising project for the Brem Foundation.

"I wanted Kristen to have a big part in it," Maertens said, so she approached Hobar with the idea.

"I've always made butterflies," Hobar said. Since Hobar started making her own jewelry, she started designing butterflies, she said.

When Maertens came to Hobar with the idea of creating a butterfly as a Brem Foundation fundraiser, Hobar said she liked the idea.

Maertens will donate 15 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the butterflies to the foundation. One hundred percent of the money raised for the foundation goes toward research, treatment and diagnosis, Hobar said.

Dr. Rachel Brem, director of Breast Imaging and Interventional Center at The George Washington University Medical Center, said she is "grateful to Heather Maertens and the Maertens Fine Jewelry in Solomons for their magnificent necklace and for their support."

Hobar created a small and large mold of the butterfly and it can be purchased in sterling silver, gold and two-tone rose gold, she said. Orange sapphire stones can be set in the antennas or set in the wings, or the butterfly can be customized at a client's request, she added. Hobar said she has already sold a handful of the butterflies to clients.

"The options are almost endless," Hobar said. "It was a fun project to work on, different from other ones I've made."

The small butterflies start at $175 and the larger ones $225 for sterling silver, she said.

The butterfly is made by hand, it is original, Maertens said, and then a cast is made. Orange is the foundation's color, it's a healing color, she said.

"It's all very interesting, all the symbolism," Maertens said. "It's a real special piece and it means a lot to us."

Brem Foundation brochures and note cards that say "Believe" accompany each purchase of the butterfly so gift recipients of the butterfly will know about the foundation's donation.

On Sunday, Maertens Fine Jewelry and Gifts will host a Men's Day, a day designed to make holiday shopping fun and easy for men, Maerten said. This is the fourth year that Maertens Fine Jewelry and Gifts will throw the tailgate-like party that includes giveaways, a drawing for a 42-inch TV, a dart throw for gifts, a feast and complimentary gift wrapping.

"It's the thing we look forward to every year. Men's Day is so fun," Maertens said.

A tent will be sent up behind its Solomons Town Center location and a shuttle will be provided to its Solomons Island location, she said. Jake & Al's Chophouse of Lusby is catering the event, providing burgers, hot Italian sausage and side dishes. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

charvat@somdnews.com