Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1120507
25 It was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who said, "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." When you love your work, it's easy to give it your all, and your best. For Mokada Custom Jewelry founder Mona Stott, it's a pleasure and a passion — one that lets her combine work and family. Her daughter, Danielle Tkachyk, is a co- founder of the company, and her niece, Elizabeth Stott, joined them in 2016. With more than 20 years in the retail field, many spent troubleshooting and diamond- buying for a national jewelry chain, Mona knows the world of jewelry and loves it inside and out. What was supposed to be a semi-retirement, taking custom design appointments from her rural home office, turned into a bustling studio on Waterfront Drive. "I realized I love everything about jewelry. Selecting it, displaying it, helping couples find special pieces — it is a joy- filled process. People are happy when they are buying jewelry," Mona says. The company's unique name is a combination of Mona, Katelyn and Danielle — the trio who started it all six years ago. Katelyn Daman was Mokada's first employee, and has since left to start her own family. Created as an alternative to overpriced, traditional jewelry options, the studio operates on the belief that every person coming in should have a piece of jewelry that reflects their personality. Keeping structural integrity in mind, clients can literally make anything they want. "When a client concludes their purchase and we reveal the design they were intimately involved in making, it is a privilege to celebrate the process," Mona says. "A lot of our clients redesign and enhance inherited pieces from loved ones that are no longer with us and we share many a tear." Danielle purchased the original studio in 2011, and it has since tripled in size. She glows with pride when she talks about her mother's skill and achievements. "Mona's creative capital is unrivalled; you are guaranteed a personalized piece from the most caring jeweller Manitoba has to offer if you are lucky enough to sit in her chair," she says. Danielle is equally enthusiastic about the quality of her cousin's work. "Elizabeth is a wizard for custom gents band design — a true talent whose creations should be turning your head!" Clients are fully engaged in the design process during relaxed, one-on-one appointments. While the Mokada team is happy to make recommendations, educate and impart expertise, it's just as important to make a personal connection and encourage clients to share their vision. Using a state-of-the-art design program, they can find ways to reduce costs while remaining true to that vision, knowing that clients who are intimately involved in the creative experience enjoy a special sense of ownership. "The ability to hand-select your stone and pair it with a mount that you designed often represents the highest value," Danielle says. "Creating luxury jewelry is a skill that requires knowledge and expertise. At Mokada, every piece is custom made to suit the specific centre stone chosen. This is because every stone is different and truly one-of-a-kind, requiring a customized setting that will best showcase its unique attributes and maximize its beauty." ❚ MOKADA CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN STUDIO From left: Elizabeth Stott, Danielle Tkachyk and Mona Stott. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY passion for perfection ACHIEVING CLIENTS' VISIONS IS A LABOUR OF LOVE AT MOKADA Learn more at Mokada.ca or visit us on Facebook or Instagram (@Mokadajewelry).