The story behind the Bay.
Emerald City and me
My story
Hello! My name is Audrey, and I’ve been riding for 10 years, since I was four.
I have always had the dream to compete at the equitation and hunter finals; a dream I strive towards every day. I suppose it never really felt possible until a very special someone entered my life: a pony. Named Emerald City. He shown light in places I never knew my life needed, even then. I will forever be indebted to this amazing friend of mine. Oz opened doors I always thought were locked, one of which in form qualifying for and competing at Pony Finals. I truly believe this once-in-a-lifetime pony shaped me into not only the rider I am, but also the person I’ve become. If anything, he has taught me to always reach for my dreams, no matter how distant they may seem.
I consider myself an entrepreneur, never being afraid to step outside the box to achieve goals, or get things done, especially when it comes to horses. Starting a business was always something I have wanted to do, but never knew it was possible. Until now.
The Bijou Bay
Before any of this came along, and before I even had a plan to start this business, I was messing around with some decorative beads I found in a bin. Little did I know at the time, but that would be the inspiration for this whole thing. Later, I was looking online and scrolling through different types of fly bonnet and bridle charms, the plastic or enamel kind. I saw those and figured out I could make something similar with beads. I made a very simplistic bead charm, without a clasp, and didn’t look at it for probably another six months.
As my equestrian career advanced, I knew I wanted to start a business to pay for all my expenses myself. But what would I sell? As if it was meant to be, the old, basic charm reappeared. Immediately I knew.
At the time, a had super small clay bead activity set to mess around with. So instead of making charms with round beads, I decided to make clay bead equestrian charms. I fell in love with the look of them. I was told by multiple people, and even thought this myself, that I should make this my business.
In the Bijou Bay logo the ‘Bay’ is not just any random horse, but is dedicated to my current pony, Emerald City, also known as ‘Oz’. He has given me so many opportunities I would never have without him. So naturally, when deciding a name and logo, I chose the Bijou Bay’s horse to be my bay, Ozzy.
After making some product, deciding a name and logo, I kept making more, designing more, and knew it was time. Launching.
And here we are, I present to you my completely handmade small business, and hope you love it just as much as I do.
The original charm
“An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.”
- Arnold H. Glasow