We love recommending local businesses and Swiss Blue is definitely one of them. Run and imagined by creator, Liz Le Feuvre, this jewelry brand is well thought out, discreet, and elegant. Liz participated in our last Know-it-all Marketplace and we caught up with her before she starts her rounds of Christmas markets this season.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
I’ve always loved jewellery and all things that sparkle so when I had the opportunity to take a jewellery making course a few years ago, whilst living in Singapore, I jumped at the chance. I also find the ’science and geology’ bit behind the formation of the stones absolutely fascinating so I then went on to take a gemmology course.
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
When I moved to Switzerland 10 years ago I continued making jewellery as a hobby and starting giving some as gifts to friends. These friends then started asking me to make things for them to give on as gifts and I began to realise that there is a market for handcrafted jewellery, so Swiss Blue was formed 4 years ago.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Honestly, self doubt. I’ve had to learn to not compare myself to others and understand that every small business owner is on their own journey. It still brings a smile to my face when people take the time to say they like my jewellery, and then come back to buy more!
What are your plans for the future?
I’ve been very fortunate with a lot of local support and now I feel it’s time to broaden out and grow my online sales further across Switzerland. Personally, I’m enjoying trying new silversmithing techniques and hope to improve on these in the future.
Kathy Overlack, Creator of Love of Lavender and IIN Health Coach
Love of Lavender participated in Know-it-all Marketplace in 2017 and we are happy to recommend her wonderful lavender products. We asked Kathy Overlack to tell us more about the background and here is what she told us:
I spent my first career working for a large multinational corporation. After our third child was born, we were transferred for my husband’s job so I decided to stay at home and raise our children full time. I kept busy being involved with the school, tutoring English and eventually becoming a health coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. I had many hobbies and loved to be creative.
In 2016, the summer before my last child left for college I was sitting in my beautiful garden contemplating my next step. I wanted to create something by hand that combines my love of health and well-being, nature, and beautiful fabrics. As I admired my garden filled with lavender overlooking Lake Geneva, Switzerland, my idea was born. I decided to share some of this natural fragrance and its many benefits with others.
Lavender is known not only for its beautiful fragrance but for its soothing restorative properties in conditions such as:
- anxiety
- depression
- headaches
- stress
- anti-inflammatory properties
- natural insect repellant
I created “Love of Lavender” which is a line of lavender / well-being products that are all natural, locally sourced and handmade with love.
Coucoudre is a social impact organization that works with refugees in the canton of Vaud to repair clothing and create sewn products from recycled fabrics. Know-it-all passport's pop up shop, Know-it-all Marketplace, from last year was delighted to form a bond with this dynamic group. We wanted to let our readers know what they have to offer.
We talked to Katie Davis and Karen Thorsen to find out more. Coucoudre's ethos is based on three core values.
1. Supporting the human potential of refugees and creating a community commitment to them. The refugees we help are professional seamstresses in their home countries and, by working for Coucoudre, they can use this existing talent to support their families. We support their integration into the local community through these activities. They not only sew for Coucoudre but are invited to participate in the sale of the products so they can engage with the users of the products.
2. To promote a sustainable impact in the textile industry. All products created by Coucoudre are made from unwanted or damaged textiles and clothing donated to us locally. The global textile industry is one of the dirtiest and most socially irresponsible industries in the world. We want to help change that by reducing the amount of fabric that ends up in landfills.
3. Offer a repair solution to reduce the damage of the ever-growing fast fashion industry. We want to encourage people to "repair rather than buy new".
In Spring 2021 we opened our Repair Café in Nyon. We are open every Tuesday from 11h-17h. People can then bring their repairs to the tailors and buy our products.
Are you looking to sell some gold? We all have some pieces of jewelry that we were given as a child or teenager that we no longer need or want. Why not sell them and use the money towards an item that you really want?
If you are like me, I was skeptical of shops that claim that they will buy your gold for cash on the spot. I wasn't sure how legitimate or how generous the shops were. I'm happy to report my findings to you so you don't have to check from shop to shop for the best price. Know-it-all passport® is based on recommendations, and this is certainly one of those times. Here is how it all started:
A friend of mine went first. Here is what she reported: "I went to 3 different buyers near Cornavin in Geneva. First was Goldhaus jewelry shop just opposite Cornavin that has a sign on the door stating they buy gold. She estimated them at Fr. 150.-.
"Another shop at 12, boulevard James-Fazy offered Fr. 98.- for the same items the same day. It sounded totally different from the first place and really so much less.
"Then I happened to go to Gold Service. The person who helped me was very pleasant and looked at the rings, weighed them, and calculated the value at Fr. 166.40. He went on to professionally explain how the method works and would I like to continue with him."
We recently found out about John Glass' new book. His Calvin Tours, walking tours around the city of Geneva, sparked the obvious next step and to publish a book with all the amazing knowlege his has accumulated over the years. He has kindly offered a signed copy of his book to one lucky knowitall.ch reader: John Calvin’s Geneva - A Walking Guide.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
I started the Calvin Tours project because I have lived in Geneva for almost 48 years and became passionate about Geneva’s astounding history that I felt should be told in a modern-day way, as many people don’t realize that the Geneva Reformer John Calvin actually changed the world in many ways! Let me explain.
I was born in Paris of American parents and raised in Geneva. My Dad was a businessman and my Mom a journalist at the UN and a radio talk show host on Radio 74 in a show called Freely Speaking with Ginna Lewis. As a kid in Geneva attending the International School, like most, I knew nothing of John Calvin and Geneva’s rich Reformation history and wasn’t even interested.
In 1976, when I was just 19, I took a 6-month solo trip that literally changed my life and redirected my interest to pastoral ministry. I first went to Israel where, through the many biblical sites, I was exposed to the person and work of Jesus-Christ. From there I backpacked overland through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. It is in India that I embraced Jesus-Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life would never be the same again. Upon my return to the US, I ended up attending seminary in California with goals of coming back to Geneva as a pastor. I have been pastoring Bible churches in Paris and now Geneva for the last 34 years.
