After that trip in 1987, Carolyn was convinced that New Mexico was to be her new home. In 1989, she relocated to Albuquerque and immersed herself in native New Mexican art. In 1994, she met her husband Bill, who was also working with jewelry. Not long after their marriage, Carolyn and Bill founded Relios. The meaning? Relios is a word they created. Carolyn explains, “Everyone should be able to invent their own words. We wanted to effectively communicate the heart—and genuine authenticity—in what we do. “Our employees are proud of their work and enjoy sharing the finished pieces with friends and relatives,” says Carolyn. Relios supports over 120 employees and subcontractors. Their team is diverse—Native American, Hispanic, European, and Asian craftspersons and several generations of families have even passed their artistic skills to their children. The Santa Fe Indian Market is an important event for Carolyn and Bill. Though they are not Native American, they are members of the Southwest Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA), the organization producing the market. According to the strict criteria of the SWAIA, they cannot enter their jewelry, but they look forward to participating in the Indian Market Auction, and sponsoring awards for the SWAIA.
Relios searches for new and unique talent and employs many of the designers they meet at the Indian Market. Solid relationships with key designers are important in this stimulating and challenging business. They select and adapt one-of-a-kind designs, and subsequently manufacture Native American designed and inspired Southwest jewelry. As the Relios spokesperson for the QVC home shopping network, Carolyn is both a lovely and charming host. She enjoys her air time on QVC where she has the opportunity to talk about the integrity and creation of Relios jewelry while presenting their stunning pieces to the public. The show has also featured a terrific segment on the Cerillos turquoise mine in New Mexico.
“The Southwest look is timeless and beautiful,” says Carolyn. “Our designs are bold, unique, and tastefully dramatic; they are collectible and can be mixed, matched, and layered. These styles work no matter where you live.” The staff at New Mexico WOMAN were eager to find out more about the jewelry styles for fall. Carolyn was happy to fill us in. “The hottest trend will be deeply colored gemstones like jasper and other Indian summer colors. We use brass and blue lapis accents, along with gold and green amber. Green jasper and snakeskin jasper in mossy green goes well with clothing in grays and blacks. Our jewelry is also denim friendly and easy to wear. The ruby and chrysocolla teal stones look fabulous with jeans. Our jewelry is also created for layering. Start with a turquoise pendant and layer it with a longer turquoise and chrysocolla-beaded necklace. The combinations are stunning, but the most important thing is to have fun.” When asked what she does to relax, Carolyn told us that she enjoys gourmet cooking and that she and Bill love to entertain clients and friends in their East Mountain home. “I could not imagine working without Bill,” she says. “This is such a fun thing to do as a couple. Our jewelry is created with romance and fun in mind and that makes it unique. The work keeps us connected and is highly rewarding.” Relios jewelry is available at:
For a schedule of Indian Market events see the Southwest Association of Indian Arts Web site at http://www.swaia.org/schedule.php.
|
“During my childhood, I had a great time attending cultural events in my home state of Minnesota. I spent summers at Mount Rushmore and remember the image of Crazy Horse carved into the mountain.” Carolyn was fascinated with different cultures along with their art and jewelry. After college, she worked for Marriott, developing thematic retail projects. One day she received a call to visit Albuquerque regarding the installation of the Sunport Gift Shop. 
Carolyn and Bill are committed to sharing New Mexico’s beautiful colors and jewelry designs with the world by featuring gifted artists like Roderick Tenorio, an accomplished jeweler, sculptor, and painter from the Santo Domingo Pueblo, and Andrew Rodriguez, a Native American from the Laguna Pueblo. 
The show has provided Carolyn an opportunity to travel for much of the year, sharing Relios designs. She says, “Our jewelry is especially different from European styles, and customers are fascinated by the New Mexico culture. These easy-to-wear necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings are now popular in communities throughout the United States and the United Kingdom,” says Carolyn. 
Connie Thompson is a writer, director, and producer of creative, corporate, and motivational video scripts, articles, and press releases. Contact her at (505) 994-1977, or at