“W hether it’s a ring pressed with sand from your wedding beach or a necklace carrying the silhouette of a place you hold dear, my goal is to craft jewelry that tells your story.” Many of her designs begin with a memory, a place, or a feeling. “Then I work backwards, asking, ‘What shape would this take if it lived in metal?’ Kuriosities is rooted in the art of remembering — not just nostalgia for the past, but an honoring of who we are, where we come from, and what we carry with us. It’s why our memorial pieces, embossed with cremation ashes, are so close to my heart.” A typical day for the shop begins with sunlight and sea air — “and often a few curious passersby peeking in.” Just a short walk away at the workshop, McIntyre might start with her hands in metal, finishing custom orders or adding texture to rings using sand from someone’s special beach. She works with traditional tools — saws, files, flame, and hand tools — and says using time-honoured techniques in an automated world forces her to slow down and feel her way through each piece. “I often think of it like listening to the piece as it reveals itself,” she says. “Some designs resist, some flow easily. But there’s always a conversation between my hands and the material.
Photo: Angela Rowlings
That dialogue — that sense of touch, pressure, heat, and patience — brings soul into the finished piece.” Mid-mornings might find McIntyre sketching new ideas or tinkering with prototypes — often surrounded by her dogs, Annabel and Gigi, and her kitten, Rosepetal, getting into mischief — with “a cup of tea that’s usually gone cold.” Afternoons shift toward storytelling: photographing new pieces, writing about their inspiration, or chatting with customers looking for something meaningful. “No two days are the same, but each one is a blend of alchemy, artistry, and connection.” Much of that artistry is shaped by her surroundings. “The Island itself is my greatest muse,” she says.
“The red cliffs, the gull cries, the softness of beach grass, and the smell of the ocean in June — it all finds its way into the jewelry. Our Island necklaces are like love letters in metal. Whether it’s home, a summer memory, or a dream of coming someday, the Island evokes a sense of peace and belonging. I try to distill that feeling into each piece.” This summer, she’s leaning into themes of impermanence and beauty with a new Blossom- inspired collection: “Think delicate petals in soft pink and white hues, captured in precious metals — little reminders to savour fleeting moments.” She’s also expanding the Sand Collection to include sea glass, layered coastal stacks, and a one-of-a-kind ring series. “Each piece feels like
a talisman of summer — full of sun, salt, and story.” Intentional and whimsical, McIntyre’s work reflects the feeling she wants customers to have when they enter her shop. “I want the space to feel like a breath out — calm, kind, and full of meaning. Whether they’re browsing, telling us a story, or picking out a gift, I hope they leave feeling lighter, more connected, and maybe a little enchanted.”
KURIOSITIES
142 Richmond St, Charlottetown VictWWoria Row 902.626.2277 kuriosities.com
WWW.PEI-LIVING.CA / 83 / SUMMER 2025
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