August is definitely the beginning of the sleepier summer months on St. Croix, after all, it is HOT and most of us aren't moving very fast. Though we may not have traditional seasons in the Virgin Islands, summer and "off-season" feels different than the busier "high season" months. Of course there is also hurricane season, which we are now about in the middle of - so while we don't share the same changing seasons as the US mainland, we do indeed have island seasons!
This month's calendar photo comes from the East End of St. Croix, where I often walk or hike in the early mornings. It is such a beautiful thing to watch the sun come up and fill the world with color, often catching these beautiful shots of the sun shining though the Caribbean flowers - pink bougainvillea in this case, with the ocean in the background.
Click the image below to download your full color, printable version of this mini calendar. Great to keep on your desk or anywhere you need it! Don't forget, as long as you are a "FantaSea Insider", you'll get a beautiful, full-color photo calendar with an inspirational quote delivered to your inbox on the first of each month! It's the gift that keeps on giving!
This quote is another reminder of my favorite mantra, "BE the light!"
"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."
- Anthony J. D'Angelo
If you are captivated by the color, character, and endless variety of natural gemstones, you already understand that jewelry can be so much more than an accessory.
The most interesting pieces often begin with materials that are anything but ordinary: a moonstone glowing with blue light, a sapphire in a color you didn’t know existed, or a one-of-a-kind gemstone with inclusions and patterns created entirely by nature. These are the pieces that invite questions, start conversations, and become part of your story.
At FantaSea Jewelry, we create jewelry for people who want something more personal, something beautiful, thoughtfully made, and just a little unexpected.
My process almost always begins with the gemstone.
I have been collecting, studying, buying, and working with natural gemstones for nearly 30 years, and I’m still fascinated by them. I look for exceptional color, unusual varieties, beautiful natural features, and stones with the kind of personality that makes you stop and look twice.
From there, I design jewelry that allows the gemstone to be the star. My work combines natural gemstones with solid gold and sterling silver, using clean lines, comfortable details, and distinctive textures inspired by the beauty and energy of the Caribbean.
I make pieces that are meant to feel good on the body, hold up to real life, and be enjoyed, not saved indefinitely for some imaginary special occasion. My background as a repair jeweler has made me especially attentive to the structural details you may never notice: how a ring feels between the fingers, how securely a stone is set, and how a piece will wear over time.
I’m Nicole Gariepy, the owner, designer, gemologist, and jeweler behind FantaSea Jewelry.
I began my career in jewelry in 1997 and received my gemological training through the Gemological Institute of America. Over the years, I have worked as a jeweler, gemstone buyer, merchandiser, appraiser, workshop manager, and diamond and gemstone grader. That experience now comes together in every piece I create, and in the honest, approachable education I share with my customers.
I purchased FantaSea Jewelry in 2015 from a dear friend who we lost far too soon. Taking on the business came with a deep sense of responsibility: to honor what she had started while allowing FantaSea to grow into something that reflected my own experience, creativity, and vision.
Over the last ten years, that is exactly what has happened.
Today, FantaSea Jewelry is deeply personal to me. It reflects my lifelong fascination with gemstones, my decades at the jeweler’s bench, my love of St. Croix, and my belief that creativity can bring more beauty into the world.
Some of the original spirit remains, but FantaSea has grown and evolved alongside me. It has become a place where natural gemstones, skilled craftsmanship, curiosity, and personal connection all come together.
You’ll find FantaSea Jewelry upstairs on historic Company Street in Christiansted, St. Croix, part jewelry studio, part gemstone jewelry treasure chest, and part art gallery.
Come upstairs, try on the rings, ask questions, learn something new, and discover gemstones you may never have seen before. Whether you’re choosing a reminder of St. Croix, celebrating a meaningful moment, redesigning something you already own, or simply buying yourself a piece because you love it, you are always welcome here.
Because the best jewelry doesn’t just match your outfit.
It feels like you.
