You may have wondered why I stopped posting after such a successful Designs by Alina launch. I have been busy making and selling my designs which leaves me with less time for reverie.

But we also have some news which explains the reference to the Beatles' Hello, Goodbye song...

Shortly after introducing Designs by Alina, Bernardo was offered a fantastic business opportunity in the vibrant city of San Francisco. Besides the logistics involved in closing one door and opening another with three young children, a horse, two poodles and a jewelry business in tow, the news has left me conflicted about what this new adventure means to our family. We are excited about relocating to our favorite large city in the country, where my husband will be working in the mecca of his industry, Designs by Alina will continue to flourish in a cosmopolitan environment, and our trio will grow exponentially from their new experience. We love all that San Francisco has to offer and yet it is not easy to say goodbye to Santa Barbara, our beloved small city, in which Bernardo and I have lived the happiest fourteen years of our lives. "Bittersweet" they call it, and I can taste it just about now…

Yes, Santa Barbara is a great place to raise small children, walk barefoot on the beach, find a peaceful moment on horseback, embrace your spouse, and be whimsical in the garden. There has never been a shortage of love around our table or in our home. Yet as I reflect upon the wonderful times we have had here, I realize that the memories people build are what makes a city great, and we look forward to doing just that in our new environment.

As the next chapter of our lives unfolds, I will continue to write about all things design and jewelry. I will also share musings on what our family will miss about this lovely piece of paradise and how we will embrace our next one.