Kim Gritz went looking for her sister after being separated for 35 years. She had an intense feeling she needed to find her, she said.
“We had been completely out of each other’s lives for most of our adult life, having no idea where each other was or the life we were leading,” Gritz said. “After an exhausted search I sent a letter to who I hoped was my sister and bingo it was her! She had recently been thru a traumatic life changing experience and needed her sister. The universe prevailed, we found each other and embarked on a healing journey together.”
Enter: Soulgear Creations. Gritz and her sister Lynne Chausse created the business to help others on their healing journeys. Drawing from their own experiences, they craft the very products that helped them on their journey to balance mind, body and spirit. The business, with a location at Retail Therapy at the Phoenix Convention Center, offers handmade bracelets, candles and more. They specialize in creating healing gemstone bracelets, blending therapeutic essential oils and creating beeswax candles from local Arizona bees.
“Everything we create is designed to assist people, especially women, on their healing journey to wholeness,” Gritz said. “We make ‘gear’ for one’s soul journey, hence our name Soulgear Creations.”
Chausse said the sisters sit at their dining room tables together and make the bracelets they are best known for.
“In honor of the State of Arizona and its rich history in crystal mining, still going on today, we created a line of products we call ‘Wear Arizona’,” said Chausse. “Among other products, this line includes adult and children’s healing bracelets created using genuine Arizona mined crystals. Each stone has its own healing vibration and when combined creates an incredibly healing piece of jewelry for you, a child that is struggling or as a great gift to take home to your loved ones living out of state. Not only will the wearer feel better, but you honor Arizona when wearing it!”
The bracelets come in sizes for both kids and adults, and Gritz said many people grab one for themselves and one to take home to their child. The sisters also create essential oils, all designed to bring about a certain feeling such as peace or healing.
“Being surrounded by healing stones, oils and candles creating orders and product for the stores is relaxing and healing for us,” Chausse said. “And it continues to help us on our never-ending healing journey.”
The sisters now have locations at all three Retail Therapy stores in the Valley, including the Phoenix Convention Center. The journey, they said, has been magical.
“We were traveling a similar road when we found each other again,” Gritz said. “We knew we wanted to do something to help other people, and when we first started, we didn’t know how to string a bracelet!”
Chausse said the sisters both feel that everything happens for a reason and the universe is always lining things up.
“This business has been a true blessing to both of us,” Chausse said.
Visit Soulgear Creations online or in store at Retail Therapy at the Phoenix Convention Center.