LaNell Melancon of Melancon Jewelers won First Place in her category for Custom Jewelry Design for 2008 at this year convention of Jewelers of Louisiana.

“I am Blessed” says LaNell Melancon of Melancon Jewelers. LaNell loves to make original design jewelry. She had picked up some unusual shaped golden & chocolate Keishi pearls to design a necklace & bracelet set. While working with the pearls she noticed one golden pearl looked to her like a fish, so she kept it on the side. A couple of weeks later she & Richard were discussing an upcoming jewelry design competition. “ I was busy with other things and really didn't have time to carve or mold anything but I remembered that pearl. It made me smile.” So with that in mind, she began her first place winning design appropriately called “Splash of Fun”. She wanted to keep it as natural as possible by adding another pearl as the backdrop and 14kt gold as the waves with diamonds as the splashes to make a beautiful broach. “I am Blessed to be able to enjoy such beautiful things and it makes me so happy when others enjoy them too.” LaNell, Richard and Kenneth Hardy have worked together at Melancon Jewelers for almost 25 years, they are a team. As she said “I couldn't do it without them.”