Meet Laura Helm | Owner of ThreePineHill, Custom Jewelry and Accessories

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Helm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
In Los Angeles there are dozens of educational choices parent need to make for their children. Public, private, parochial, magnet, charter, open enrollment schools, and of course the home school. When making these choices for my daughter I tried my very best to choose the right fit for her. What were her favorite subjects? Where were her friends going? What extracurricular activities would encourage her to succeed? So many parents focus on academics, prestige, and college acceptance without considering their children’s personalities and the social environment they will spend years of their life in. I knew my kid would excel in academics, but the best thing she got out of her public education was building a strong network of lifelong friends and being exposed to the wonderful diversity of academic experiences, people and cultures in LA. I think this has given her a broad worldview that will help her be successful all her life and makes her a better person.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been a lover and practitioner of craft and art. I grew up in financially humble circumstances and in an atmosphere of make your own, reuse, recycle. I am fascinated by rocks and metals (and the amazing complexity and beauty of Earth) and their personal legends as Paulo Cuelho would say, so most of my work started in finding ways to work with these materials, in particular those that have humble roots and sustainable origins. As an environmentalist I avoid gems and metals that have a human or environmental cost to them. I try to make every piece what I like to call an heirloom piece that will last more than a lifetime. My education is in Math/Computer Science, the years working fulltime as a software developer allowed me to build enough wealth to go part time while raising my kid, and being caretaker for family members cursed by cancer and age. The most important advice I could give is: know when you are ready to jump in. You will never have a complete plan for how you are going to be successful. You WILL learn along the way. Don’t wait for the day when all your ducks are in a row. What I want everyone to know about my brand is I try to make my work as affordable, long lasting and eco-friendly as possible, that it is OK to not like my work, and that every piece I make is filled with joy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium – the BEST and only free, AZA accredited aquarium in the world (I’m a school tour docent) Huntington Library
The Getty, LACMA, NHMLA (my favorite place to find Community Science Projects), The Museum of Jurassic Technology. We love weird.
Hiking, depending on the weather, anywhere. or as suggested in WildLA
Got to take a beach day, love the Southbay beaches. Have an ocean view cocktail in Redondo or Hermosa
Maybe a concert at the Greek or Disney
The Last Bookstore or Vromans in Pasadena
Food, (This is hard, still haven’t recovered from the limits during pandemic): In general Ethiopian, sammies in the Fairfax District, Reel Inn Malibu, Senfuku Sushi San Pedro (’cause we love Yoshi), roof top dining in LA, even the Bonaventure. Central Market, Killer Shrimp Marina Del Rey (original only). Damn now I am hungry)
The Griffith Observatory
The Endeavor. All things nerdy.
Whalewatch, Lane Vistory or Iowa and the surprisingly informative tours of the ports of LA and LB
Hang out at my place, Got a killer view of the harbor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Gosh there are many:

My Husband: He puts up with the business taking over the house and his onetime comment, made while helping me pack up after a show: “I can’t believe you don’t sell out every show”

Eileen Karrigan of EIleens Jewelry and Gemstones at CraftedLA. She was my first teacher and despite the possibility of my becoming a competitor she continued to provide guidance. She gave me the skills to think I could make a business out of my craft. https://craftedportla.com/eileens-beaded-jewelry/

Vikki Gutierrez Isaacson of Playa Paper, she gave me more business advice than anyone else and gave it freely. https://www.playapaper.com/

Website: threepinehill.etsy.com

Instagram: @threepinehill

Facebook: @threepinehill

Image Credits
All the pictures included were taken by me.