About Our Family

Sassafras is a family owned and operated business. It was founded in 2010 in Waimea on the big island of Hawaii. But our families’ company started much earlier! Charles Cummings and Peggy Petersen started out as entrepreneurs in the early seventies in San Francisco. Charles would hand craft one of a kind 14k gold and sterling silver jewelry and Peggy would display a velvet lined box full of Charles’ incredible designs to all the businesses on Union St. hoping for a few good sales! We sure have come a long way. We attribute our success to our quality products at a reasonable price, along with our families honesty and integrity. We stand behind our work, and make sure it is made to our specifications and high quality standards.

You may have bought a piece from Charles and Peggy at a harvest festival or a art show somewhere on the west coast. Perhaps in Lake Tahoe, where they resided for many years. This is where their daughter Elly started to learn from her father. She first learned to design and make beaded earrings. This hobby started in high school, and eventually developed into a great career as a goldsmith just like her father many years later. Recently added is our portfolio of our custom one of a kind pieces, they can be found on the "One Of A Kind" tab in main the menu.

Our family reconvened in Hawaii in 1998. Peggy and Charles had been living on the big island since 1995. Elly has spent the last twenty or so years working as her father's apprentice, after she attended college in Las Vegas, where she earned her degree in interior design. She was inspired by her mother Peggy, who shared her amazing retail talents and design experience. While Charles shared with her his knowledge of metal fabrication and design. Now together as a family we have combined talents and have become Sassafras. Creating the island inspired collection called “Sassy.” Each of our pieces tells a story, a myth or legend of Hawaii or Polynesia. And every piece is handcrafted in solid sterling silver, with natural gemstones, and colorful south seas shells. It is our pleasure to share with you our designs filled with meaning. Designed with love, thankfulness and appreciation for this island we now call home. Handcrafted with aloha from our ohana to yours.
Aloha~

Elly has opened a new store in Kona at Kona Inn Shops Called Lava Luxe By Elle featuring new designs and a different feel from the "Sassy" collection but with the same fantastic quality and craftsmanship. Check it out at www.lavaluxebyelle.com 

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