Palm beach — Each month Caribbean Queen at Palm Beach Plaza Mall honors one local female artist who lives and creates here. The Caribbean Queen program was launched when the store opened in late 2011, and has been running successfully ever since. For the month of January 2015, local artist Ramona Verbeek-Geerman is the boutique’s celebrated Caribbean Queen, showcasing her hand-made jewelry collection.
Ramona worked for 20 years in various architectural firms on the island and overseas, assisting in different projects, drafting and interior designing. She contributed to numerous projects including the remodeling of the airport, and the construction of Wayaca, Nunje and San Barbola residences.
She branched into jewelry design and production when she found herself homebound caring for kids and elderly parents. She decided to host a weekly workshop at home in order to keep her mom busy and entertained, and keep her social circle engaged and involved, hence the name Mimi’s Jewels, signifying that the jewelry is an expression of love, and hope and encouragement, and that jewelry lives on even longer that the jewelry makers.
Caribbean Queen boutique earmarks a percentage of all sales for its Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World) program. The collected funds are given quarterly to not-for-profit local organizations in an ongoing effort to do good and serve the community. All the foundations served with donations from Caribbean Queen are dedicated to the promotion of art on the island and artisan education.
Enjoy these unique handcrafted Aruban art pieces by Ramona Verbeek-Geerman throughout the month of January, and drop in to witness a live demonstration of her craft at the boutique towards the end of the month, date to be announced.
