From Survival to Self-Expression: The Story Behind Bold and Bloom

For nearly two decades, I poured my heart into taking care of others—my son, my family, my home. I became a mom at 21, was divorced by 23, and spent the next phase of my life doing everything I could to provide, support, and show up for the people who needed me. I started as a single mom of one, raising my son largely on my own. His biological father had been mostly absent since he was two, and by the time he was twelve, it had been just the two of us for a long time.

That’s when love found us in an unexpected way. I had known my husband for years—he was actually my best friend’s brother. Our kids had spent holidays together and shared family gatherings long before we ever imagined becoming one family. That familiarity helped ease the transition, but blending a family is never without its challenges. When we moved in together, my son was 12, and my step-kids were 14 and 15. Suddenly, we were navigating teenage emotions, new schools, a new town, and the complexities of merging two families into one family of five—eventually a family of six, after we welcomed my son’s best friend into our home. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real. We found our rhythm slowly, eventually.

I wasn’t a perfect mom. There were things I wish I had done differently—moments I wish I had handled with more grace and presence. But I did the best I could with what I had at the time. If motherhood taught me anything, especially in a blended family, it’s that love doesn’t have to look traditional to be real, and strength is built in the messy, uncertain moments.

But somewhere along the way, I lost myself. Behind the smiles and the constant giving, I was deeply struggling. I became severely depressed, but I hid it from my family. I was raised in the '80s, when depression wasn’t something we talked about. You pulled yourself up, you smiled, and you kept going. So that’s what I did—for years. Until one day, I couldn’t anymore. I didn’t want to pretend everything was okay when it wasn’t. I didn’t want to feel invisible—not to the world, and especially not to myself.

One night, during one of those heavy, aimless scrolls online, I stumbled across polymer clay. I ordered a starter kit on a whim—something just to keep my hands busy. But what started as a small creative distraction became a lifeline. As I shaped petals and sculpted florals, I started to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time—me. Creating jewelry became a form of therapy. It reminded me that beauty can grow from hard places, and transformation doesn’t have to be loud. It can be slow. Soft. Steady.

That’s how my business began—not from a grand vision, but from the need to heal. I launched L Gann Designs in 2023, but as I grew, so did my purpose. I realized I wasn’t just making earrings—I was creating pieces that helped women reconnect with themselves, the same way I had. In 2025, I rebranded to Bold & Bloom—a name that resonates with me and represents the journey of rediscovering who you are and blooming into your boldness.

But I didn’t get here alone. My husband and my kids have been my biggest supporters—lifting me up, encouraging me, and standing behind me every step of the way. And my mom has been a constant source of strength, helping at vendor shows, cheering me on, and reminding me of my worth when I couldn’t see it for myself. I’m endlessly grateful for the people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself.

Today, Bold & Bloom is more than a business. It’s a reflection of my journey and a love letter to women who’ve given everything to everyone else and are finally choosing themselves again. My earrings aren’t just accessories—they’re reminders. That your story matters. That it’s okay to take up space. That you’re allowed to bloom, on your own terms—boldly, unapologetically, and beautifully.

Thank you for being here.

— Lindsey
Founder of Bold & Bloom