Gilbert resident and Ruby Mae Jewelry owner Leah Williams didn’t know her dad, Jake, would change the course of her small business with his charm for those who have lost a loved one. 

He had been searching for a way to express his loss of her mom, Patricia Mae, when he came up with the idea to punch a hole thru a heart hand-stamped onto a small disk. Initially they called it “A Hole In The Heart” until someone online suggested they change it to a “Hole In My Heart.” 

Williams said her dad had been making hand-stamped name and date charms for her clients for a few years. With his engineering experience he spent a hundred hours building a tool to evenly space each letter and give the discs a professional look. 

One afternoon he came into her kitchen and presented a unique design and asked if she thought anyone would want one. She said she wasn’t sure and posted a photo of it on her Ruby Mae Jewelry Instagram and Facebook accounts. The responses were positive and some asked if they could drive over and get one right then. 

They began with one size disc and one metal. It’s grown to three metals, assorted sizes, a dog bone for lost dogs and options for cats and horses.  

They hang on chains, bangles, key rings and with lobster claws.  

Their charms have shipped all over the country and have been featured on local TV shows and print media. They’re packaged with a small polishing cloth and their story. 

The “Hole in My Heart” charm has proven popular for people grieving a loved one. (Courtesy Leah Williams)

Leah Williams’ dad, Jake, came up with the design for the “Hole in My Heart” charm. (Courtesy Tanner Locust)

Customers can a specialized charm for their dog.

Survivors of ovarian cancer and their caretakers learned how to assemble jewelry.

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A few times Jake accompanied Leah to her events and got to meet shoppers buying their charms. It was bittersweet when all would tear up because feelings of loss are universal and sometimes words were not needed.  

Williams encourages the stories of lost loved ones and has made many a friend from her clients. 

“Ruby was my maternal grandmother, and I always loved the name Ruby Mae,” she said. “My mom Patty Mae would have loved being a part of my small business. We lost her in 2010 to ovarian cancer.”  

In honor of her mom, she shares the symptoms of ovarian cancer provided by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition on the backside of her business cards and at all her events.  

“We didn’t recognize what mom’s symptoms were when she had them, and we don’t want that for another family,” Williams said. 

Williams recently taught Ovarian Cancer survivors how to hold tools to assemble jewelry at one of their retreats in Scottsdale.  

“It was a rewarding experience meeting and teaching the women and their caregivers,” she said, “and I hope to do more with the local chapter in the future”. 

Williams said she raised her sons in Gilbert, and it is convenient that she can have a home-based business with so many options for treasure hunting and jewelry supplies from sources like Mitch’s Beads. 

Prior to Jake passing away in June, they spent time together in the workroom where he taught her the eight steps to make his handmade heart charms. He stressed patience and quality because he knew those buying or receiving it deserved something beautiful. 

Customers can shop the “Hole In My Heart” charms online at rubymaejewelry.com, in person in Gilbert at Sip & Shop near Recker and Williams Field Road, and at her upcoming event Junk in The Trunk Vintage Market April 26-28 at Westworld in Scottsdale.