A Bittersweet Goodbye to Milwaukee Irish Fest

A Bittersweet Goodbye to Milwaukee Irish Fest

Author: Kyle Abraham Bi | Monday, July 13, 2026

Read the full story of this custom emerald, diamond, and gold Triquetra (Trinity Knot) pendant below.

 

Special note: While we won’t see you at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2026, we’re still here crafting the Celtic Jewelry Designs of your dreams! And, we hope you’ll choose to stay connected.

To receive exclusive discount offers and shop updates, enter your name and email address at this link. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to see what we're creating, meet the artisans behind the work, and stay up to date on everything happening at Reflective Jewelry.

Thank you, truly, for 30 years of cherished memories. 🙏 And, here's to many more to come!

Kyle Abraham Bi

Owner | CEO | Ringmaster

 

A Bittersweet Goodbye to our Milwaukee Irish Fest Family

For nearly 3 decades, Milwaukee Irish Fest has been one of the major highlights of Reflective Jewelry's year.


Every August, we'd pack up nearly our entire gallery of jewelry, make the journey to Milwaukee, and spend an unforgettable weekend immersed in the music, stories, and traditions that make Irish Fest such a remarkable celebration. But what brought us back year after year wasn't simply the festival itself — it was the people.
 

The Reflective Jewelry booth at Milwaukee Irish Fest many years ago.

The Reflective Jewelry booth at an MKE Irish Fest of yore.

 

Many of you have visited our booth every year for decades. We've watched young couples become husbands and wives, then parents, and sometimes even grandparents. We've helped celebrate engagements, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirements, birthdays, and countless other milestones. We've laughed together, shared family histories, and, over time, formed friendships that have meant more to us than you probably realize.


Our annual gathering at Irish Fest has long been a place to celebrate living Celtic traditions through art, craftsmanship, and storytelling. The connections we've made there have shaped not only our work, but our lives.
 

For that, all of us at Reflective Jewelry offer our deepest thanks.

 

Former owners of Reflective Jewelry Helen Chantler and Marc Choyt pose with current owner Kyle Abraham Bi in front of an alien-themed New Mexico U-Haul during their 2023 trip to Milwaukee Irish Fest.

Helen, Marc, and Kyle pose in front of their New Mexico-themed U-Haul. 2023 was Helen and Marc’s last year at Milwaukee Irish Fest, and Kyle’s first.

 

This year marks the first time in nearly three decades that we won't be exhibiting at Milwaukee Irish Fest.


It was not a decision we made lightly.


While we'll certainly miss gathering in Milwaukee this year, we remain deeply committed to serving our Irish Fest family — wherever you call home.

 

Marc Choyt, former owner of Reflective Jewelry, works on setting up his booth at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2023.

Marc works on the Reflective Jewelry setup for Milwaukee Irish Fest 2023.

 

As Reflective Jewelry has continued to grow and evolve, we've had to make thoughtful decisions about where we invest our time and resources. Although we're saddened not to see everyone in person this year, we're excited about the future of our company and remain as committed as ever to the values that first brought us to MKE Irish Fest so many years ago.

 

A display of handcrafted artisan Celtic jewelry in sterling silver and 14K and 18K gold. From pendants and necklaces to rings, earrings, and bracelets, each pieces features delicate Celtic knotwork and Celtic symbolism in precious metals.

A select few items from Reflective Jewelry’s Celtic Jewelry Designs. From left: Mountain Lion Ring customized with Green Garnet eyes, Trinity Pendant with Peridot, Dublin Bracelet, Trinity Cup Ring with Peridot, Shannon Wedding Ring, Aria Round Earrings customized with lab grown Emerald.

 

In many ways, Reflective Jewelry is stronger than ever.

Since purchasing the company in 2023 after six wonderful years as part of the team, it has been my privilege to carry forward the extraordinary legacy that Marc Choyt and Helen Chantler built. Their vision — that jewelry can be beautiful, deeply meaningful, and ethically made — continues to guide every decision we make.

 

Today, our talented team of artisans still handcrafts every piece from our Santa Fe workshop. We continue to specialize in Celtic jewelry, custom engagement rings, wedding bands, heirloom jewelry redesigns, and one-of-a-kind pieces created to celebrate life's most meaningful moments. Our commitments to ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility, exceptional craftsmanship, and most of all YOU (our loyal customer) remain just as strong as ever.

 

On the left is shown a "before" photo of a simple gold wedding band alongside a diamond engagement ring accented with emeralds and flanked by two accented diamond bands that form a ring jacket. On the right is the "after" photo of this jewelry redesign project, which showcases a stunning triquetra (trinity knot) pendant made from the gold of these rings and set with the same stones.

This custom gold Triquetra (Trinity Knot) pendant, set with emeralds and diamonds, was crafted out of a customer’s beloved wedding and engagement ring set. It is always an honor to redesign and repurpose and repurpose meaningful family and heirloom jewelry.

 

While we may not be seeing you in Milwaukee this August, we'd love to stay connected.

The best way to keep in touch is by subscribing to our email newsletters here, where we share exclusive discounts, new collections, and behind-the-scenes stories from our workshop.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, where we share new designs, custom projects, studio life, and the stories behind the jewelry we create.

Please stay connected with us — by subscribing to our email newsletters here, and by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

 

Helen Chantler, former owner of Reflective Jewelry, sits behind the counter at her booth at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2023.

Helen at MKE Irish Fest 2023. Although Helen and Marc have stepped away from day-to-day ownership, Helen continues designing new jewelry from her home studio, while both remain trusted advisors to Reflective Jewelry.

 

Whether we've known you for twenty-five years or you discovered us only recently, we hope you'll continue to be part of our story. Relationships like these aren't limited to one weekend each August — they continue throughout the year, wherever you may be.

 

A display of Celtic wedding rings featuring intricate, symbolic, and ancient Celtic knotwork patterns in precious metals including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

A sampling of our Celtic Wedding Ring designs, any of which can be paired with a Celtic Engagement Ring set with a natural or lab grown diamond, emerald, or any other precious gemstone.

 

A Personal Note from Owner Kyle Abraham Bi

When I first attended Milwaukee Irish Fest in 2023, I knew I was stepping into a tradition that meant a great deal to Reflective Jewelry. What I didn't expect was how quickly so many of you would make me feel like part of that tradition.

 

Elizabeth (left) worked with Reflective Jewelry at Celtic festivals such as Milwaukee Irish Fest for decades. Kyle Abraham Bi (right) first attended Milwaukee Irish Fest in 2023.

Elizabeth and Kyle at their first-ever Milwaukee Irish Fest together, in 2023. Elizabeth attended the fest with Helen and Marc for over 20 years.

 

Thank you for welcoming me so warmly over the past three years. It has been a privilege getting to know many of the people who have supported Reflective Jewelry for decades, and I look forward to continuing those relationships for many years to come.

Owning Reflective Jewelry has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Every day, I have the privilege of working alongside an extraordinarily talented team while carrying forward a company whose mission I deeply believe in. I'm equally honored to continue serving a community of customers whose loyalty has sustained Reflective Jewelry for nearly thirty years.

 

Kyle Abraham Bi (left) poses with McKenzie (right), who worked with Reflective Jewelry at Milwaukee Irish Fest since she was 11.

Kyle and McKenzie at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2024. McKenzie has joined her mom, Elizabeth, at Irish Fest since age 11.

 

Three similar rings, each two-tone with an 18K yellow gold base and 14K white gold Flores motif by Reflective Jewelry. One ring is set with an oval emerald in a prong setting, another is set with an emerald-cut emerald in a bezel setting, the third does not contain a stone.

And wouldn’t you know it, McKenzie and Kyle have similarly-great taste! Upon meeting in 2023, they discovered they wore very similar wedding rings. (Both are two-tone yellow and white gold versions of Reflective Jewelry’s Flores Ring design, and both are set with Emerald.)

 

Thank you for trusting us with your wedding rings, your family heirlooms, your anniversary gifts, and the jewelry that tells your own stories.

One of the greatest joys of our work is seeing familiar pieces return years later — perhaps for a resizing before an anniversary, a new matching wedding band, or an heirloom redesign that begins the next chapter of a family's story. Moments like those remind us that the jewelry we create is ultimately about people, relationships, and memories.

 

A rainbow is seen at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2024, arcing above the Reflective Jewelry booth.

On at least one occasion, the “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow was the Reflective Jewelry booth at Milwaukee Irish Fest.

 

Thank you for supporting independent artisans.

Thank you for believing that craftsmanship, ethics, and meaningful design still matter.

And thank you for nearly thirty years of memories at Milwaukee Irish Fest.

We'll miss seeing you this year, but we sincerely hope this isn't goodbye.

 

The Reflective Jewelry booth at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2025.

The Reflective Jewelry booth at MKE Irish Fest 2025.

 

Please stay connected with us — by subscribing to our email newsletters here, and by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

Although our Milwaukee Irish Fest tradition has come to a close, our story — and we hope, our relationship with you — is still being written. Whether online, by phone, or here in Santa Fe, we look forward to helping celebrate many more milestones with you and your family in the years ahead.

With immense gratitude,

Kyle Abraham Bi
Owner | CEO | Ringmaster
Reflective Jewelry

 

Did You Know? There's More to Reflective Jewelry Than Celtic Jewelry

If You Only Knew Us from Irish Fest...

Over the years, many of our Milwaukee Irish Fest customers have come to know us as "the Celtic jewelry people." While Celtic jewelry will always be at the heart of what we do, Reflective Jewelry now offers so much more! Here are just a few things you may not know about us:

 

We create far more than Celtic jewelry.

From custom engagement rings and wedding bands to heirloom redesigns, nature-inspired collections, and one-of-a-kind jewelry creations you won't find anywhere else, our jewelers create pieces that celebrate every stage of life's journey.

We love giving family heirlooms a new life.

An inherited engagement ring tucked away in a drawer can become a pendant, a new ring, or even multiple pieces to share among future generations. Some of our most meaningful projects begin with jewelry that's already full of memories.

Every piece is handcrafted in our Santa Fe workshop.

Unlike many jewelry companies, we don't simply sell designs made elsewhere. Our team of five full-time jewelers creates, repairs, and customizes nearly everything right here in New Mexico. If you're ever in the area, please stop by to say hello and take a studio tour! Up-to-date gallery hours can be found on Google Maps.

We offer flexible payment plans...

...including trading your old/unwanted gold for credit or cash!

Ethical sourcing has always been part of our mission.

We're proud to be the only Fairtrade Gold jeweler in the United States, and we continue to champion responsibly sourced precious metals and gemstones because we believe beautiful jewelry should also do good in the world.

We'd love to help create your next piece.

Whether you're dreaming about a custom Celtic engagement ring, redesigning inherited jewelry, or celebrating a milestone with something entirely new, we'd be honored to help. To get started just email us at custom@reflectivejewelry.com or call 505-988-7393.

 

 

Kyle Abraham Bi, Owner and CEO of Reflective Jewelry, was an inaugural recipient of the Black in Jewelry Coalition x GIA Distance Education Scholarship — as well as a signatory of 2020’s BIPOC Open Letter to the jewelry industry. He has functioned as a representative for North American jewelers to the USAID Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project, appeared as a featured speaker at the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference, and is a regular feature writer for Jewellery Business Magazine. He serves on both Ethical Metalsmiths’ Advisory Council and Action Coalition, and is an Editor and Author for their blog The Source. Kyle holds a BA from Brown University in Contemplative Studies, and is a Graduate Gemologist. He can be reached at kyle (at) reflectivejewelry.com.

 



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Only Fairtrade Gold Jeweler in the USA 
since 2015

Santa Fe, NM Green Business of the Year

Catalyzing the Ethical Jewelry Movement

Winner of MJSA Responsibly Sourced Design Challenge

Founder of First-Ever Ethical Jewelry Blog

Collaborators of USAID Zahabu Safi (Clean Gold) Project