"Just Go For It" is more than a motto for Orange County based jewelry designers, Jude Steele and Frances Gadbois. A little over four years ago, the two women decided to translate their mutual love of jewelry into a line of their own. JudeFrances started on a shoestring budget. With an initial investment of $9,000, $4,500 of which came from the sale of an antique ring given to Jude by her grandmother, the two women entered the market determined to settle for nothing less than success. Both women draw from their upbringing and personal experiences in their work. Born, in the English Countryside and educated by her father in the world of antique jewelry, Frances infuses a conservative and more timeless element to the line. A native Texan, Jude instills a hint of funkiness into their designs opting for colorful stones and wrapping some of the stones in gold and diamonds. Their personalities provide for the perfect partnership with Frances’s meticulous eye overseeing design and manufacturing, and Jude’s effervescent personality managing the sales and marketing. The essence of JudeFrances is everyday chic. The jewelry is affordable, timeless, and meant to be worn every day "24/7" whether it is with a pair of jeans or a designer gown. In addition given the interchangeability of the pieces, it is easy to create a new look. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Paris Hilton, find their designs irresistible. The partnership between Jude and Frances is as brilliant as the pieces they create. Between the two of them, they have five children and a handful of pets. In between designing their latest collections and running what has become a multi-million dollar business, they drive carpool, cheer on the sidelines of the soccer field, and cook dinner. Today, JudeFrances boasts a continually evolving line of over 350 pieces of white and yellow gold mixed with incredible diamonds and semi-precious stones as well as a recently launched silver line and bridal collection (Summer 2006). Fans of JudeFrances own multiple pairs of charms and are continually visiting their favorite retailer in order to add the latest pieces to enhance their personal collection. JudeFrances can be found in over 100 boutiques across the country including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.