The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized by writer Marcel Proust, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. It's always been our favorite part of reading Vanity Fair magazine, which featured anyone from Lauren Bacall and Salman Rushdie to Norman Mailer and David Bowie.

We decided to try it out on the intriguing persona of jewelry artist PK Bijoux. Sit down and enjoy her riveting playful and philosophical musings!

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being in a peaceful, beautiful place with happy people, lots of laughter, with someone I’m in love with, my dog playing, good food, listening to great music, dancing and working on something creative.

2. What is your greatest fear?

Having no freedom, no laughter, bad health, those that I love suffering and me not being able to help, but most of all…living in fear.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Overthinking

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? 

Not thinking and cruelty.

5. Which living person do you most admire? 

There are so many, I admire women that never give up, that reinvent themselves, that get back up after a bad fall and jump to the next challenge.  If I had to choose someone of this time that is recognizable, it would be Diane Von Furstenberg. As a role model for me, I see her as someone who has always been imaginative, creative and a doer.  She has had great success and suffered failure and loss but it never stopped her from trying again and succeeding again.  She knows who she is and represents herself honestly.  She is also passionate about supporting women and their dreams and I very much admire that. 

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

Allowing myself to follow my passions.  I’ve had to go against the safety net and allow myself to roll the dice and follow my passion for design and  creativity.   My greatest extravagance is definitely following my passion for creating, making something wonderful from old jewelry, found objects, unique bits and pieces that have been recycled or left behind.

7. What is your current state of mind?

Hopeful and optimistic.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Patience

9. On what occasion do you lie?

I seek to be as truthful as possible at all times without causing undue pain or disruption.  Periodically, I will change the subject or graciously cut short a conversation because I know that if I am completely truthful it will hurt someone or create a negative or challenging environment. I live by the adage that if you can’t say something positive, don’t say anything at all, but I will pipe up if challenged.  I would not make a good debater!!

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Short answer is: aging skin. For the most part I am blessed with good genes and I try to be happy with what I have, I feel very fortunate on the whole, but like so many women, I always feel losing a few pounds would make me happier.  I have never forgotten a day when we were visiting my aunt May and I was upset about something.  She walked me over to a mirror and said, "Look at that, you have nothing to be unhappy about.”  We sometimes forget how fortunate we are by constantly comparing ourselves to the perfection that is a constant in our media.  If you are healthy and live in a free country that’s a good start.

11. Which living person do you most despise?

I very much dislike people that are so self-centered that they do not see beyond themselves, those that promote hatred cruelty and bigotry.  Those that cannot see beyond themselves to help someone or something that desperately needs help.  In memory, when I was a small child I saw our neighbor kick his dog, sending the dog crying and screaming, he then locked the dog up and we heard it whining.  That was my first taste of hatred toward another human being.  My father was unnerved as well and went next door to talk to the man.  I don’t remember the final outcome only the incredibly strong feelings that erupted in my heart.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?

The ability to make me laugh. Honesty, trustworthiness, not being afraid to love openly and be a gentleman, a champion to others, caring for others beyond their own desires and loyalty.

Being able to trust anyone completely with no reservation is such a rare gift.

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman? 

The same as in a man with the addition of building their female friends up, no jealousy, supporting others dreams.

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

FABULOUS! I overuse it, but I think a lot of things are fabulous! The overused phrase is "Life has a way of working things out."

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I haven’t met them yet.

16. When and where were you happiest?

I recall one day many years ago sitting in the right seat of a 450SL convertible with my then husband, driving along the Southern California ocean and mentally praying to God to please never let this feeling end. 

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

The ability to speak to anyone in their native language.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Overthinking things.  I have passed up a lot of wonderful opportunities because I overthought the situation.  If I could go back, I would have been more daring, I would have said yes more.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being here.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? 

I would like to come back as Elsa Schiaparelli, or my dog with me as the owner.

21. Where would you most like to live?

Any safe and beautiful place in the world with someone that I am madly in love with.

22. What is your most treasured possession?

Possessions come and go and I try not to be too attached, but if I could only keep one thing it would be my mother's pearls.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

To have severely bad health, no hope, no laughter, no music, no art, no creativity, no imagination, being controlled by someone that does not care about your happiness, and not being able to help the suffering of those you love.

24. What is your favorite occupation?

The one I am in now.

25. What is your most marked characteristic?

Probably my hair. I think a lot of people recognize me because of my hair.  But, of course, I would like to think it is my artistic nature and my charming personality??

26. What do you most value in your friends?

Their undying support and loyalty.  And their honest opinions.

27. Who are your favorite writers?

Joan Didion, Maya Angelou, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Lewis Carroll, Faulkner, Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, W. Somerset Maugham, Marguerite Duras, along with Harold Robbins and Danielle Steele, Anne Rice, Dan Brown and Michael Crichtom. The list goes on…

28. Who is your hero of fiction?

I don’t know if I would say hero but I could always relate to Alice of "Alice in Wonderland."

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Elsa Schiaparelli, I often think of how she would see something or that the way I see something would be in line with her vision.

30. Who are your heroes in real life?

Front line workers, firefighters, those that go to war to defend our freedom, everyone working toward equality for women and race.

31. What are your favorite names?

Darling, Luv, Sweetheart all used in lieu of the real name.

32. What is it that you most dislike?

Abject hatred. Prejudice. War.  Cruelty. Man’s inhumanity to man.  Human trafficking, child abuse. Partner battering and control.  Anyone or thing purposely hurting an animal. 

33. What is your greatest regret?

I can’t think of one in particular, I try not to focus on regret.  I wish I had said yes to more invitations when they came and possibly stayed longer when traveling in beautiful places, but I have few regrets. I regret sticking to schedule….I would have been more free, more daring.

34. How would you like to die?

Happy, instantly, with love in my heart and a beautiful vision in my eyes.  Knowing I did my best. 

35. What is your motto?

Let it be.