The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry... » Custom Pieces

• Bronze Turtle Charm: The Process

  Published Jan 12 2019 in bronze turtle, Custom Pieces

  

  Jen requested a bronze turtle charm on a stretch bracelet.  The process is involved including carving & etching the bronze clay to get every detail correct. Each pendant I make is handcrafted & takes often 7 hours to make from the initial hand sculpting of the piece, drying, etching, firing in my kiln, burnishing and tumbling. Then I incorporate the charm in a piece of jewelry.  Here I have it within a matte amazonite beaded stretch bracelet.  Slow and steady wins the race!

  
  

• A Zoo Story

  Published Jul 13 2018 in Custom Pieces

  

  Lynn contacted me about creating a custom piece for two of her classroom helpers.  She requested possibly using two pieces of art that a couple of her students created, one of which was the child of one of the helpers. I loved the pictures; children's art is so original! I hand etched the drawings of an alpaca and a ladybug onto pieces of silver.  The alpaca was the favourite of one of the helpers whenever they went on their zoo visits. Sadly, when they went to visit the zoo where inspiration for the alpaca came from, they were informed that the animal had passed away due to age.  This will be a special and lasting momento for the child and the parent to share a memory with.

  
  

• A Study in Color

  Published Oct 30 2017 in Custom Pieces

  

  Denise has been a long time customer of my work for the past 4 years.  She exudes confidence and individuality whenever I see her.  Denise contacted me to for a custom piece for her birthday.  I was honoured, as she said she had been looking for a custom set for the last 2 years and came back to my work after her search.  Some direction was given to me with regards to a personalized piece, a love of blues and greens, mixed metals and a slightly bold aesthetic.  I love it when I am given artistic license for the design!  

  My process is often to ponder ideas in my head for a couple of days, complete a drawing and send it off to the client for initial approval.  I wanted to design something that would be enduring with all of the characteristics that Denise wanted.  

  The final pieces really signified a collaboration of a client's wishes and her everyday style. Thank you Denise for entrusting such a special day with jewels dripping with color and style!

  
  

• Sisters Share an Unbreakable Bond

  Published Oct 19 2017 in Custom Pieces

  

  Fay wanted to celebrate her sister, Kristine's birthday, with a special piece of jewelry.  She had first contacted me a few months earlier with initial thoughts and then let her thoughts rest for a while.  She came back to me with a design that I had in my Silver Collection, but she wanted to add a personalized piece that represented the love and bond that she and her sister shared.  Her sister liked minimal jewelry and she wanted the message to be subtle, but present.  We decided upon a petite open silver link with the word SISTERS stamped on it.  

  A quiet reminder of a love shared between two sisters.  

  Thank you Fay.    

  
  

• Mind. Body. Spirit.

  Published Aug 09 2017 in Custom Pieces

  

  I receive many requests for custom pieces and I am always up for the challenge. I will work with the client to decide on various elements of the piece.  

  Many times I am given direction and other times I work with more the personality of the recipient to come up with a design.

  Melaine made my job easy this time and wanted a mala beaded necklace to go with her Amazonite bracelet she had previously ordered. To complete the piece she requested a fine silver dove and stone pendant. I had never made a dove pendant before but immediately I was working in my mind what techniques I needed to use to make such a pendant.  

  There are so many things to consider: dimensions, style of pendant, textures. I decided to go with a modern silhouette of a dove. Its simplicity would stand out beyond the varied colors of the amazonite beads and the irregular stacked aquamarine pendant.  

  It is meant to be touched, and bring peace and calm to the recipient.  

  Thank you Melaine.