Momento Mori

Earlier this year I was given a very deep and personal custom request by an equally deep and close friend.  I'd always wanted to create a momento mori piece but I didn't think or know how creating a piece would make me feel. 

Caroline Hedgepeth (my tattoo artist and friend) had lost her father a year ago and she was incredibly close to her father and since his passing wore his dog tag every day.  Caroline wanted me to create a piece that would hold the tag but also be able to remove it should she pass it to another family member.

I loved this idea and also the challenge.  Being out of art school a jeweler doesn't receive the same type of intense and complex projects unless it's a custom order or submission to an exhibition (unless you're an art jeweler).  Thus began my procrastination of creating Caroline's piece.  It's funny because when we sat down together to discuss her piece I was very thrilled and honored but also completely nervous and scared! What if I messed it up? What if she doesn't like it....all the what if's and it's what kept me from starting the piece.

Until finally I really had no choice as I promised to get it to Caroline before the anniversary of her father's passing.  And deep down, I knew that once I began working on it, I'd love the process. 

Front of the necklace/object.

Back side of the piece/object.

Caroline and I discussed how she wanted to have both her father's birthstone and hers on the piece and something that symbolized her father's changing from death to a new life (aka the crow claws).

I also decided that I needed to rivet the two pieces so that it'd be less stressful for me, as it'd be about 6 solders on one piece if I didn't and that can get messy.  Her father's dog tag fit perfectly, however during the process I had to use a supplement so I used my father's dog tag.  Once the piece was complete and I kept checking for the size of my father's tag it hit me how sentimental and precious this piece would be to Caroline.  I thought, what if it had been my father that had passed? As you can imagine I was hit with a wave of emotion and gratitude.  

When I was finally finished with Caroline's piece I was relieve and just so happy to have been given the opportunity to work on such a sentimental piece of jewelry.  It really changed how I view adornment and the honor I have as a jeweler.

As always, thank you for reading!
Stay lovely,
Lisette
Pin It

Gemstones and selecting the right one

I'd been thinking about this for awhile, about how much I LOVE gemstones but can't stand finding the right one or gauging how many to purchase for a collection.  Sometimes it can be a nightmare!

However, the love of stones outweighs the troubles that come with finding the right stone and also finding the time to make custom pieces with stones.

Lovely moonstone for the Asteria ring.

I've given this some serious thought as much of what happens with the one of a kind pieces I make depend so much on the color, shape and form of the stone.  Over the years I've acquired several favorite gem dealers that I rely on to select the right stone, and this has been a godsend. 

The Shield pendant with an agate and pyrite stone. 

So this post is dedicated to some of my favorite pieces with selective stones that have worked so well in our previous collections.  I also want to take the opportunity to let you know that I love working with customers that want to create a special custom piece of jewelry with a specific stone.  If you are interested, shoot me an email: info@eilisainjewelry.com  

The Black abyss ring with black faceted tourmaline.

Thanks so much for reading and stay lovely!

Pin It

Vespa Triple Goddess Necklace

Every couple of months I get an itch to sort through my unique stones and make a one of kind piece.

I've had these beautiful faceted citrines for awhile, since designing the Vespa collection I had a limited supply of them so thus making this beauty.

I'm naming it after Brigit the Celtic triple Goddess, she represents the Muse, Healer and Smith.  

Now listed exclusively on my website, $360.

Pin It

Valkyrie Collection photo outtakes

I've posted these beautiful images on several of my social media sites but not here.  Aileen Devlin is such a stellar photographer and always works to get the best shot.  I like how we grouped them and played with how they were laid out, along with mixing in the Vespa Collection. 

I was so pleased at how well the collection has been received; several sold in the first day of releasing the collection.  However there are still several left.  You can shop today!

Love, love LOVE purple.  So I just went nuts in this collection.

And I believe this is my favorite necklace, the stone just worked so well with the design.

Such an awesome shot of the rings together.

And My new packaging.  Looks fancy!

Pin It

Epona revisited

Several weeks ago, I did a mini photo shoot with my photographer Aileen Devlin.  We were shooting my new collection Valkyrie, however the overall images didn't come out as I'd planned.  We will reshoot the collection, however I snuck in the Epona necklace, I made way back in 2011.  I'm so glad I did, Madison, my model rocks it!

The necklace has made somewhat of a resurgence, interest by press has surfaced and I've now been commissioned to make a second necklace.  It's got me thinking that I need to make several more statement pieces; especially in preparation for my trip to Italy for the Origins fair.   I will keep you posted on these pieces.  Now, all I need to do is find the time to make them!

Epona Necklace, 2011, owned by Nan Lapata.  Sterling silver, steer antler and steel.

Photo by Aileen Devlin. Model Madison Schiller

As always, thank you for reading.  

Pin It