The inspiration:
Sunrise in fog - light through creek water - first blooms - momentary torpor - joy

The materials:
A golden, honey gold tourmaline, glowing at the centre of a delicate, six-petalled bloom made from gleaming recycled silver.

The history:
Tourmaline has been adored as a gemstone for centuries, but was often mistaken for other coloured gems like emerald and ruby because of its vast colour range. The ancient Egyptians believed that tourmalines were fragments of a rainbow that the crystals broke through as they grew up from the earth. Historically (when not mistaken for another gemstone!) tourmaline was worn to strengthen insight and awareness, and was thought to have a strong calming and balancing effect against the stresses of everyday life. It is now celebrated as a birthstone for October.

The process:
I have recycled almost all of the silver used to make this pendant; melting sterling scrap down to form silver ingots, flattening and drawing the silver down to plate (and sometimes wire) using hammers and my rolling mill, and then using this newly reclaimed silver to create my work. This simple, magical design sets the glowing yellow tourmaline at the centre of a delicately domed, six-petaled flower. The stone is neatly set in clean-edge bezel with a solid, polished backplate behind it to enhance its beautiful color, and the silver throughout has been highly polished. A tiny sterling ring connects the pendant to its delicate chain, which is finished with a light-weight sterling silver spring-ring clasp and faceted tourmaline beaded links at 16” (41 cm), 18” (46 cm) and 20” (51 cm) for an customizable fit.

The details:

• Pendant height: 15 mm

• Pendant width: 15 mm

• Stone cut & size: tourmaline cabochon, 5 × 7 mm

• Chain length: 20” (51 cm) total, with adjustability at 18” (46 cm) and 16” (41 cm)

• Recycled components: silver pendant construction

• Stone source: Tourmaline - this has been in my collection for many years, but I believe it came from a company called New Age gems in Victoria, British Columbia

My promise:
All of my jewelry is made by me, by hand, in my little home studio and will be shipped to you as shown, beautifully packaged and ready for gift-giving to someone special (like yourself!) I am a life-long artist and designer, and I take great care and pride in creating one of a kind jewels that evolve from my own design, emotion and inspiration, rather than trend, imitation or artifice. It means the world to me that you've witnessed my work - thank you for being here, and for shopping and supporting handmade!