The inspiration:
Full moon - midnight birdsong - silver light - quiet comfort - serendipity

The materials:
Moody grey moonstones glow in a night sky framed by sterling silver and lit by tiny shiny stars.

The history:
Moonstone, a type of feldspar, was so named for how its inner structure diffracts the light (adularescence), creating a shimmering, billowy glow that the ancients believed was moon rays captured within the stone. The great designers of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau eras favoured moonstone for its delicate, ethereal glow and subtle, romantic colours, and it became symbolic of good luck, abundance and femininity. It was considered a stone of protection for travellers and for those going through life transitions, and has now come to be known as an alternative birthstone for June babies. These beautiful, smoky moonstones were sourced from NikMak in Montreal, Québec.

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 striking setting highlights the round moonstones against a dark background spangled with recycled silver granulation like stars against a night sky. The stones are neatly set in clean-edge bezels against solid, polished backplates to enhance their glow. An arc of silver and frame of substantial sterling wire provide bright contrast, and a tiny sterling jump ring connects the earring to its handmade, sterling silver, standard (20g) ear wire.

The details:

• Earring length (total): 45 mm

• Earring width (widest point): 13 mm

• Stone cut & size: moonstone cabochon, 8 mm diameter

• Recycled components: silver earring construction

• Stone source: Moonstones - NikMak in Montreal, Québec, Canada

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!