One of the best things about my job is that I learn about the really special bonds people share. Unless you know someone as a close friend people don't tend to come up to you and tell you about their successful relationships with friends and family. It's easy to forget how many wonderful things are happening in the world when all we see on TV is bad news or conflict fuelled dramas.
This pendant is one of the pieces that I designed that has a story behind it that is filled with love.
A customer wanted to have a necklace designed for her daughter. Her daughter is going to be moving to Canada with her partner for a year to work and experience life there. She has a very close relationship with her daughter and she wanted something really special made for her as a gift that she could wear everyday that would remind her that she was with her, even though she was far away.
The woman told me her daughter bought her a gift with a quote from the Gabrielle song Sunshine because her daughter said the lyrics remind her of her mum.
"Made a wish, I can dream
I can be what I want to be
Not afraid to live my life
And fulfil my fantasies
I learnt a lot of tricks to help me live my life
You helped me find my paradise
When you came I saw
Sunshine through my window
That's what you are
My shining star
Sunshine
Making me feel like
I'm on top of the world
Telling me I'll go far
Reaching out, for the highs
You inspired me to try
I felt the magic inside
And I felt that I could fly
I'm looking at the world in an optimistic light
You made me appreciate my life
'cause when you came you were my
Sunshine through my window
That's what you are
My shining star
Sunshine
Making me feel like
I'm on top of the world
Telling me I'll go far
You are the calm
I am the storm
You are the breeze that carries me on
When I said a truth
You wink at me
You're there for me
Sunshine (oh yeah)
That's what you are
My shining star
Sunshine
Making me feel I'm on top of the world
Telling me that I'll go far
Sunshine through my window
That's what you are
My shining star
Making me feel I'm on top of the world
Telling me that I'll go far
Sunshine through my window
That's what you are
My shining star
Sunshine
Making me feel I'm on top of the world
Telling me that I'll go far
Sunshine
My star, my star.."
What a really amazing thing to be told by your daughter!
After listening to the song I suggested we go for a design which had a combination of sun and stars in it. She like the idea and said her daughter liked really delicate pieces of jewellery. We experimented with some ideas with different sun and star symbols but the customer really wanted something that had sunshine through a window because she wanted it to be clear it was related to this particular song.
The pendant has a silver rectangle divided in two with a yellow sapphire set in the top corner. Once you know the story, you realise this is related to the song but we kept it abstract so it becomes a personal symbol to them both. In the chain, a solid silver star has been attached. It moves up and down when worn, making it a guiding star and the customer suggested putting it on the left hand side when worn so it was next to her daughter's heart.
This is a beautiful one off piece that celebrates a strong relationship between a mother and daughter.
