When asked if I could create a cross for her son and daughter from her parents’ golden wedding bands, I was both honored and beyond excited! Transforming personal, meaningful jewelry into treasures for the next generation is something that ignites a fire in me that is hard to describe. When a beautiful family heirloom tells a story each time you put it on , and reminds you of your loved one, it makes this craft so endearing.

In keeping with the integrity of the rings, not melting or distorting its original beauty, I was able to create crosses for her children. Her mother’s ring was smaller yet thicker, her father’s ring, larger and thinner. The son’s cross was made from his Grandmother’s ring (it was thicker), and the daughter’s cross made from her Grandfather’s ring.

The rings were sawed open and straightened out.

But wait…there was left over gold!! In Cajun French, we call it Lagniappe:) What’s an artist to do?

Bar Necklaces! That’s what I’ll do! Matching Mother and Daughter bar necklaces were made with the left over gold. The daughter chose the bar made from Grandmother’s ring, being her cross was created from Grandfather’s ring. Now she as a piece of both:)

The exact rings that adorned the hands of grandparents’ and parents’, are now worn (literally) on the hearts of the next generations. Ahh, I love that.

This was so much fun. And when you deliver the goods and she cries, that’s when you know God had his hands all over this.

I absolutely love taking something meaningful, and creating new beautiful pieces that carry around love and memories. Very special indeed.

Thank you Paula for trusting me. I am truly honored.

God Bless,

Shannon

Do you have special pieces of jewelry sitting around in a drawer or jewelry box…pieces that belonged to your grandmother, grandfather, mom or dad, or a special family member?

Well I did…my Dad’s cowboy hat pin…it is the only diamonds (very tiny ones) he ever owned, besides a diamond chip in a 14k gold toothpick. I kept looking at that pin and thinking “What good is it in this drawer?” “What can I do with that pin?” Then it hit me…I’ll make a ring! I’ll wear that!

So, keeping the integrity of the original piece, I cut off the pin and soldered it to a very wide, thick band of gold…I LOVE that ring! I call it Lloyd, that was my dad. So when I go somewhere and I wear it, I always say, “Look I brought Lloyd along for the ride".

It is a reminder of his love of horses and everything Cowboy. And his incredible sense of humor and ability to make everyone laugh. It’s a conversation piece, and I love having conversations about him and telling one of his many, many jokes he told everywhere he went.

So there you go…better on my finger than in a drawer! And about that toothpick, if I can ever get it from my sister, a pinkie ring it will be…but shhhhh, that’s between us! LOL

If you have meaningful pieces of jewelry laying around and would like to make it anew…email me, I would love to talk to you about it. Go to the Contact page and just fill in your info, it’s that simple.

Be on the lookout for more stories of beautiful heirlooms coming back to life and being worn again, with lots of conversations for generations to come.

God Bless,
Shannon