Moments

Back in the fall while delivering some new jewelry to CRAFT, I had the opportunity to talk to a woman who was admiring my work.  The meeting and conversation was a chance--a moment--and it was really special.  I don't get to have the one-on-one talk about my jewelry very often, but this time was lovely--a young woman visiting Maine for the first time and connecting with its beauty and creativity.  I remember saying "Maine feeds your soul."  How true for me and apparently for her too as I would learn. 

I went about my day and later that week I arrived home to an email from an unknown name.  It was the woman I had spoken with now home from her trip to Maine.  She told me some details about the importance of her trip--for healing and new beginnings--about the unexpected loss of a love and how she wanted to "remember" their life together and how she hoped to fit my jewelry into the picture. 

She asked me if I would create a bracelet similar to the ones she saw and loved, but with a few special details, special for her--the vast universe, a green tourmaline stone (the color of his eyes), and to capture not just a memory but a "moment."  Tall order, but I thought I was up for it. 

Time passed and I found myself struggling to create--I was pressuring myself and stifling my creativity because I wanted the bracelet to be perfect for her.  So around the holidays I finally sketched out the basic design and emailed it along to her.  I expressed why it had taken me so long--my difficulty and struggle because of the meaning I wanted it to have.  Not really a surprise, I was given the OK to just create, as she knew whatever I made would be beautiful. 

And so, I did.

It is finished and is getting shipped this week.  It's a surprise, but I felt I could show it here.  It's a 1 3/4 inch wide reticulated cuff with an overlapping band.  A 5mm green tourmaline cabochon is featured off center amongst the silver baubles, and one lone 18k gold ball stands just aside from the others. 

It was my privilege to create such a meaningful piece of jewelry.  I know I put my positive energy and being into the creating of it, as did the surrounding beauty of Maine.  I also suspect that someone else had his hand (and heart) in it too.