Custom Made Opal Pendant

This beautiful Opal cabochon has been waiting at least thirty years to be worn. It was brought back from Coober Pedy by my client's Grandfather as a gift for her Grandmother. It remained tucked away for safe keeping, in a little case, long after both grandparents had passed away. 

Working with my client, we decided to set this little treasure in a simple, classic four claw pendant. The design saw pierced on the back of the setting is a stylised Sage flower. Sage flowers symbolise 'wisdom', which has same meaning as her Grandmother's name. A lovely link to the history of the Opal.

I'm so pleased to have had a part in this Opal's journey. I know it will be worn and loved and have many more stories to tell.

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Yesterday, as I tottered my red watering can around the garden and admired the drying basil flowers, I was reminded of Melissa's lovely seed saving envelopes. After some peaceful time spent at the kitchen table with seed packets from my bench and Cohen's pencils, I now have my first collection of saved seeds. Which have also inspired the creation of something else. 

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Inspiration...

Olive Trees, Montmajour, Van Gogh

Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun, Van Gogh

During the last six or seven months of 1889, Van Gogh did at least fifteen paintings of olive trees—a subject he found both demanding and compelling. He wrote to his brother Theo that he was "struggling to catch [the olive trees]. They are old silver, sometimes with more blue in them, sometimes greenish, bronzed, fading white above a soil which is yellow, pink, violet tinted orange...very difficult." He found that the "rustle of the olive grove has something very secret in it, and immensely old. It is too beautiful for us to dare to paint it or to be able to imagine it." - National Gallery of Art