Jann Tague (of Clever Designs at Etsy) loved to sew with her grandmother. Thinking back on those special times, she decided to dedicate a piece of her own handmade jewelry to those happy memories.
THAT is what this month's B'sue Boutiques Creative Group challenge is ALL about. Take a moment, think about YOUR special memories, then craft a special remembrance to something that has meaning in your life.
Sentimental Journey jewelry is not just a piece of jewelry with found items and trinkets on it, unless they mean something to YOU or to someone you love. Here's a fine example of antique memory jewelry:
This is a very valuable antique French brooch that depicts a flower bouquet under a glass dome. It is Victorian period, and the wisps, braids and leaves inside the dome are actually made from a loved one's hair. Perhaps, too, that dear one loved flowers.
The Victorians were particularly fond of jewelry that had personal meaning. Braiding hair so finely in this way was then, and still is, considered quite an art. To be sure, it's probably strange to some who have never seen it before and probably not something any of us are going to take up and learn. But you get the point, right? MAKE IT PERSONAL.
Here someone made a cameo of Gramma and pinned it to a bridal bouquet. What a lovely way to include precious memories when starting a new life with your one and only!
Here is a needle felted pendant of a darling doggie's face.....why not do a piece in memory of a favorite pet?
Think about your memories now...or even those to come. Here is the bracelet I made for my niece, Andrea, to wear for her wedding next weekend:
We are also making charm bracelets for all of the bridesmaids, I blogged about her choosing components for them, several weeks back. All of them have hand-engraved charms that say Maid of Honor. Andrea does not believe one best friend....ALL of her friends are best friends.
Hmmm. Her journey has 'only just begun'.
I am thinking back to mine.....how could I remember my own wedding this way? What do I have at home that I could use without having to destroy something?
Well, I still have some of my old wedding invitations. We didn't use them all, and I hated to throw them away, so I didn't.
I think I may have some old letters my husband wrote me, tucked away. I know I have a funky old pendant he bought me when we were dating. I never liked it much but I think I could make it into something I WOULD like now.
THAT would be Sentimental Journey jewelry, too. We have had a long one, over 38 years of marriage.
Another idea would be to find some bits of my son, Jordan's, old toys.... and put them with some special charms or engraved pieces. I think we might still have some stuff out in the garage.....
Does that get your wheels spinning? I'd love to see what you come up with, and hear the story that goes with it. Check us out at B'sue Boutiques for findings, stampings, filigree, cameos, charms....things to go with your collected items, to make those special pieces you will always treasure.
Come and join us at the Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bsueboutiquescreativegroup/ If you make jewelry, we'd love to have you.
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