Beautiful Custom Anniversary Request

A couple of months ago a customer reached out to ask if I could make a custom piece of jewellery for his wife to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. Time was short I we had about 3 weeks to design and make either a Ceramic Pendant Necklace or a Brooch which for any maker is super tight. I love a challenge though and more than anything I love being involved in something so thoughtful.

My customer and his wife had been married in the beautiful Aberdour Castle in Fife Scotland. The stunning ceiling of the Gallery under which they married is painted with beautiful depictions of fruit and creatures dating back to the 1600s. It is this ceiling that my customer was keen to reflect in either a Pendant or a Brooch.

So the Brief was Ceiling paintings from Aberdour, favourite colour Topaz, pendant necklace or brooch, nothing too bold yet something that would be sentimental and last a lifetime and we had 3 weeks!!

So lots of sketching started and I picked out elements of the ceiling that would best reflect the sentiment of the brief.  I also decided to use red clay for the pendant as a nod to the beautiful wood of the roof.  I would use blues to depict the paintings with a white background against the dark of the clay creating a distressed finish to replicate the age of the original.

Over the period of a week I made quite a few mock ups but I just could not get happy with the image, during this time my customer picked a gorgeous necklace to use with the pendant. So it was just a case of keep sketching and playing with the image and hope that in the time frame we had it would come together.

I decided to completely rework the image I had been tweaking unsuccessfully for a week!  et Voila at last I had a painting that felt right and fitted the brief. During this time I was in constant contact with the Customer who was incredibly supportive of the process and brilliant with feedback. Thankfully he loved the new design too so it was full steam ahead making the pendant along with a couple of spares just in case the Kiln gods weren't feeling very generous. 

Im pleased to say the kiln gods looked after us and we had 3 ceramic pieces. I set about fixing a Bail to one which would be the pendant so it could be hung on the necklace my Customer had chosen. As a little extra I also fitted a Brooch back to another of the successful ceramic pieces, It felt only right that it should go to someone with whom it had been designed for. 

So here we have the finished Ceramic Pendant Necklace and Brooch made to order as a surprise to celebrate a 20th wedding anniversary.

I ordered the Postage collection, wrapped the pieces with care and sent them on their way with a couple of days to spare. Phew!

My customer didn't know about the Brooch so it was a lovely surprise for him too. The feedback following the day of their Anniversary was lovely and Im so honoured to have been part of such a thoughtful gift to celebrate their 20 years together.

Commissions like these make being a maker so special, I am very lucky indeed! 

I hope it goes on to bring joy and memories of such a special day for like my customer requested, a lifetime.