Inspirations for Juliette Figurative Inlay Pendant
“Juliette (The Cherished Thing We Share),” figurative inlay pendant made with Argentium and sterling silver inlaid with Australian opal, Pink Lady opal, Laguna lace agate, turquoise and jaspers.
Heidi Lowe Gallery recently invited me to be a part of a small group exhibition “Amoré,” where each of the 10 women artists were given a love letter to interpret and make one piece of jewelry from.
This is the love letter I was given:
“I love you, my poor little angel, you know it, and yet you want me to write it to you. You are right. You have to love each other, and then you have to say it, and then you have to write it, and then you have to kiss each other on the lips, in the eyes, everywhere. You are my beloved Juliette. When I am sad I think of you, as in winter one thinks of the sun, and when I am happy I think of you, as in full sun one thinks of the shade. You can well see, Juliette, that I love you with all my soul.
You have the youthful air of a child, and the wise air of a mother, and so I envelop you with all these loves at once.”
As someone whose love language also resides in communication, I really felt Juliette’s deep need of verbal affirmation of her lover’s affection. The repetition of saying “I love you” to your sweetie is not unlike my lapidary process, where stones are tenderly cut and shaped to fit into my figurative inlay pendant. Each stone goes through a repetitious process to turn rough stones into polished beauties.
Every time I hear “I love you” from my lover at night, it’s like my soul is re-polished after being scuffed up by a rough day.
This inlay, titled “Juliette (The Cherish Thing We Share),” is similar to many of my signature figurative inlay pendants, but there are a few new techniques I added to her—the first being that this is the first time I have cut an Australian opal for an inlay.
The Australian opal she is holding is representative of the love shared between her and her lover, carefully tended to so that it can sparkle bright and true.
Another new little detail in this piece is the addition of a small piece of inlaid pink opal on the back of the pendant.
It was also fitting that the opal used for her skin is from the Pink Lady Opal mine in Oregon!
She will be on display at the Heidi Lowe Gallery through 2025. The opening reception for this exhibition will be held on Valentine’s Day—February 14th from 5-7pm.