I wanted to share with you a piece I made for myself, which you would think that would be easy being a jewellery designer and maker wouldn't you?! Sadly not, this necklace holds some ash from a horse that can never be replaced who I unexpectedly and tragically lost on the 4th November 2022. Making this took time, every time I picked it up to work on it, my own grief took over and I had to put it back down again. Usually I feel such joy when making memorial jewellery as I know how much it will mean to the client, but no this time.
Cadance was one of those moments in life that you know was meant to be. I had an email come through from a site selling horses and there was this image of a beautiful chestnut mare for sale as a broodmare for a very reasonable amount. After a few enquiries it turned out that she could be a ridden horse and this convinced me to take a punt on buying her. She was my dream horse, we took her from an over weight field ornament to a dressage diva and in the 2 short years she was with me we rode for Wales and got to every National Championship for our respective level.
She taught me so much as her kindness was her biggest asset, never mind her natural talent for dressage. She brought the love for the sport back to me and I had so many new experiences because of her. We lost her to colic and that day was the hardest and darkest day of my life so far. I knew saying good bye was right because she was in so much pain but my own pain felt greater at that time. She was never just a horse, she was something way more.
So to honour her properly it had to be red gold to match her beautiful red coat. I love making horse shoes in silver and always wear one of my silver horse shoe necklaces, so this was to be the design. Then I remembered a white gold and diamond ring my parents gave me for my 21st. Its far too small now and I had lost a few of the stones so I thought they would be much better suited to bring in the necklace than sitting in a draw.
I made a small well in the back of the pendant and placed some pieces of cremation ash inside. It was then sealed with a yellow gold piece so it is easily identifiable that she is behind it. I will probably engrave her name or a heart there, but that will be for another time.
Its just a beautiful item of jewellery, I have so many comments about it and only need to tell people its a memorial piece if I want too. She is there right next to me, 24/7, and it means the world to me to have a piece of her so close. The 5 months it took me to complete it will now last for a life time.
Victoria x