When I sit down at the jeweller's bench to create a ring, a pendant, or a set of earrings, I feel like a gardener. Just like tending a garden, silversmithing is about patience, precision, and nurturing each detail—I shape and coax the silver into leaves and blossoms, watching it bloom into something beautiful.
Using traditional silversmithing tools and techniques, I work the raw sterling silver by slowly, building upon the last step to create a layered botanical garden. When the silver components finally come together, a miniature wearable sculpture is revealed.
This pendant (2 of 3) was exhibited with the Alberta Craft Council in 2024 as part of their "minutiae" group show. It is one of a kind - each component is made by hand and carefully considered. It is a beautiful piece of art jewellery to add to your collection and one to be treasured.
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Teardrop Garden Pendant // One of a Kind
♢ Solid sterling silver, both traditional and argentium sterling silver.
♢ The flowers and leaves are created in metal clay, which is made up of tiny, recycled sterling silver metal particles mixed with and organic clay like binder. It can be sculpted, molded, and formed however I want. For this design I have hand sculpted each petal to form the opening rose, literally ne of a kind. After the designs dry 100%, into my kiln they go for a two-part firing process. The clay reaches 1500℉ for about an hour and the organic binder burns completely away leaving tiny solid sterling silver botanical elements I can play around with for my designs.
♢ The frame, bail, backplate and sprouts are all hand constructed from Argentium sterling silver. Argentium silver is a cleaner type of silver – both for me and the environment. It has a slightly higher fine silver content then traditional silver (93.5% compared to sterling’s 92.5%.) Made from recycled traditional silver it is a great choice both ethically and environmentally. Alloyed with hypo allergenic germanium it fuses beautifully and is fun to work with! Argentium silver allows me to work safer in the studio, by eliminating toxic flux and pickle fumes. I love working with Argentium silver and I am excited to present to you a silver that is cleaner and of a higher quality then traditional sterling silver.
♢ The back features my signature MP (registered trademark) and a 925 sterling silver quality stamp. It is polished smooth.
♢ I apply a dark patina to the recessed areas of the pendant and it goes into my tumbler with steel shot to harden and polish the surface. The high points are polished to a bright shine, creating a beautiful contrast. This contrast between dark and light is what sterling silver is famous for!
♢ The process of creating is slow and intentional, I use traditional metalsmithing tools and processes alongside modern ones to create all my pieces by hand. My heart goes into every single piece I design.
