With a May birthday fast approaching, Anita’s brief was to design and create a special necklace for her daughter’s thirtieth celebrations. We met up, looked at examples of my work and talked about how to make a very personal and extra special piece of jewellery.

One blossom takes centre stage

Anita and I explored the idea of incorporating an emerald- the May birthstone, into the piece together with either of the two birth flowers for May- Hawthorn or Lily of the Valley. However with a very specific budget and shorter time scale to make the piece than I would usually ask, we decided to keep it more simple in the form of an elegant necklet with one flower that would really take centre stage.

I learned that Anita’s daughter is petite with a slender neck prefers shorter necklaces. Looking at different chain options, we agreed that the smooth cable necklet would be a gentler way to hold the flower and taking the idea of celebrating her thirtieth birthday, I suggested twisting three cables- one for each decade.

Hawthorn- the sacred symbol of protection and love

May is unusual in having two birth flowers but researching what each one represents, Anita chose Hawthorn which blossoms in abundance here in our South Devon hedgerows. Symbolising happiness, hope and faith- the scientific name Crataegus rhipidophyllain, has it’s origins in the Greek word for strength – kratos. In Celtic traditions Hawthorn is the symbol of love and protection which all seem most befitting in a gift from mother to daughter.

I really enjoy making floral representations and love how the flower on this necklet stays in place due to the carefully entwined cable. It sits beautifully on Anita’s daughter’s collar bone and has become a very special piece of jewellery to her.