I couldn't resist taking a small photo shoot of my granddaughter
playing with one of my old test pieces of jewelry. Of course I watch her very
closely and would not leave her alone with any necklace at such a young age,
but I was curious to see just what she would do with it. She figured out how to
get it around her neck and to parade around with it like a queen. Quite an
accomplishment to secure such a treasure all on her own!
This last year I've made several Jazz-proof
pieces of jewelry for her mother. My step-daughter—herself with three young
children--first introduced me to "momma” necklaces and I've made several
using polymer clay. My daughter favors the glass pendants that double as a teether
and wearable “toy.” I wire wrap the pendant, double and triple thread, crimp
at multiply places, and use a mixture of very large and small beads (just in case it breaks). On a rare occasion my daughter will bring me a pre-Jazz
design that needs reassembling, but most of my pieces have held up very well. I
really do want my designs to last!
My new motto is: Is it Jazz proof? Of course some of my more delicate pieces will never be totally baby proof, but over all I strive for an excellence in my craft that I hope will last through the generations. My daughter’s newest piece—a Valentine’s Day heart—was a big hit with my granddaughter…you’d think I had made it for her.
I can't wait for the
day my granddaughters can wear their bling with pride--unsupervised!