“North Star and the City by the Lake” Pendant Necklace / Solid Sterling Silver / Fine Silver / 14k Gold / Aquamarine / Sunstone / Hand Forged

Description

“North Star and the City by the Lake” one of a kind wearable art pendant. A story of trusting where your feet take you, being open to experiencing life, and finding yourself in your chosen city, your chosen home.

This one of a kind pendant necklace is entirely hand forged of solid sterling silver, fine silver, and 14k gold. It features a gorgeous and glittering Oregon Sunstone and a dreamy rose cut Aquamarine. Dangling next to the main pendant is a hand forged compass pendant with footprints on the backside. A sturdy and dazzling diamond cut cable chain completes the design.

This necklace is one of a kind and cannot be duplicated, you will receive the exact one shown here. For more details about the inspiration and construction of this piece, see below.

THE DETAILS

-Pendant (and accompanying compass pendant) are entirely and meticulously built by hand, piece by piece, with my hand tools and skills. Because they were hand forged and not casted or machined, this necklace is truly one of a kind and can never be duplicated.

-Solid sterling silver makes up the majority of the piece, with a fine silver scalloped bezel mounting for the aquamarine, and solid 14k gold ball accents adorning the piece around the stones, as well as 14k molten gold permanently fused into the silver around the sunrays to accent and highlight them.

-Stones are genuine faceted Oregon sunstone, and genuine rose cut aquamarine which are responsibly earth mined and not treated in any way.

-Pendant measures 38mm (about 1 1/2″) tall, (not including top loops which add about 8mm or just over 1/4″), 26mm (just over 1″) width, and 5mm (3/16″) deep at it’s deepest part.

-Compass pendant measures 16mm (5/8″) tall (not including top loop which adds about 3.5mm or 1/8″), 11.5mm (just under 1/2″) wide, and 1.5mm (1/16″) thickness.

-Chain is a 1.5mm solid sterling silver diamond cut cable chain finished with a solid sterling silver lobster clasp,  20 inches in length. It is sturdy yet elegant, and sparkles like a dream. Chain length can be altered upon request.

Thank you so much for visiting my shop! If you have any questions about this design or any of the designs in my shop, please contact me, I’m happy to help!

ARTIST STATEMENT

This pendant was inspired by a poem about making it in Chicago, by poet Chuck Joy. It tells the story of a woman who leaves her small rural hometown in pursuit of finding herself and having experiences in the city. I got to know her through the poetry and her story resonated with me. I designed this necklace to represent the idea of her, but truly anyone who travels or adventures to new places. The compass pendant represents her roots, her north star, and the footprints on the back guiding her no matter where her feet take her. A talisman from home. The main pendant represents the new beginnings, the adventure, and the becoming. The life she chooses in her new place.

As someone who grew up just outside of Chicago, but also someone who left my hometown to have adventures and find my “chosen home”, I wanted to capture the grand adventure of it all. I wanted the pendant to have some architectural features, in the texture and rustic feel of the backplate, and a size that would feel big, maybe even a little overwhelming at first. Then, I also wanted it to have some organic and natural representations of the sun and water; calming and reassuring anchors to help you breathe deeply and take it all in, no matter how big, bustling, or awe inspiring the surrounding environment may be. That balance of awe and calm are also represented in the fire of the sunstone, and the serenity of the aquamarine.

I loved the idea of the “City by the Lake” (a lesser known nickname for Chicago) having grown up there, but I didn’t want this piece to overtly represent Chicago either, as there are many cities by the lake (just don’t tell a Chicagoan that). I have recently settled into my chosen home and I have discovered another beloved “City by the Lake” to explore and adore. Really, I created this piece to represent a journey for an individual. A journey of following your north star, bravely adventuring away from home, trusting your feet and your heart, remembering to shine brightly, and embracing all the life experiences that come your way… and perhaps, finding a body of water to sit by from time to time.

ABOUT AQUAMARINE

Aquamarine is a member of the beryl family of gems. It is found worldwide with the largest deposits coming from Brazil. It occurs in shades of blue to green and greenish blue.

Aquamarine is known as the “Stone of courage and serenity”. It is said to evoke the sea in both it’s color and energetic properties, cleansing and balancing, purifying and aligning. It is the birthstone for March. Sometimes referred to as the “breath stone” it is also believed to be closely connected with breathing and encouraging calmness, insight, and truth.

ABOUT SUNSTONE

Sunstone is a member of the feldspar group of minerals, and its glittering inclusions are iron oxides (hematite) or copper. In the case of this stone, being an Oregon sunstone, the inclusions are copper.

Known as a stone of joy, sunstone is closely aligned with the sun and solar energy, as well as the solar plexus and sacral chakras. It is said to inspire independence and originality, as well as motivation and emotional warmth. It is also believed to help one reveal hidden talents, strengthen one’s will and feelings of worthiness, and aid in good leadership through self nurturing.