VanIsle-ntines Day Necklace

Vancouver Island in Sterling Silver. Each island is cut by meticulously by hand using a little saw. The island hangs from an adjustable solid sterling silver chain and clasp.

Made for the woman who loves this wind-whipped island of mud and wet - theres no other place she’d rather be. For those whose heart aches when she’s away. Who feels the pull of the tides, pulling her west. For those who know that rolling off the ferry feels like coming home.

HOW IT'S MADE

Guided by satellite imagery, I saw the outline of Vancouver Island from a thick sheet of silver.  I free-hand the inlets and fiddly bits around the fjords. After all, it's not just the shape of the island, but the deep inlets and fjords that gives us Tofino, Bamfield, Port Alberta and Quatsino Sound. The history of the island, carved by ice over 15,000 years ago. 

I think about the waterways I cut into every island. Because I’ve been there, by boat, by land, by wind power, diesel power, by my own woman power. I remember driving north, pulling off the highway, finding the almost unnoticeable trailhead, hiking down through the dripping trees and spongey mosses to a secret emerald green cove. I remember sleeping soundly on a windswept beach, the surf thundering not far from my tent. I remember feeling acutely aware of my tiny human size while kayaking amongst a pod of killer whales. 

I use recycled sterling silver because the health of our planet is important to me - and I make choices to support that.

I leave my saw blade marks around the edges of my little islands. In the jewellery world this is considered leaving a piece unfinished. It should be buffed and polished to a perfect mirror finish. But I see the tool marks as the artist’s fingerprint. I love running my fingers over the ridges of my hand thrown mug, knowing they were left there by the potter. I find joy in the imperfections.

One of the very best feelings is being tagged by a woman on Instagram wearing one of my necklaces. It brings me joy to no end. Tag #originalvanisle if you want to make my day!