Anniversaries: Silver and Pearls

I remember my sister returning from her semester abroad like it was yesterday. That's us right after she came home. She was giddy when recounting the stories of her travels, the people she met, the countries she'd seen .... and the shopping. Man I wanted to have been there with her while she was drifting through the streets of Spain or Paris. I still have the Damascene bracelet she gave me; it's what piqued my interested in antique jewelry.  

After college, and I mean the week she graduated, she packed up and moved to New Zealand ... lock, stock and barrel. She had met a great guy from NZ while she was abroad and that was it. 25 years later, she's still there. Married, two beautiful, grown boys, and some 8,800+ miles away. Sigh. I miss my sister.

I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks with her this past February. It was heaven. Lots of chit-chatting, shopping and just general 'sister stuff.' On one of those shopping excursions she pointed out a string of fresh water pearls she liked. I brought the pearls home with me to make something special for her. 
I later realized that what she wanted was similar to a necklace I had restrung last summer with my mom's pearls (above center). I added a sweet little marcasite and pearl charm that I pulled off another necklace from mom. I decided she should have them both. One from mom, and a new one just for her.  


The new one is a double strand necklace set with a large pearl clasp, and pearl coins. I used small onyx rounds to space the pearls in the necklaces. It's a classic Cartier style that I love with pearls. Sometimes just a simple, elegant stringing style is best. I hope she likes these and wears them often. Happy 25th Anniversary Sis!