Poppet: Irene’s Soul Dog
Some dogs are pets. And some dogs become your soul dog.
When Irene contacted me, she told me she would love a necklace of her little Poppet, who she missed terribly. Poppet had been 13 when she passed away, and it was clear from Irene's messages that their bond had been something very special.
She told me: “She was my comfort. She knew when to cuddle when I was in pain and would look into my eyes as if to say, ‘I’m here, you’ve got this.’”
I think anyone who has ever had a dog who seemed to know exactly what you needed will understand that completely.
Irene still has her other two dogs, Luna and Asha, but Poppet had been her soul dog. The one who had been there through difficult moments, quietly offering comfort without needing to be asked.
When I began working on Poppet's necklace, I wanted to capture more than just her face. I chose a pose where she was sitting slightly to one side, allowing me to show both her sweet expression and her lovely body and tail.
I love this sort of pose because it gives the finished piece so much more personality. You can see the little dog behind the face. Those long proportions, the body and that unmistakable tail all become part of the portrait.
One of the lovely things about this commission was that Irene is also from Northern Ireland, like me. I send my jewellery all over the world, so it was particularly nice to be making something so personal for someone a little closer to home.
“Thank you so much. It means a lot.”
Once Poppet was finished, I carefully packaged her up and sent her on her way.When Irene received the necklace, she sent me a very simple message:
“Thank you so much. It means a lot.”
And sometimes, that's all that needs to be said.
Irene also told me how much she enjoys reading my stories about the dogs behind my jewellery. She said there are so many dogs out there caring for their owners, and that it's lovely to have something to honour them with when they can no longer be beside us.
I couldn't agree more. Because perhaps that's one of the most beautiful things about making these pieces. We can't bring our dogs back, but we can keep their faces close. We can remember the funny little details, the familiar expressions and all those moments when they seemed to understand us better than anyone else.
Poppet may no longer be beside Irene, but she now has a permanent place close to her heart.
If you would like to have your own dog recreated in silver, even from older photographs, I would love to see them. You can read more about my process here: Custom Pet Jewellery.
Who knows? Your precious friend might just be the next one I’m smiling about at my workbench.
Easy Design Process
Take the first step toward an one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery you and your pets deserve. With my simple, personal design process, I'll create a treasure that lasts a lifetime, and beyond.
Read more pet jewellery stories
Pickle
A special 21st birthday necklace that looked just like this cute-as-a-button Chocolate Dapple Dachshund.
Read Story
Debra
Debra's 4 beautiful dogs will never walk together again, but they will always be remembered in her stunning silver brooch.
Read Story
Annabel
This customer didn't wear jewellery but that wasn't a problem. Her lurcher ornament was just perfect.
Read Story