Odie: An extra special Chow Chow gift from son to Mum
Some commissions reach further back than others.
When Elliott got in touch, he wasn’t asking for a piece based on a recent photograph or a dog he had known himself. This was something different. He wanted to create an extra special birthday gift for his mum, based on a dog she had loved deeply, but who had passed away just weeks before Elliott was even born.
The only reference was an old photograph from the 1990s. Elliott apologised for the quality, but it didn’t matter. Sometimes it is not about perfect images, but about capturing the feeling of the dog.
And from that photograph, I could see Odie.
Odie was a Chow Chow, and like all Chow Chows, he had a wonderfully distinctive shape. That strong, proud outline. That incredible plume of a tail. I knew straight away that if I could get those foundations right, the piece would work.
Because with dogs like Odie, the outline is everything.
I began by building the necklace from layers of sterling silver, shaping each section carefully before bringing them together. His coat was the next challenge. Chow Chows have that dense, textured fur that gives them such presence, so I heavily engraved the silver to reflect that depth and movement.
Slowly, Odie started to emerge.
To bring warmth and richness into the piece, I added a thick layer of gold plating, echoing the beautiful tones of his coat. It gave him that unmistakable Chow Chow glow, strong and soft at the same time.
When the necklace was finished, I carefully packaged him up and sent him on his way, hoping that when Elliott’s mum opened the box, she would recognise him straight away.
““Hello again! I just wanted to say that it was my mum’s birthday yesterday and that she cried when she opened it! She immediately recognised who it was and said that it was the most gorgeous and thoughtful gift she has ever had. The amount of detail on it is really impressive and she really is over the moon with it, thank you so much for creating it!”
Elliott’s message came soon after her birthday:
“Hello again! I just wanted to say that it was my mum’s birthday yesterday and that she cried when she opened it! She immediately recognised who it was and said that it was the most gorgeous and thoughtful gift she has ever had. The amount of detail on it is really impressive and she really is over the moon with it, thank you so much for creating it!”
There is something incredibly powerful about that moment. When someone sees a piece and instantly knows who it is.
Not just a dog. Their dog.
Odie had been gone for many years, but in that moment, he was there again. Recognised, remembered, and held close.
And I think that is what makes these commissions so special. They do not just capture what a dog looked like. They reconnect people with a part of their life they thought was gone.
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.
Send a few photographs and begin a conversation about a custom piece.
You don’t need to know exactly what you want. Photos are enough to start.
- WhatsApp your photos using the green button (below right)
- email me directly at info@freshfleeces.com
- or complete the enquiry form and I’ll be in touch
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