Lori: Silver & Gold Greyhound Brooch
Sometimes a photo tells me almost everything I need to know.
When Lori’s owner got in touch about having a custom piece of jewellery made for his wife, he sent me a photo of Lori’s head. And as soon as I saw it, I knew this was going to make a brilliant brooch.
Greyhounds have such incredibly striking faces anyway. Those long noses and, of course, those amazing ears. Lori had plenty of character in all of those features.
What really caught my eye were her ears. One stood beautifully upright while the other sat slightly lower, giving her that very particular expression that makes a dog instantly recognisable to the people who know and love them.
She also had a lovely contrast of dark colouring around her head, with that gorgeous golden colouring appearing around her white muzzle. There was so much going on in one simple photograph, and those are exactly the details I love picking out when I make a custom piece.
I created Lori as a silver brooch, building up the shape in layers of silver and using the surface finish and engraving to bring out those distinctive markings. With a dog like Lori, getting the overall shape right is important, but it is those tiny details that really make the difference.
The ears had to be right.The shape of her muzzle had to be right. And that particular expression had to be there.
I added touches of 22 carat gold to her face and a pop of rose gold inside her ears to bring out the colouring she had.
That is the strange thing about making jewellery from photographs. I can make a silver Greyhound, but my job isn't really to make a Greyhound. It is to make Lori.
And I think that is what makes custom pet jewellery so special. It isn't simply a piece of jewellery featuring a particular breed. It is something made specifically for one dog, with all the quirks and details that make them unmistakably themselves.
Lori's husband chose a very special way to celebrate her, turning one photograph into something his wife could wear and keep close. And I have to say, I think Lori made a rather spectacular silver Greyhound.
If you’ve ever thought about having a custom piece made, whether it’s to celebrate a beloved pet or capture one of their quirks, I’d love to hear your ideas. You can read more about my process here: Custom Pet Jewellery.
Who knows? Your pet’s quirkiest habit might just be the next one I’m smiling about at my workbench.
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Complete the form or email avril directly with your photos - info@freshfleeces.com
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