Summer ends and I salute the long life of my father who blessed so many with his loving presence. At nearly 101 years he was the stable rock of my life. To each of you who had written me, thank you. Your notes lifted my heavy heart.

"Luna's Ears" Necklace

This is a powerful necklace, co-designed with the Deputy General Counsel for an international company who also happens to understand the importance of dogs in our lives. Holly named this piece for Luna, my Llahsa Apso whose fur is blonde, orange and grey especially around her ears. Holly, Luna and I met on Sunday afternoons for over a year, fine-tuning the many shapes and shades of citrine, labradorite and swirling Psilolomene that comprise this necklace. Holly was delighted to engage her creative side, in bright contrast to her work as a lawyer. I simply adore what the three of us manifested together, and that it turned out to be comfortable and easy to wear with a suit or evening attire.

Riccarda's Amethyst Ring
 

My own Mother, Irene Phrydas Papageorge, MD  encouraged me to make jewelry as a profession over 40 years ago when she recognized my creative talent and aptitude for it.  Not too long before she died in 1989, she commissioned  me to create an unusual setting for a perfect, rare Siberian Amethyst we had purchased together years earlier. Soon after Mama died,  I offered a former patient of hers, who revered and missed her greatly, the opportunity to wear this ring on temporary loan.  This woman treasured wearing it for 23 years, and last year I requested its return to me. The first time I actually wore it to work, Riccarda happened to be meeting with me on a separate order and admired the ring. I encouraged her to put it on. In stature and appearance, Riccarda is very much like my mother. There was an immediate attraction, and Riccarda asked me to duplicate the ring for her. That was a year ago.

Gunilla's Coral Earrings

As an oil painter and avid gardener, Gunilla understands the subtleties of color as well as I do.  When she said she had been searching for a specific shade of large, salmon colored natural Coral for earrings, I knew I was in for a challenge. This shade of Coral only grows in the Mediterranean where pollution has destroyed many of these coral beds making them even rarer. The Coral found for these earrings was harvested about 40 years ago, but polished into large cabochons recently. The bezels and handmade hinged lever backs in 14K offer a secure closure for the former Ford Model who still looks like she stepped off a photo shoot in St.Tropez.

Kathryn's Orbit Necklace

Last year when I had a show at Kathryn and Mark's home in Seattle, she handed me a pile of her old jewelry, most of which had either belonged to her mother or had been given to her decades ago, none of it in a style she would ever wear again. There were piles of Rubies and Diamonds and colored stones, set in platinum or gold. She was uncertain what she wanted and gave me free reign to "Have fun!"