Some years back, while tidying up and decluttering, I took out a heap of unworn jewellery—sentimental, memory-evoking pieces lying listless in a box, and slowly tarnishing. I looked at each piece, remembering who had given it to me, for which occasion, and what it meant to me.

My mum had recently passed away and left me her engagement ring. I wanted to wear it, and so hold her memory close, but it wasn’t my style, and really didn’t suit me. I felt sad not to honour her by wearing it, and wondered how it, and my other pieces, which included old signet rings and my grandmother’s pendants, could be celebrated. Since my first pair of Daisy earrings I have always loved the Scarab creations, crafted by Janine, so I took my bag of jewelled memories to her. She set to work as an alchemist might, recreating each piece into a new expression of beauty without forfeiting the memory it held.
Light now shines through these reinterpreted jewels. Instead of being forgotten and static in a box, they are now worn with pleasure.

I am grateful for Janine’s artistry, care and creativity in bringing these treasures back to life.
Whenever I wear one of them, my heart is full.
Thank you, Janine, for capturing the story and even sacredness of each piece.
Most especially, congratulations for the thirty years you’ve spent working with the earth’s gifts of silver, gold and gemstones, rendering these into memorable and beautiful things.