New! On Eagle’s Wings Cross Designs

“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

sterling silver On Eagle’s Wings cross measures 1 1/8″ X 3/4″

This jewelry piece, H66 On Eagle’s Wings, is a high polished sterling silver cross with a raised, stylized eagle. It measures 1 1/8″ X 3/4″ (measurement does not include bale). Priced at $55 for the cross + $6 US shipping = $61.  I am now accepting pre-orders while it is still in production stages. Click the photo or above link to pre-order from my website.

The design came about over the summer as a commission from St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas  to make a large pectoral cross (below) for one of their pastors celebrating 50 years in ministry. After making the large cross in the style of my Impressions of Nature series they decided to make a smaller cross (above) available to their members. The stylized eagle design I used on the crosses is my 3 dimensional interpretation of the logo of St. John Lutheran Church.

large sterling silver On Eagle’s Wings Impressions of Nature pectoral cross measures 3″ X 2″

The eagle is a powerful symbol used to represent St. John the Evangelist. Christian tradition has connected the authors of the New Testament Gospels that bear their names (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) with the four “living creatures” that surround God’s throne, as described in Revelations, Ezekiel, and other early Christian texts. John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account is symbolized by an eagle because, as the eagle soars towards heaven, he soared in spirit upwards to the heaven of heavens to bring revelations back to earth. John describes many things at a loftier level than the other three gospel authors.

The eagle represents Jesus’ Ascension, and Christ’s divine nature. More inspirational symbolism of the eagle may be found online, including this primer to Catholic symbolism, where a Cloistered Poor Clare Colettine Nun beautifully expresses the power of our Christian symbols as teaching tools to “…grasp them in their beautiful simplicity and begin to appreciate the profound meaning within them, for each contains an entire treasury of thought, a repository of the experience of life in the Faith in its many joyful, painful and hopeful dimensions.” Her symbolism of the eagle includes “The Word of God has the power to raise us up on eagles wings and bring us to heaven” as expressed in the verse from Isaiah that I include with these crosses in a printed gift enclosure.

Both crosses are available to all for purchase. In the spirit of our inclusive faith, I do not create exclusive designs. My thanks to St. John Lutheran for generously sharing their eagle logo design with the world in this way. It was a joy for me to translate it into this new form to create another wearable love story and statement of faith. Click the respective photos or linked text to read the full description of each design with ordering information on my website.

Symbolic Jewelry Grouped By Small Size Designs

This grouping shows the smaller designs available in my “From The Heart Line” sterling silver Christian symbol jewelry series. I have been creating and growing this line of faith inspired jewelry since 1988. I include a gift enclosure of symbolism with each piece, offering the wearer a “love story” to visibly wear and verbally share. Read more about these visual stories & wearable statements of faith on my website. All shown may be ordered and delivered in time for Christmas gifting. A gift that centers on the reason we celebrate this season.

Jewelry Designs For Episcopal Church Women or ECW

As I am making final preparations to exhibit another year at our Diocese of Texas annual ECW retreat at Camp Allen, I decided to share the jewelry and logos I have designed for the Episcopal Church Women. The first design I created is the butterfly. This design features a woman as a butterfly, with an “ECW” monogram on her wings. She is a woman “on the move”, heading into the future with joyful anticipation. The next design is A New Light Is Shining. She’s a woman in action, moving out into the world with a mission. The light of Christ illuminates her path. Her arms lift joyfully, inviting others in a call to action. The olive branch draped across her chest urges us to carry on Christ’s reconciliation in the world. ECW glows in the Christ light.

In 2001 I was commissioned by our acting diocesan ECW president to create the butterfly design in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Texas. The design is also available for logo use and I extend the gift to all Episcopal Church Women to use this logo in their ECW ministries with the exception of using it on items for sale without my prior permission. I will be happy to send quality artwork images for such use upon request. In the Diocese of Texas my design is referred to as the Centennial Butterfly, and it was never intended as a replacement for an older butterfly design also still in use. The centennial butterfly jewelry is available to order from my website and may be worn by anyone.

Prior to the 2003 ECW Triennial, I was invited to submit a design for the Episcopal Church Women’s Triennial Logo, which they selected for use as their official logo at the 2003 national meeting. I also created the design in jewelry form, which remains available for purchase as A New Light Is Shining medallion pendant.  I have many of these pendants in inventory ready to ship and priced at low 2003 prices. They may be ordered directly from my website. More about this commission may be read in the Episcopal News Service archive in a story titled “ECW logo artist gives voice to design“. Again, I extend the gift to all Episcopal Church Women to use this logo in their ECW ministries with the exception of using it on items for sale without my prior permission. It is in use as a logo in many dioceses. I will be happy to send quality artwork images for such use upon request.

Images of the logos and more about these ECW projects may be found on my website.

Hearts & Amethysts For February

Descending Dove With Amethyst

The birthstone for February is the beautiful purple amethyst gemstone and Valentine’s Day brings heart jewelry into favor this month. I started my line of Christian symbol jewelry in 1988 with a heart theme. Many of these early designs incorporating symbols within hearts are shown in the grouping below. (Click the photos to link to my website where you’ll find more details and prices on each piece.) Some of the names of my heart themed pieces are “Hearts Entwined In Christ”, “Shine In My Heart”, “Peace of the Lord”, “Heart Ablaze”, “One In The Spirit”, and “Holy Spirit Alight In My Heart”. Each comes with a printed gift enclosure weaving the combination of symbols into a story, giving the wearer a message of faith to share with the world.

From The Heart Symbolic Jewelry

The American Gem Society reports that amethyst, is a purple quartz, a beautiful blend of violet and red that can found in every corner of the earth.  English regalia were decorated with amethysts during the Middle Ages to symbolize royalty. This symbolism also ties to it’s use in the Church today as purple is the biblical color associated with royalty. The things of the King are often referred to as being royal such as the royal city and royal priesthood. Purple is the liturgical color often used to represent the passion of Christ and used in seasons of penitence and mourning.

Canterbury Cross With Amethyst

The word amethyst comes from the Greek word “amethystos,” meaning sober.  In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence. February’s purple birthstone has been found among the possessions of royalty throughout the ages.  The intense violet hue of amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color. Purple dye was scarce and expensive at one time, and so it was reserved for the garments of kings and queens. Amethyst has been found in ruins dating as far back as the ninth century, adorning crowns, scepters, jewelry, and breastplates worn into battle.  A large amethyst is among the closely guarded gemstones in the British Crown Jewels.

Gift of God Amethyst Cross

I designed my “Gift of God” cross to resemble the ribbon of a bow, symbolizing the gift. “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith… It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift.” Eph. 2:8-9 This amethyst cross is shown on my website on a purple cord which is a popular option for wearing many of the gemstone designs.

As always, I encourage my customers to not feel limited by the gem assigned to their  month of birth but to enjoy any special connection to their birthstone, while embracing all gem colors that appeal to them. Color is a spice of life!

All designs shown are available for immediate delivery on date of this post (February 2, 2012). Ordering/purchasing information may be found on the contact page of my website and prices for each piece shown are posted  on each design’s page (click each image).

Symbol Designs With Garnet Gemstones

Bishop Alard Cross W/ Garnet

The birthstone for January is a garnet, one of my favorite colored gemstones. As we begin a new year, I thought it might be fun to share a blog post each month to spotlight some of my designs available with the month’s birthstone(s). Click each photo to link to more information about the design on my website. As a longtime lover of  the large spectrum of colored gemstones, I have always encouraged my customers to not feel limited by the gem assigned to their  month of birth but to enjoy any special connection to their birthstone, while embracing all gem colors that make their heart sing. I have often included color symbolism in my stories that accompany my symbol designs with gemstones. The garnet for me symbolizes the blood of Christ when used in a cross. I found it interesting to read that Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed. The pomegranate is a very symbolic image used throughout history.

Sterling Canterbury Cross With Garnet

A little online research leads to some history and lore about birthstones. The American Gem Society states “The origin of birthstones is believed to date back to the breastplate of Aaron which contained twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The current list dates back to 1912 with only one addition since then – the tanzanite was added to December.” They include a color photo list arranged by month where you may click on the month you were born to learn the history of your birthstone. Many Museums of Natural Science & History include information too. The Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture has some interesting science and legend behind birthstones stating “how powerful it is to have our month of birth represented by a beautiful natural gemstone. We can own and display our special stone and feel embraced by its beauty”.

"The Spirit In Motion" Descending Dove W/ Rhodolite Garnet

The American Gem Society states, “Garnet, the birthstone for January,  signifies eternal friendship and trust and is the perfect gift for a friend.  Garnet, derived from the word granatum, means seed, and is called so because of the gemstone’s resemblance to a pomegranate seed.  References to the gemstone dates back to 3100 B.C., when the Egyptians used garnets as inlays jewelry.  Garnet is the name of a group of minerals that comes in a rainbow of colors, from the deep red of the pyrope garnet to the vibrant green of tsavorites.  Today, the most important sources for garnet are Africa, Sri Lanka, and India.” Personally, I am quite fond of tsavorite garnets that rival the color of emeralds. The Burke Museum website shows a garnet in it’s naturally occurring state, and suggests “The next time you eat a pomegranate, you will notice the seeds’ resemblance to garnet.”

All designs shown are available for immediate delivery on date of this post (January 18, 2012). Ordering/purchasing information may be found on the contact page of my website and prices for each piece shown are posted  on each design’s page (click each image).

Sterling Silver "Gift Of God" Cross W/ Garnet On Red Leather Cord

Feeling “One In The Spirit” Today

Today I celebrate many years of marriage with my husband so I am personally feeling the spirit of this One In The Spirit jewelry design. I designed this piece to symbolize marriage or a Christian union of two.

"One In The Spirit" Sterling Silver Pendant, Anniversary Design

This was one of my first jewelry designs where I combined many symbols to tell one story. It comes with a nice printed box enclosure presentation of this symbolism and message: Two hearts joined together by and in Christ form a union, which is encompassed by the Holy Spirit. I designed this as a symbol for a Christian marriage or union. A combination of many symbols…the outside line of the design suggests a descending dove, which encompasses the two hearts, forming a fish marked with a cross as they join.

This is an excellent choice for anniversary, wedding, marriage proposal, or valentine’s day jewelry gifts or any just because I love you occasions. I just mailed one out this week to a man who will be making his wife very happy on their upcoming anniversary.

Happy Anniversary to my husband today! I’m feeling the love!

(click the image to view all the purchasing details on my website)