Much like my recent blog post regarding using my Grandmother's coin collection in my jewelry designs, in this recent NY Times article the designer took his own Grandmother's circa 1961 Amber necklace and used the pieces for a special collection that would touch many lives.

I can identify with him when asked how it will feel to part with the stones...“It will be a warm feeling, and will make me feel her soul is staying present with me.” 

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New York Times Style 

8/23/2016 by Ellie Hay

Before the jewelry designer Jacob Skragge’s grandmother, Marianne, died earlier this year, she told family members that she wanted neither her body nor her belongings to be forgotten in a box — instead, she said, she wanted to be “spread with the wind.”

This inspired Skragge, who is the co-founder with Fredrik Nathorst of the Swedish jewelry brand All Blues, to dream up a limited collection of earrings to honor Marianne’s legacy. Skragge transformed a necklace Marianne bought on a 1961 trip to Israel into 37 handcrafted earrings, each with one of its amber stones. Every earring has been individually numbered: one will be given to her daughter, one to Jacob — and the 35 others to be dispersed throughout the world. (The collection will available on the All Blues store beginning next Monday, August 29.)

Project Marianne, as he calls it, has been curated, designed and photographed by Nathorst, who says it was important for him to design pieces sensitively — and to frame each stone with “dignity and confidence.” Nathorst took inspiration from paintings, creating sterling silver plates to frame the beads “without becoming more important than the work itself.”

After Skragge’s grandfather passed away 12 years ago, he and Marianne spent a lot of time together; he says they would “go to theaters or have lunch.” When asked how it will feel to part with the stones, Skragge replies matter of factly: “It will be a warm feeling, and will make me feel her soul is staying present with me.” He continues: “I will give the earring I’m keeping to my future daughter or wife. I know she would want that.”