jeanne d’arc collection, custom pieces

If you follow me on Instagram or subscribe to EtVoilà!Design’s Facebook page, you may have noticed the many lovely medallions I have found at the brocantes, and perhaps you are curious to know what becomes of them.  Amongst the many things I collect, I collect Joan of Arc ~ Jeanne d’Arc medallions.  At times they have been known to find me, especially ones living at the bottom of grungy, musty, decrepit boxes, they just seem to hop right into my eager hands, urging to be rescued, ready for a new life.  And I’ve turned their pleas into one of my creative projects, to give them new life.  My very first concept was a gift for my dear friend Beverly, she’s a writer and I was clear on the fact that I’d want to incorporate a silver Joan of Arc medallion I had picked up in Orleans, as well as a tiny gold colored vintage pen I had found in one of my excursions.  The following weeks the pieces rested together in a small dish on the desk in my chaotic atelier, where I would glance at them from time to time, and wait for some form of inspiration to strike. I wanted the piece to be simple, a long chain sautoir and not too heavy.  I blended silver curb chain and vintage silver bead rosary, a medieval style cross charm in brass was just enough to break up the silver chains, a simple glass bead dangling next to the pen added the necessary trace of sparkle.  I was pleased.

Shortly after I was commissioned by a faithful customer, Regina, to make a piece for the lovely  daughter Ola. I came up with a couple completely different options for Regina, took a snapshots and she picked the Joan of Arc pendant.  I was certain she would pick that option! I had been following Ola’s fashion blog page for some time and I had a good feeling for her sense of style, she can pretty much rock anything. I envisioned an element of fresh fun and a splatter of color. I love the picture below of Ola, and love the fact that she paired the silver chain with another Et Voilà!Design piece, a dainty choker style necklace with vintage floral cabochon in gold colors.

Next came the piece I made for Joyce.  Joyce ended up wearing the pendant at her art show opening.  Side note, Joyce is my next &Voilàer, be on the lookout for her post in the next couple days!  As I do with all my custom pieces, I start collecting elements, be it a special charm, cross, specific color bead and chain, and place it in a dish (yup, I also collect small dishes for this function), I will then take a snapshot of the collected elements and send it to the customer to get some input.  For Joyce’s piece I knew she wanted red, and I had just found the most colorful rosary beads at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, I knew they would be perfect. I also knew that Joyce loved the tiny vintage pen from Beverly’s necklace, and I happened to have a silver pencil that would balance out the piece. She approved and that’s how the piece below came to be!

This next pendant was not a commissioned piece, it’s what I call a one of a kind, and I sold it immediately to a lovely lady (who happens to be my mother’s neighbor).  It incorporated a silver vintage Joan of Arc medallion, mother of pearl vintage rosary, and a re purposed silver rope chain. The look was both modern and classic.

I adore everything about the practice of creating, the art of handmade, the energy and spirit that infused in all that is hand crafted, and this is decidedly what I am most passionate about; working with people to create keepsakes,  something meaningful and special.  I several more of these precious Joan of Arc medallions, ready to adorn unique and special souvenirs. If one should catch your eye, and you envision it with another *specific element or color, don’t hesitate to contact me; if one catches your eye and you don’t have a vision for it, I can still help you create something unique!

*Sunday afternoons I post all my brocante finds on Instagram, it could give you an idea of what you could incorporate into a custom piece!