Brief Summary…
- Recycled silver, scrap silver coins and detailed silver three pence coins circa 1850’s – 1900’s
- Meticulously hand cut, carved and engraved
- Each link handmade and hammer faceted
- Made using only traditional hand tools and techniques
- Optional special initials engraved on charm
- Hairy Growler Shepherd’s Crook Necklace Catch: Sterling Silver
- Sizes : small 18.5cm, Med 19.5cm, Large 21cm, XL 23.5cm
- Each link approx 10mm
- Symbolism : contemplation and wonder of existence, awe, guiding light.
- Handcrafted & Recycled in Cambridge
A little more detail
My Little Star
Old Silver. Little Stars. A Bracelet Made to Tinkle.
Some jewellery whispers.
This one actually does.
A collection of little silver stars, each individually cut from recycled silver and old British silver coins, joined together with handmade links to create a bracelet that moves, catches the light and makes the loveliest little sound as you wear it.
A handful of old silver turned into a tiny constellation.
Little Stars from Old Silver
The stars in this bracelet begin with recycled silver.
Some are cut from old British silver coins, including beautiful little silver threepence pieces dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Others may begin as pieces of reclaimed silver from the workshop.
Nothing needs to be perfectly identical.
In fact, I prefer it that way.
Each star carries slightly different marks, textures and traces of whatever the silver happened to be before it reached my bench.
Old silver given another chance to shine.
My Little Star
There is something wonderfully affectionate about calling somebody your little star.
It can mean so many things.
Someone you’re proud of.
Someone who found their way through something difficult.
Someone who lights things up simply by being there.
A daughter.
A mother.
A friend.
A partner.
Or perhaps the bracelet is simply a reminder to yourself.
Keep shining.
A Little Constellation Around Your Wrist
Rather than creating one large central star, I wanted this bracelet to feel like a scattering of them.
The individual stars move independently as the bracelet moves around your wrist.
Some catch the light.
Some turn away.
Then another appears.
The effect changes constantly as you wear it.
Just like looking upwards on a clear night and slowly noticing more stars the longer you look.
Stars as Guides
For thousands of years, people have looked to the stars for direction.
Before maps lived in our pockets, the night sky helped travellers understand where they were and where they were going.
That has made the star an enduring symbol of guidance.
A point of light when everything around it is dark.
A reminder of direction when the path isn’t obvious.
Sometimes you only need one small light to know which way to go.
Hope, Wonder and Possibility
Stars also carry something less practical.
Wonder.
Look upwards on a properly dark night and it becomes very difficult not to think about the enormousness of everything.
Stars have become symbols of hope, imagination, possibility and our instinct to look beyond what is immediately in front of us.
We wish upon them.
Navigate by them.
Name them.
Tell stories about them.
And occasionally turn old silver coins into them.
The Sound of Old Silver
One of my favourite things about this bracelet is something you can’t see in a photograph.
It sounds lovely.
As the stars and links move against one another, the old silver gives a delicate little tinkle.
Not loud.
Just enough to remind you that it is there.
There is something particularly pleasing about hearing pieces of old coin silver moving together again after so many years.
Old money singing a rather different tune.
Every Link Made by Hand
The stars may get most of the attention, but the links between them matter just as much.
Each link is individually made and hammer faceted by hand.
The hammering creates tiny surfaces across the silver which catch and scatter the light as the bracelet moves.
It also gives the bracelet the slightly organic character I want from handmade jewellery.
Not mechanically perfect.
Not mass produced.
Made one link at a time.
Delicate Doesn’t Mean Fragile
My Little Star has a light, easy feel on the wrist.
But don’t let that fool you.
This is a bracelet made to be worn.
The links are individually formed and the construction is designed for everyday life rather than occasional appearances from a jewellery box.
The silver will gather marks.
The surfaces will change.
High points will become polished through wear.
That is exactly what should happen.
Wear your stars.
The Hairy Growler Shepherd’s Crook
Even the fastening gets made at the bench.
The bracelet is finished with my handmade sterling silver Hairy Growler Shepherd’s Crook fastening.
Its distinctive curled form has become one of the small signatures running through my work.
Rather wonderfully, these catches can themselves begin as pieces of old silver, including reclaimed Victorian silver fork tines.
I have never really understood why a clasp should be the boring part.
So I make that too.
Make One of the Stars Yours
If the bracelet is being made to mark somebody special, initials can be engraved onto the reverse of a suitable charm.
It is deliberately subtle.
From the front, the bracelet remains a scattering of stars.
Turn the little charm over and there is the private part of the story.
A small message hidden amongst the silver.
A Lovely Gift for a Little Star
This is one of those pieces that naturally lends itself to marking a moment.
A significant birthday.
A graduation.
A new beginning.
An achievement.
A thank you.
Or simply somebody who deserves reminding how brightly they shine.
And because old silver is used throughout, the bracelet already carries a past before becoming part of theirs.
Product Details
- Original Hairy Growler My Little Star bracelet
- Handcrafted from recycled silver, scrap silver and old British silver coins
- Includes stars made from historic silver threepence coins
- Old coin silver typically dating from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
- Each star approximately 10 mm
- Stars individually hand cut, carved and finished
- Each silver link individually handmade and hammer faceted
- Made using traditional hand tools and jewellery-making techniques
- Light and comfortable to wear while designed for lasting strength
- Individual moving elements create a delicate silver tinkle when worn
- Optional initials engraved onto the reverse of a suitable charm
- Handmade sterling silver Hairy Growler Shepherd’s Crook fastening
- Available in a range of bracelet sizes
- Small approximately 18.5 cm
- Medium approximately 19.5 cm
- Large approximately 21 cm
- Larger sizes available
- Each bracelet will vary slightly because of the recycled materials and handmade construction
- Star symbolism includes guidance, hope, wonder, inspiration and finding your way
- Handcrafted and recycled in Cambridge
My Little Star
Once, some of this silver was money.
Little threepence coins passing from hand to hand.
Other pieces had different lives.
Eventually they all found their way to my bench.
There I cut the stars.
Made the links.
Hammered their surfaces.
Joined them together.
And gave all that old silver another reason to move.
Now it catches the light.
Tinkles softly around the wrist.
And carries one of the simplest messages I can think of.
My Little Star.
Old silver. New light. Keep shining.
kimparker206 (verified owner) –
This bracelet is beautiful, stunningly well made and delicate, but strong as well. All the little stars are different, and I absolutely love it. Worth every penny!!