This is a very meaningful necklace for me. I thought I would share with you how this piece came to life.
In this photo: the orbit concrete necklace in gold. Photo credit: Baara Guggenheim
I designed this minimal necklace when my sister finally got pregnant. She tried to get pregnant for a long time, so it was a big moment.
As cliché as it may be, motherhood is very important to me. It changed my life. It transformed me as a person and made me grow and become a better person. It still does. It grounded me and made me a much less selfish person. The challenges of motherhood make me check my goals in life, my beliefs and my behavior on a daily basis. It is the most important role of my life.
I must admit I loved being pregnant. I enjoyed every bit of it and cherished the new roundness of my body and the new phase that it brought with it. I think I glowed - just like people say. So when my sister got pregnant it made me very happy. She wanted to be a mother, and I knew she was going to be a wonderful one (as she was, and still is, the most amazing aunt in the world!).
In this photo: the orbit concrete necklace in silver. Photo credit: Ishisan.
As I am a designer, and my medium of self expression is creating jewelry, I made this concrete statement necklace in honor of that event. It features a round silver or gold circle, just like the round pregnant belly, with an inner concrete circle. It symbolizes womanhood and the central role we women take in bringing a new life into this world.
The concrete element of this geometric necklace, that symbolizes the new life, will be different in every necklace, as concrete cures differently every time. Just like every child is different and unique so will this necklace. The concrete will change over time and use, depending on how it is being used and worn, just like the impact a mother has on the life of her child.
It is meant to be worn long, close to the growing belly during pregnancy. After the new baby is born it serves as a reminder of that magical time when the woman cared for that new life just beginning to form, of the miracle of life. It reminds us women of our role in it, of how we became a family, and the job we still have of doing everything in our power to help this new person we brought into the world flourish.
In this photo: me, Baara, 10 year after my youngest son was born (I am wearing the orbit concrete necklace and the minimalist short silver circle earrings. Photo credit: Ishisan.
So, are there any expectant mothers in your life? Any new mothers you want to make happy?
Are you a mother? What was your pregnancy experience? How is motherhood treating you? What is the one thing about motherhood that you would share with an expecting mother?
Tell me in a comment. I would love to hear your story.
Love,
Baara