Having a baby is, for many people, one the most defining moments in their lives. And naturally, they want to commemorate that special time as much as possible. Most people do it through photos, videos, and keepsakes.
But one artist, a mom herself, is creating a whole new way to celebrate pregnancies, babies, and motherhood — and she's doing it in a very unusual, and personal way.
Artist and jeweler Ruth Avra creates silver pendants, rings, and bracelets that include a very special homage to the connection between mother and child — and we mean the literal connection.
Avra uses pieces of her clients' umbilical cords as the centerpieces of her jewelry.
The cords, sent in by moms looking for a a piece of jewelry, are framed in silver and completely preserved under a layer of clear resin. From a distance, they look almost like a dark amber or even a dark opal stone.
And that's not all Avra uses in her jewelry. She also preserves locks of hair, usually from a child's first haircut, in resin.
This all might sound a bit shocking, but for Avra and her clients, it's a physical way to remember and celebrate the challenges and joys of pregnancy and motherhood, and the strength of moms everywhere.
She's also not the first person to use what might be considered controversial materials in jewelry. Another artist creates "jewels" out of breast milk!
Take a look at these truly one-of-a-kind jewels below. Would you wear one of these?
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Jeweleymaker Ruth Avra knows firsthand how transformative it is to become a mother.
She's been creating beautiful, colorful jewelry since she was eight years old, but after giving birth to her first child in 2012, the Florida-based artist wanted to use her craft to celebrate motherhood in a more direct way.
Today, in addition to her other jewelry lines, she's created the Keepsake Collection.
The Keepsake Collection, which takes the form of necklace pendants and bracelets, uses actual preserved umbilical cord material from clients and converts it into wearable jewelry.
The moms send in their cord stumps, and Avra encases them in silver and clear resin so they can last a lifetime.
"The umbilical cord is literally the connection between mother and child, the biological wonder that allows a child to grow and develop within us, using our bodies to do so," Avra says.
"I simply take that remaining piece and preserve it in a way that a parent can keep it close to their heart."
The pendants are also inscribed with the baby's initials for extra personalization.
And Avra doesn't just create using umbilical cords. She also creates jewelry using locks of hair, usually from a child's first haircut.
This pendant holds the hair of three siblings, so their mom can always have them all together.
Some moms opt to do the same for their umbilical cords. This necklace has two pendants, one for each child, as well as a cute charm.
And sometimes, her pieces commemorate children in a different way.
This umbilical cord represents a child, while the heart pendant includes the ashes of another, stillborn child.
This necklace allows the siblings to always be together, and creates something beautiful out of a dark time.
While some people might be put off by the idea of hair and umbilical cords being worn as jewelry, Avra's skill as a jeweler makes them look like gems. The slight color variations look like amber or agate.
Avra also understands the fact that an umbilical cord necklace isn't for everyone, and she's fine with that!
But for a lot of moms, the idea of keeping a piece of their pregnancy is a beautiful, touching celebration of the bond they have with their children.
"As a mom, our kids grow so fast right before our eyes," she says. "Having an umbilical cord stump piece from my Keepsake Collection is a constant reminder of the bond and connection, no matter how old they become."
And she also knows that wearing jewelry around curious little hands can be a challenge, and even a danger!
That's why a lot of her jewelry (though not all) is made from baby-safe materials, and many have what she calls a "fiddle feature," a little extra bit of chain that babies can play with without damaging the necklace itself.
It looks like Avra's baby, Avalon, approves.
You can see more of Avra's collections, including belt buckles, big statement necklaces, handbags, and men's jewelry on her website, and keep up with her latest projects on Facebook.
Would you wear an umbilical cord pendant? How about a lock of hair?
Let us know in the comments, and SHARE this unique way of celebrating motherhood!
