Silver Vinaigrette for Doreen Valiente
In 1990, I decided to write to Doreen Valiente. I had first discovered her books in 1981, and when I returned to them almost a decade later, while studying in London, they had lost none of their power. They remained as informative, enchanting and filled with magic as they had seemed when I first read them.
I felt that a thank-you was long overdue. Along with my letter, I sent Doreen the first piece of jewellery I had made in the late 1980s: a small vinaigrette fashioned from fine silver. I had received no formal training at the time, so the piece was created largely through instinct and common sense. Its openwork spirals and engraved decoration were inspired by Doreen’s evocative descriptions of the astral plane. Within it lies a secret known only to a few.
Several weeks later, the postman arrived with an unexpected surprise: Doreen had replied. This marked the beginning of a warm and friendly correspondence.
Doreen was tremendously encouraging about my work and later received several pieces from my Oak King collection. She also took a genuine interest in my life, enjoying my accounts of the local customs and events with which I was involved in East Sussex. Despite suffering from arthritis, she continued to write her letters by hand, and each one vividly conveys something of her warmth, humour and magnetic personality.
Doreen may have departed this realm, but her writing continues to inspire people throughout the world. Certain events have led me to feel that, wherever she may now be, she still takes an encouraging interest in what I am doing.
I felt that a thank-you was long overdue. Along with my letter, I sent Doreen the first piece of jewellery I had made in the late 1980s: a small vinaigrette fashioned from fine silver. I had received no formal training at the time, so the piece was created largely through instinct and common sense. Its openwork spirals and engraved decoration were inspired by Doreen’s evocative descriptions of the astral plane. Within it lies a secret known only to a few.
Several weeks later, the postman arrived with an unexpected surprise: Doreen had replied. This marked the beginning of a warm and friendly correspondence.
Doreen was tremendously encouraging about my work and later received several pieces from my Oak King collection. She also took a genuine interest in my life, enjoying my accounts of the local customs and events with which I was involved in East Sussex. Despite suffering from arthritis, she continued to write her letters by hand, and each one vividly conveys something of her warmth, humour and magnetic personality.
Doreen may have departed this realm, but her writing continues to inspire people throughout the world. Certain events have led me to feel that, wherever she may now be, she still takes an encouraging interest in what I am doing.
Silver Vinaigrette for Doreen Valiente, 1988.
Silver, hand sewn black silk, & intuition!
Silver, hand sewn black silk, & intuition!
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