Amazonite in matrix "Angel" pendant - Differences Unite Us

Materials: sterling silver, amazonite
Dimensions: 5 x 7 cm

“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little ‘pebbles’ of the world!” And this little angel is made of many colors, all united by the lovely robin’s egg blue of the amazonite.

Photo credit: Barbara Jacquin

Barbara B Jacquin

I am American by birth but adopted France a long time ago. I lived 20 years in Paris, worked in American embassies and consulates in Europe, Africa and the Pacific region. I now enjoy living in the small village of La Calmette, near Nimes in the south of France, where I retired in 2004. The entire area is beautiful.

I have always been fascinated by stones and decided to make jewelry out of them. I have taken several courses at the John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina and the Mendocino Art Center in California to learn more techniques.

How do I make a piece of jewelry? First I select a beautiful stone and place it on a piece of silver. I turn it, move it around, left, right, sideways–the stone guides me. I take my time, often with a glass of wine on my table, waiting for inspiration. Then out come my tools: a jeweler’s saw, a mini-torch, and away we go!


Ganoksin hosts the jewelry list Orchid, with over 13,000 list members from all over the world, speaking from a wide range of technical and aesthetic experiences. The exhibition theme grew out of a desire to celebrate the creativity encompassed in this wide variety.

Artists were free to interpret the theme in any way they chose. Each artist could submit up to six pieces. Interpretations include uniting different materials into one cohesive form; intellectual and emotional “unitings”, where the meaning of the piece unites multiple concepts; the uniting of time - past, present and future; and a number that focus on the harmony created when uniting multiple materials and/or concepts.

The work submitted involved a wide range of jewelry techniques, from very traditional to very cutting edge, as well as using materials from traditional precious metals and gemstones to “re-purposed” and “up-cycled” materials.

The exhibition showcases 330 images chosen from entries from over 111 artists representing 26 countries.

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, USA, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands

Many of the participants began their interest in jewelry at a young age. Some are relative newcomers to the field, and some have over 35 years of experience as professional jewelers and goldsmiths. While some grew up in families that were goldsmiths, and followed in those footsteps, others only began creating jewelry as adults.