Close up of the Maltese cross I created for the Sotheby’s exhibition The pendant features an insane custom square emerald cut aqua-marine center stone, framed with white diamonds and Australian opals. The pearls are Australian south sea pearls, with inverted sapphire end caps, and a casual 3 carat pear shaped diamond dangle at the bottom- all set in a rich 18k yellow gold. I am going to challenge myself to start including more of my sketches when I share, because I think it gives a really fun behind the scenes point of view. From yesterday: "The Maltese cross is known to be a symbol of protection. Something that I talk about often is how my attachment to jewelry stems from family heirlooms, and the people/stories connected to them. When I wear jewelry that once belonged to family members who are no longer on this earth, one of the feelings I receive is protection. The awareness that I am held and protected by those that came before me, and that they are helping guide me forward on my journey. When I wear these heirlooms, I literally imagine myself wearing my guardian angels. And when I think of all of the guardian angels it took for me to get to this point- creating this cross, for this show, felt fitting."