THE COLOUR OF LOVE FEATURE STORY

AS SEEN IN VANCOUVER VIEW MAGAZINE

For children, everything is a discovery. With each new step, they have a magical way of expressing themselves. They also love to share their little creations with Mommy, Daddy, and other beloved people who have touched the places deep in their hearts. Their very own masterpieces are captured on paper, marked with bright colours, and signed off with love and pride. If you look around my family home, you’ll see traces of emotion and discovery that have been created by these tiny treasures.

How they see and feel about us and the world around them – all the big and little things they love to do with us – this is what our children draw from. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Every time our child gives us a glimpse into what they are thinking or feeling, we feel more privileged than we could possibly imagine.

Laura K. Jewitt, general manager of van Yperen Jewellers and mother of two beautiful girls, has discovered a way to capture these treasured keepsakes.

“As an artist creating jewellery and as a parent I am amazed and delighted by children’s art”, Jewitt says. “The design concepts are so simple and pure by nature and there are certain detailed elements that evoke a second look. The idea of making children’s art into jewellery came to me as I was given this lovely art from my own little little artists, Bailey and Chloe. With paint-filled faces and big wide grins, they were so proud and happy to present me with their art, and I was equally enthused to receive it.”

Like many other parents, Jewitt displays some of the keepsakes on her refrigerator. As her collection grows, it is displayed throughout the home. Many are framed and hung. Still others are tucked away into memory boxes.

“As a goldsmith and gemologist, I work with precious gems and metals daily”, Jewitt says, “I have the privilege of being a part of people’s most cherished occasions – weddings, births, and anniversaries. It was only natural for me to craft my children’s art info in keepsakes”.

Now, Jewitt and van Yperen Jewellers are making it possible for you and your children to give Dad a personalized memory piece. You provide the artwork, and they will create a keepsake unique to your family.

GIFT SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS FATHER’S DAY

There are many types of fathers. Each has his own favourite activities that he and his children share. The jewellery that captures these memories offers an endless range of styles, from classic traditional to modern and bold.

The following gift suggestions for this Father’s Day involve turning your children’s artwork into an endless assortment of trophies for Daddy: tie pins, cuff links, lapel pins, rings, masculine bracelets, pendants, key chains and money clips; fun family crests on signet rings; and office desk accessories – framed pieces, cardholders, and desktop accessory boxes.

HOW THIS WORKS

“It’s as simple as you choosing an art piece”, Jewitt explains. “We will assist you in your selection of the right piece of jewellery to be commissioned as the canvas. One exciting part is that you can be as creative here as you wish. For example, if a father shares story time with their little one, a beautiful bookmark may be a suitable piece of craft with perhaps a line from their favourite story engraved into it in their child’s very own handwriting”.

Whatever your ideas, Jewitt and the rest of the van Yperen’s design and goldsmith team are ready and pleased to consult with you and interpret what is important and memorable.

“Simple designs have a wonderful charm”, Jewitt says. “Depending on an individual, a more complex design may offer a meaningful message or memory. The jewellery art piece can be left simplistic, or embellished with gemstones and additional detailing. It’s all very individual and one-of-a-kind, as is each child”.

Jewitt says the nature of any art form is to transport the artist and viewer – in her case, the client. She finds every dart medium workable, including those used by children.

“We can work from any medium, including pencil drawing to crayon, and paint to felts”, Jewitt says, “The three-dimensional form can work well for the office desktop items adapted from clay figures, paper-mache, and many other art mediums. Paper flowers can be transformed into, ‘Daisies for Daddy’ made from precious metals. The possibilities are endless and everlasting!”

As a mother first Laura is excited about bringing these keepsakes into the community. “As our charity of choice for this project, van Yperen has chosen to gift pieces to the families at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice”.  We are very excited to be working out a program that will be launched with this new line”.

Whether it be a charm bracelet for Mom, keychain for Dad, a Christmas ornament for Grandma or a bookmark for a favourite teacher, many keepsakes are waiting to be embraced with pride and adapted from the beloved little treasures fastened to your fridge or tucked away in a drawer or memory box.

CUFF LINKS Wear their heart on your sleeve

Daddy’s Toys

A pair of 18-karat yellow-and-white-gold cuff links: The artwork was created by two sisters, one seven years old and the other nine. The first cuff link displays a boat and the other, a car. These are ‘Daddy’s Toys’, and are enjoyed by the family on those precious weekends and vacations.

A Keepsake For Daddy

A pair of sterling silver matching cuff links: This self portrait was designed by a three year old. The cuff links will keep this little one who is at home, close to Daddy’s heart while he is at the office. It’s a reminder of why he works so hard.

Daddy ’n’ Me

A pair of 18-karat yellow and while gold cuff links: Each cuff link is a portrait in itself. One is Daddy with his sunglasses on; the other, a face of Daddy’s girl with a big smile on her face. Both have the wind in their hair and are drawn by his daughter, age nine.

KEY CHAINS

A key chain made to hold Daddy’s car, boat, house, or weekend retreat key so that he will have a piece of art from his child to keep with him wherever life takes him.

Daddy

A portrait of Daddy in sterling silver by his child, age three. A term of endearment or special message may be hand engraved on the front or the back.

PENDANTS

Daddy’s Charmer

A self portrait by a small child for Daddy to wear around his neck and close to his heart, mad in 18-karat yellow gold.

DESKTOP HOME OR OFFICE PIECES

Daddy’s Little Princess

An 18-karat yellow gold and sterling silver Frog Prince set with cabochon cut Tsavorite garnets for eyes, sit elevated atop a pedestal. The pedestal has a sterling silver plaque cut out in the child’s handwriting, “Daddy’s little princess”. This piece was drawn for her very own Prince Charming.

Fun With Daddy

This framed collage is of a child’s artwork, created at different ages. The pieces can be enjoyed as a collection of individual elements designed into one picture. Some can be features separately as a tie or lapel pin. Each is made form 18-karat yellow gold, white gold, or sterling silver. The theme of this collection is ‘Fun With Daddy’. It is a collage of things that Daddy and his daughter have shared on Father’s Day and throughout the years. The pieces include a smiling happy face of the young girl, a bike with training wheels, a flying kite, and a bag of popcorn shared at the movies. This collage can be made into a family project and can include a number of pieces created by various children in the family.