A jeweller who calls herself a ‘DNA keepsake artist’ has shared some of her most unique orders.
They include pieces made from preserved umbilical cords, semen and blood, among other bodily fluids.
Jade Jones, from Herefordshire, started her business in memory of her daughter, Pandora Lilly, who was stillborn in 2013.
The 29-year-old used her artistic skills to help her deal with grief. She began designing the jewellery using unusual elements from the human body such as breastmilk, cremation ashes, hair and more.
Since then, Jade has become a social media sensation. She recently went viral showing off one of her creations made from preserved semen. The clip garnered nearly half a million views.
‘As someone who understands the significance of sentimental items, I try my best to be respectful, inclusive and judgment-free,’ Jade, owner of Pandora Lilly keepsakes, told NeedToKnow.Online.
‘I remember the peace it brought me; having jewellery created with my daughter’s ashes. I was lucky enough to have a gorgeous piece of memorial jewellery created for me pro-bono, which I cherished for a number of years until it was damaged.
‘At this point in my life, I didn’t have the funds to purchase a piece, so I made one for myself.
‘I had used the original sterling ring and created a resin stone using pink sparkle mix and a pinch of her cremation ash.
‘Being able to keep her close was a big part of my grieving journey, and I cherished the ring for several years until the resin stone was damaged.’
Jade now tries to help others cope with their grief.
‘I wanted to offer this to others who had experienced loss and felt that keeping their loved ones close brought them comfort,’ she said.
‘Adding other keepsake options, such as breastmilk, felt like a natural path for my business and made sense to me as a mother who wanted to celebrate the birth of her own rainbow baby.
‘I currently have a product request for a piece made from blood and semen within the same stone, which I am happy to do and excited to see the outcome.
‘Many of our unique items are custom requests, my clients are some of the most imaginative people, and I am happy to bring their ideas to life.’
The designer also works with hair, fur, and more traditional items such as dried flowers, fabrics, paper and more.
‘I offer jewellery for those wanting to encapsulate personal items or DNA, such as cremation ash, hair or fur, milk, dried umbilical cord pieces, dried flowers, fabrics, paper and more,’ she explained.
She treats every order with ‘care’ and has a strict regime when it comes to making them. Jade also uses PPE and a respiratory mask when required.
‘First, I will send out a collection kit containing the relevant pots and tubes; the samples are sent back to me via special delivery and then quarantined,’ she said.
‘If the sample needs preserving, it will be frozen, processed, preserved, and powdered, ready to be turned into jewellery.
‘My turnaround time will vary depending on the piece, but I try and aim for the keepsake to be sent out within four weeks.
‘I feel relatively comfortable and confident when it comes to handling people’s personal items.
‘I have done relevant research on specific items; I wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, an apron and a respirator mask which should be done when working with bodily fluids, chemicals and resin.
‘Aside from the “health risks”, being able to handle items that are extremely important to my clients is an honour, and everything that gets sent to me is treated with care.’
However, some social media users have been unable to contain their shock at semen being in her designs.
‘Takes pearl necklace to a different level,’ wrote a user under one of Jade’s videos.
While another added: ‘Blood jewellery yes. This? Absolutely not.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
MORE : Can money buy happiness? Scientists gave people $10,000 to find out
MORE : Woman with knee-length hair refuses to cut it as she considers it bad luck
MORE : Woman thought she’d buried her dead dog until it turned up two days later
For all the latest Lifestyle News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
