NZ Rhodonite Joyous Inner Child Pendant

A Gift from the South
From Akatore, in the deep south of Aotearoa New Zealand, this gorgeous rhodonite completely fills me with joy. From the moment I first laid eyes upon it, I imagined sitting in a cave and seeing a child eagerly clambering up the rocks surrounding the opening. All that can be seen is a brief glimpse of their torso and leg as they nimbly hoist themselves up, soon to be out of view. After working with the stone, I also felt the imagery could equally be interpreted as a child scrambling up a tall tree at the opening of a dense thicket. My sister divined a tall moa near a pool’s edge, about to stoop for a drink. What do you see?

This stunning pear-shaped stone, with its highly-polished, reflective rounded face and smooth, flat back, is a warm pink colour. In-keeping with the joyful nature of the playful child within, curls of twisted silver mirror the curves of the ‘cave entrance’, forming a secure but whimsical framework. Not only has this pendant been crafted in silver and skilfully shaped here in Aotearoa New Zealand, but the stone formed here, as well!

A Note about the Photographs
On a rejuvenating bushwalk through the trees, I felt inspired to photograph this gorgeous pendant on the moss. Unfortunately, a lot of light reflected off the face of the stone. I loved the bed of moss so much that I really wanted to use the photograph, so overlaid details from a photo of the pendant taken in a light-filtering cone. The profile image with the white circle frame captures the feeling of a mossy cave beautifully, but the image of the pendant itself is a composite. Please view the other photographs for unaltered images of the pendant.

Rhodonite and the Inner Child
I find it rather serendipitous that one of the metaphysical uses of rhodonite is to help one reconnect with their inner child.

Whether you’re drawn to working with this ‘stone of compassion’ or simply enjoy wearing a stunning, unique piece of jewellery, this gemstone pendant would make an amazing gift for yourself or someone dear to your heart.

Approximate dimensions: Length 50mm x Width 27mm x Depth 8mm

Enduring Metals
To celebrate each stone’s unique expression, they’re cradled in high-quality metals. I work predominantly with 925 sterling silver, solid 9-carat gold, 14K gold-filled wire⌄, with occasional accents of coated copper.

The Symbology of the Bail
The supporting ‘threads’ (wires) of the pendant’s framework are gathered at the top, then folded over to form the loop from which it hangs. I find this process deeply symbolic – cohesively gathering and integrating the many facets of our lives, drawing upon our multiple strengths to support and frame the unique expression of our authentic selves.
To bring this glorious artistic expression to completion as a wearable pendant, the ends of these threads either encircle the lower part of the bail or are trimmed away. I love the metaphor in this too! Of the rich tapestry of our past experiences, some things are ready to be released, while others are retained to provide further strength and foundation to our being, enabling our lights to shine forth spectacularly as we journey ahead.

Art becomes Wearable
In bringing these one-of-a-kind creations to life as wearable art, a balance between free expression, security and durability is mindfully sought. Given their artistic construction, particular care is recommended when wearing them with fine, loose-weave clothing, as the framework may catch on delicate fibres, potentially damaging the fabric or pulling finer details of the pendant, such as spirals, out of shape. Read more about how to care for these gorgeous creations.

Chains are Available
Whether for yourself, or a gift for someone dear to your heart, I recommend wearing this delightful pendant on a quality chain.
Your gemstone pendant will arrive beautifully presented in a classic Kathryn Jane Design jewellery box, tied with silver-coloured thread.
If purchasing as a gift, you can also choose to have the pendant presented on a chain. Silver-coloured display chains and sterling silver belcher chains are available. Please note that the display chains are for presentation purposes only and are not suitable for wearing the pendant.
The sterling silver belcher chains are generally available in 45cm and 60cm lengths. If you’d prefer a different length, please feel free to contact me to discuss a custom length.
The connector rings at each end of the chain are carefully pinched closed rather than soldered.

Colour & Perception
“Oh Kathryn, it’s even more beautiful in real life. The photos didn’t do it justice!” I hear this so often.
I take great care in trying to provide accurate photographic representations of my pendants. The colours of natural gemstones can vary under different lighting conditions, so I endeavour to photograph each piece in a variety of settings to capture its different nuances.
The highly polished surface of a gemstone often reflects its surroundings, creating visible highlights and glare. To minimise these reflections, I also photograph my pendants inside a light-filtering cone. While this helps soften bright glare, it can sometimes make a pendant appear less vibrant. Please refer to the photo captions for details about the conditions in which each image was taken.
I also provide video, moving each pendant through different angles to reveal more of its character and how it responds to the light. Colours can appear slightly different in photographs and video, with each offering its own perspective. Together, they provide a more rounded impression of the pendant’s appearance.
Your screen and device settings may also influence how colours appear.

Larger than Life
It’s so wonderful to be able to zoom in and study a pendant’s details, but bear in mind that the photos show the pendants at a significantly larger size than in real life. As a result, details of the stone’s structure can appear exaggerated. Many is the time I’ve viewed a photograph and noticed a detail that I simply don’t perceive when viewing the pendant up close with ‘ma naked eyes’.

If you’d like to see further photos or videos, please ask. I’m only too happy to help.