Mary Louise + Fred

warning: if you do not like sappyness, do not read this....

thanks, Chelsea B.

This past weekend I took a trip home to visit with my Grandma Moeller.

She is one of the smartest, classiest and stylish women I know, I am sure I got all of this from her (haha). My Grandfather past away this Halloween at 89 years old, it was a very sudden death. Naturally we were all worried about Grandma.

They had been married for 65 years and have always had the look in there eyes like they just that moment fallen in love with the other, shortly followed by "Eskimo kisses".

They meet while in college in PA. Shortly after there meeting my grandfather had to go to war one month before the attack on pearl harbor. He was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea for the next 5 years. My Grandmother continued to write letters and send photos of her in these amazing outfits with things wrote in the back like "I am looking up a plane and praying that it may be the one that will bring you home saftley to me".

In September 1946 they were married.

This is one of my grandmothers favorite songs that she recently wrote down for me. I am certain it was probably their favorite song.

You were meant for me

by Gene Kelly in Dancing in the Rain

(She did change the words up a bit)

You were meant for me - I was meant for you.

Nature fashioned you when you were young,

you were all those sweet dreams rolled into one.

Your like a haunting melody that was meant for you and me.

I'm content, the angels must have sent you just for me......

I have not seen this movie in AGES....last time I saw it was in Ocean City, NJ with me and my sister snuggled up next to Grandma...I am thinking this needs to go on netflix!

Needless to say she is the sweetest and wisest grandmother.

She is still going on with a smile on her face, telling stories and giving her advice.

True love exists but no one ever says it's easy.

A Locket made for a Hero's wife

I can now safely say that I have officially made my most important piece of jewelry yet.

Yes, my wedding ring was important, but definitely not in the same way.

Captain Matthew Freeman
Matthew Freeman, was killed in Afghanistan on August 7th, 2009 at the age of 29. He was a fighter Pilot who volunteered to go serve in Afghanistan. He was an exceptional person, in school, with friends and family, and in life. He came from a family that includes many servicemen and women. He was married to Theresa Hess only three weeks before he passed. This story is tragic and my prayers continue to go out to the Freeman's and the Hess's.

http://freedomremembered.com/index.php/capt-matthew-c-freeman/

My family has been friends with the Freeman's for almost as long as I can remember--summers consisting of camping trips, boating days and weekend crab boils. I also played Varsity Soccer and went to Saint Anne's Catholic church with Theresa. When Matthew's Mother Lisa asked me to make a locket for Theresa, you can imagine how perfect and meaningful I wanted this locket to be. I understood that it was something Theresa would keep and cherish forever. Lisa wanted to use some of Matthew's baby hair and their wedding photo in the locket. I had the leeway to decide the rest.

This is what I came up with...

"A Locket for Remembering"

Sterling Silver with 18 Karat Yellow gold accents.
Garnet set in Yellow gold bezel. (Matthew's birthstone)

Theresa's birthstone is Amethyst. I set her birthstone in a hand-pierced heart and engraved "Always" on it. I made the chain so that she could wear it at 3 different lengths 18, 20 and 24 inches.

I used watch crystals to "encase" Matthews hair. I wanted this to be two-sided, so that she could wear it with hair or the birthstone facing forward. I did not put their wedding photo in for the photo shoot...I thought that too personal.
I also wanted to make the packaging just as special. I hand-stitched this pouch out of recycled leather from a local Athens leather shop.Hand-made down to every last detail....

Thank you Kelli Guinn for the great photos!!

http://www.kelliguinn.com/