If anyone is a candidate for a very special tiara, it’s my aunt Terri.  She’s a joyful, one-of-a-kind woman who inspires fun everywhere she goes.  To celebrate her 50th birthday, my sisters, cousins, and I (T’s nieces and nephews) went in on a custom tiara just for her. The tiara was presented to her at the first of two birthday parties that were happening the weekend of the Big 5-0.  She loved it so much she wore it at the parties, around the house, to yoga, and just about everywhere else.

14 karat gold-fill for her golden birthday and amethyst crystals for her February birthstone were the base for the crown, with a selection of coordinating crystals and pearls to round out the rich, bold texture.

Personally, I looooved working with the gold-fill in this way.  It’s a smooth, pliable metal that just wants to do what I tell it.  Every twist and turn forms so nicely in my hands.  I love working with this many adornments, too.  There’s a certain type of patience I have to call upon to get started, keep going, and finally know when to say when going this over-the-top with the bling.  Almost the whole way through, it looks like too much, but at some point, I can see the last couple of spots for glitz and it’s soon balanced and complete. In the case of this sort of tiara, less is not more.  But it seems there’s a right way to “make more is more” work.

Tiara and a tutu!

This is Terri, seeing us off at the airport.  She really does make every moment fun!