Ardie McLean wasn’t sure why she kept all those outdated earrings and commemorative pins. “I’m not a hoarder or saver,” she said during a recent interview. “But for some reason I’ve just always saved this jewelry.”
Then suddenly, inspired by her work with hospice, it all came together — literally — in one of those middle-of-the-night flashes of genius that seemingly come out of the blue.
When we met with Ardie at Meyer’s Cafe on the Everett waterfront a couple of weeks ago, she talked about the way in which hospice volunteers inspired the creation of her heirloom hearts.
Many volunteers make things for the hospice patients, she said. Prayer shawls are popular items, knitted or crocheted with a prayer accompanying each stitch, as are handmade pillows, in a variety of sizes and shapes, designed to make bedridden patients more comfortable.
Ardie says that her hearts are a way of preserving treasured jewelry belonging to a loved one — those pieces that are out of fashion or found tucked away in drawers or jewelry boxes — in a decorative keepsake that will remain when the loved one is gone.
Her first hearts (see photos) were created as gifts for her twin daughters, Melanie and Kate, using items from her own past.
In the gold heart you’ll see a Girl Scout gavel pin, a favorite earring, high school and choir pins, and some golden A’s (for Ardie).
The silver heart boasts a peace symbol earring, several bugs (her daughter likes them), a dolphin (to commemorate her daughter’s swim with the dolphins), and a Winter Olympics pin.
Also included are old watch faces and buttons, and Ardie often deconstructs jewelry and uses only parts of a piece. Bracelets, even with stones missing, make good outside borders, and single beads, clasps and other findings serve as excellent fillers.
It takes a couple of hours to put a heart together, and the process is a spiritual experience for her. Once she gets started, Ardie said, it’s amazing how pieces seem to fall into place perfectly to complete the heart.
Ardie includes an envelope on the back of her commissioned pieces containing a “key” describing in detail the pieces used in making the heart, including information on the jewelry’s owners and other pertinent information and family history.
Feedback from friends and co-workers has been positive and very encouraging, and Ardie hopes to raise money from commissioned pieces to help build a hospice facility in Snohomish County.
She also considers her hearts a good “green project,” in that they are made by recycling something that already exists into something else.
Ardie says that the keepsakes aren’t limited to heart shapes. She has received an order for a commissioned piece in the shape of a cross, and plans to make a pyramid-shaped keepsake for her husband, a Windermere employee for 25 years, to display his collection of Windermere Cup pins.
When we asked about the construction process, Ardie was reluctant to share her secrets in a newspaper forum, but she is open to the idea of classes. “I would love to do classes,” she said, “because some people are afraid to try a heart on their own, but others say, ‘I want to make one.’”
Those interested in taking a class would supply the jewelry for the project, as well as a shadow box of their choice.
“At one time, there was just this box or that box,” Ardie said. “You didn’t have a choice; you either got the black one or the white one.”
But times have changed, and the selection is much better now. While boxes can pricey — expect to spend $30 or more — they are often on sale, and you can always go with smaller hearts and boxes if desired (see the photo of the small Valentine-themed box that Ardie made for a co-worker).
As with her commissioned hearts, Ardie will donate a portion of her class profits to hospice projects.
If you would like to order a heart or are interested in taking a class, contact Ardie at Heirloom From the Heart, 360-563-1162 or e-mail her at ardiemclean@hotmail.com.
For more information on hospice services, you can also call Providence Hospice &Home Care of Snohomish County at 425-261-4805.
Mark your calendars:
Ardie’s craft talents aren’t limited to heirloom hearts, and we’ll be sharing her instructions for making unique serving pieces from recycled glassware in the Feb. 17 Craft Corner column.
Contact Jonetta Coffin at jrocoffin@aol.com.
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