A vif - One Leaf, Endless Possibilities

I lost my mother this summer. Her passing was sudden, and the grief that followed has been unlike anything I have experienced before.

For a while, I struggled to find the words to express what I was feeling. But creating jewelry has always been my way of connecting with nature, preserving memories, and giving meaning to the things we carry with us.

And so, I turned to my work.

À VIF — Raw & Exposed

In the winter of 2018, I gathered a few delicate fern leaves from my sister’s garden in France. I preserved their natural forms, eventually creating molds that allowed me to transform them into silver.

I could never have imagined how meaningful those leaves would become years later.

After my mother’s passing, I returned to one of those ferns and created À VIF, a sterling silver ring that wraps around the finger like a gentle embrace.

The French expression à vif describes something raw, tender, painfully exposed — much like grief itself.

I deliberately left the ring organic and imperfect. Its textures and irregularities reflect the vulnerability I have felt these past months.

But this piece is not really about death.

It is about what remains.

The memories we hold close. The places and small moments that stay with us. The love that continues even when someone is no longer physically present.

An Invitation to Reflect — Memento Mori

I am honored that À VIF is part of Memento Mori, a group exhibition presented by Universal Deco Art, bringing together 14 jewelry artists exploring death, memory, and remembrance through their work.

Each artist approaches this universal experience from a different perspective, reminding us that while grief is deeply personal, it is also something that connects us.

In-person exhibition: October 29, 2026, from 5–7 PM, in Denver, Colorado. You're invited to "Memento Mori Jewelry Exhibition." Tap here to RSVP - Paperless Post Card

I invite you to discover the exhibition and the stories behind these meaningful pieces.

[Explore the Ring →] À VIF by Sandrine B. Jewelry – Universal Deco

A Final Thought

When I first gathered that fern leaf, it was simply a beautiful fragment of nature I wanted to preserve.

Today, it holds an entirely different meaning.

Perhaps that is what I find most comforting about creating: something collected years ago can unexpectedly become a vessel for memory, healing, and love.

Thank you for allowing me to share this part of my journey with you.

With love and gratitude,

xx Sandrine