we love commissions

example 1: heather s.

heather and her best friend met as middle school pen pals in the 80s, exchanging letters and postcards. they bonded over the PBS show "The Big Blue Marble," which featured kids around the world writing to each other and promoted intercultural exchange. heather wanted to give her dear friend several pieces of reimagined jewelry based on these connective themes.

I thought about the elements heather wanted to convey through her gift of personalized jewelry, and began looking through my collection of beads and objects in my studio. I also sourced from a variety of delightful places to compose what I call an “Idea Platter,” which I shared with heather to see what she responded to.

vintage kinetic mailbox on silver chain

kinetic repoussé brass envelope on gold chain

blue agate stone bead on silver chain necklace

postcard amulet on vintage chain

the final 4 pieces all encapsulated different dimensions of heather’s friendship with her best friend, and pleased both the gift-giver and the gift-receiver.

example 2: ryan l. gifts for friends

for christmas, ryan l. wanted to give her two good friends custom-made necklaces based on their individual interests.

one friend loves all things art nouveau/art deco, and appreciates vintage treasures that have a quirky history and use. this antique french art nouveau belt buckle on a rustic brass chain fit the bill.

“Thank you so much for making the special necklace for me! I love it so much. It was so heartfelt and totally me. Please keep doing this special jewelry…it’s amazing!”

- stacy p

the other friend is an adventure travel photographer, social impact entrepreneur, and founder of a non-profit that supports artisans and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. she also started a company of alpaca and palm leaf hats handmade by artisans in latin america.

ilak designs sourced evocative pieces based on these priorities, and landed on this simple but personalized piece…

have an idea for a commission for a friend?