IMPORTANT: Available for Purchase Friday December 5th at 3PM EST through Friday December 19th at 11:59PM EST

PLEASE NOTE : We are excited to extend a discounted price to our clients, this entire collection has been marked down 10%.

When I first began BloodMilk, it was born out of significant period of grief. A wholly unexpected grief that cleaved my life into a before and after. Previous to this time, I hadn’t truly considered the afterlife, I didn’t grow up with a familial belief or had a religious culture to lean into. This led me to a period of seeking, and I began to become obsessed with Victorian era practices of mourning as well as Spiritualism in tandem to making the first pieces of BloodMilk. I had always wanted to create mourning jewelry and while I always considered ( & still do ) everything I made to be just that, I still wanted to create pieces that used symbolism from that time period. It’s taken me 16 years, but these new jewels are born from that time of intense mourning, a grief that still swims within me like a piece of sea glass: worn smooth with time but still sharp enough to wound when the waves crash just right. Each one of these three new designs were created in collaboration with my husband Aaron Horkey and made in my studio by my team here in Philadelphia.

Tempus Fugit is a Latin phrase that translates to “Time Flies” and is usually coupled with the ubiquitous phrase, Carpe Diem, “Seize the Day”. Both phrases originate from Virgil’s The Georgics, a poem written in 29 BCE.

As cemetery iconography, the winged hourglass embodies this phrase and reminds those walking by ( cemeteries were often used as parks ) that life is fleeting and death is inevitable. While this visual message appears macabre, it’s a reminder to live life to the fullest and to not “waste” time. I’m aware that these statements feel trite and overused, however, as someone prone to melancholia, it’s helpful for me to have a reminder to seek beauty daily amongst the darkness. I’m unsure what the end of my life will be like. If I live long enough to be old, to be lucky enough to still have my mind, will I look back at my life and feel as if I’ve wasted ‘time’ ? Thinking of this now, can I do something about it, in a small way, to negate a future regret? Can I surrender to living in the moment, can I attempt to stop over thinking ? I often also think about time as a healer. The hourglass is running out in the idea of ‘Time Flies’, but the hourglass, as an object, can always be flipped over, again and again and again. It represents endless time, the potential for endless transformation. A promise of transformation beyond death, the idea of death not being the end.

On a personal note, the hourglass’ wings were inspired by the wings of an owl, in remembrance of my grandmother who loved them. Owls are also able to see in the dark, & in these dark times, I wanted to add that magic to a talisman of both mourning and a call to living as fully as one can.

*Details* :

- 29 mm tall 

- 22 mm in wide 

- Solid Sterling Silver  

- Both pendant and chain are hand oxidized to achieve our favorite shade of stormy gray and then highlighted to reveal the bright luminous silver beneath

- Shown on Jess on an 18 inch chain paired with the large version on a 30 inch chain

- Seen on Miguel on a 20 inch chain

- Last photo shown with the larger version which can be found Here

***IMPORTANT***

This jewel is handmade to order, just for you, with care and focus. Please allow approximately 6-8 weeks for creation before shipping.                   

Visit the Policy Page to make an educated and informed purchase HERE.

If you have further questions, we are always here to serve you in a kind and timely manner: via info@bloodmilkjewels.com