Daisies for Emily

A few weeks ago, I was on a Flybe flight reading their complimentary magazine when a picture of some Sheila Fleet jewellery caught my eye - each piece was a beautiful daisy, and there were pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings. I began to read the article accompanying the photos, and it was then that I came across the story of Daisies for Emily.

In 2013, 18 year old Emily Findlay started working on Saturdays at Sheila Fleet's Kirkwall Gallery. For those of you who don't know, Sheila is a fantastic jewellery designer from Orkney, Scotland. Since she first founded her company in 1993, she has created over 60 beautiful collections.

At this time Sheila discovered that Emily had been fighting neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, since she was 14. She was stable for 18 months having received multiple treatments and operations, but relapsed in January 2014. Sheila wanted to do something for Emily.

"I asked Emily what sort of flowers she liked and she answered "The Daisy is my favourite flower". This was lovely for me and very poignant. Years before I too had chosen daisies. I made my wedding dress of lace daisies and I held fresh daisies. One of my husband, Rick's most iconic photographs was of daisies taken at dawn below our home and Workshop in Orkney. Sadly, I lost Rick to pancreatic cancer last year but I used his daisies to help me design Emily's daisies; it's a tribute to his life and his memory too."

Sheila Fleet OBE

Sheila and Rick on their wedding day

  

And so began Daisies for Emily!

Sheila working on Daisies for Emily at her jeweller's bench

Since launching at the end of May 2014, over £6000 has been raised for the Orkney Charitable Trust, which supports Emily and her family.

And here's the lovely girl herself!

Emily, with her brother Max and her mum Michelle

The jewellery really is gorgeous - I think my favourite is the bracelet with the small daisies - and as you can see, this collection is raising money for a really wonderful cause. I simply had to share it with you all!

If you want to get your hands on one of these lovely pieces, head over to the Sheila Fleet website and peruse the Daisies for Emily collection here.

Had you heard about Daisies for Emily? Are you already the proud owner of one of these daisies? Let me know your thoughts - tweet me @secretmaggiemay.