Custom Kilt Pin - help

[nh_maclean]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a custom kilt pin made and am wondering if anyone here does such work? I would also probably want to get it in 2 smaller versions - either pins or pendants.

Some background for what I'm looking for:
I'm looking to represent the bond (blood/spiritual/duty) to my Godchildren:
my nephew (2yrs) (named after St. Nicholas - but not necessarily Santa) and my niece (7mo) (Anabelle but her middle name is Lilly - after my grandmother).

I currently wear on a chain two Guardian Angel "coins" - one for each of them and they each have a "coin" themselves. They clearly don't understand the significance of the coins now but since I live so far away - it's my connection to them and a reminder to myself of my role in their lives as they growup.

Thought I'd toss this out here before I start looking around at jewelers - or if you know a good designer - let me know!

Thanks,
Noah

[MacLowlife]

I am no jeweler and I am certainly no saint, but I would suggest you consider St Nicholas' usual iconography, which I have just read to include the 3 balls familiar to all of us who frequent pawn shops, but also ships, a barrel, and a bishop's mitre. (Also a bald head and a short white beard, but I suspect those would be hard to work into a pin design.) You can look up for yourself what these things symbolize, other than St Nicholas.

I would work on either the barrel, or an anchor. I would add to this the Fleur de Lys. A simple design would be something made like a barrel with a Fleur de Lys cut out of it. I expect you might be able to incorporate an anchor and a FdL somehow. I like the association of the anchor with hope, and of course, with security... A FdL as a background, with an anchor superimposed might work, too.

Alternatively, you could place the three balls (bezants, if my memory of Sir Hillary Bray's heraldry lesson is good) on top of the flower. It might be cool to make the flower silver with the gold balls on it.

Do let us see what you come up with, if you will...

[ccga3359]

In wiki St Nickolas is also the patron saint of New York.

The historical Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered among Catholic and Orthodox Christians. He is also honoured by various Anglican and Lutheran churches. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, and children, and students in Greece, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Barranquilla, Bari, Amsterdam, Beit Jala, Siggiewi and Liverpool. In 1809, the New-York Historical Society convened and retroactively named Santa Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for New York City.

I like MacLowlife's idea of the Fleur dis Lis perhaps with the three gold balls incorperated in the petals.

[nh_maclean]

I am no jeweler and I am certainly no saint, but I would suggest you consider St Nicholas' usual iconography, which I have just read to include the 3 balls familiar to all of us who frequent pawn shops, but also ships, a barrel, and a bishop's mitre. (Also a bald head and a short white beard, but I suspect those would be hard to work into a pin design.) You can look up for yourself what these things symbolize, other than St Nicholas.

I would work on either the barrel, or an anchor. I would add to this the Fleur de Lys. A simple design would be something made like a barrel with a Fleur de Lys cut out of it. I expect you might be able to incorporate an anchor and a FdL somehow. I like the association of the anchor with hope, and of course, with security... A FdL as a background, with an anchor superimposed might work, too.

Alternatively, you could place the three balls (bezants, if my memory of Sir Hillary Bray's heraldry lesson is good) on top of the flower. It might be cool to make the flower silver with the gold balls on it.

Do let us see what you come up with, if you will...

I'm no saint either! But looking into the iconography of St. Nicholas is a great idea. When I'm at my sister's house this holiday, I will take a look at their St. Nicholas icon and see what's represented there so there could be some family significance.

And as for Lily - I didn't even think of the Fleur de Lys (I was invisioning something more 'traditionally' lilly-like but that's perfect and honestly, something more I'd like to wear.

Cheers for the ideas!

[MacBean]

I know a good custom jeweler who has made kilt pins in the past (but not for me). Were you looking to link to MacLean iconography and if so, which branch of MacLeans do you think is yours?

Personally, I like the pennanular pins, though perhaps they are more brooches for women's shawls, I don't know. I like them because they are circular and show the plaid in the middle.

[Bugbear]

I am no jeweler and I am certainly no saint, but I would suggest you consider St Nicholas' usual iconography, which I have just read to include the 3 balls familiar to all of us who frequent pawn shops, but also ships, a barrel, and a bishop's mitre. (Also a bald head and a short white beard, but I suspect those would be hard to work into a pin design.) You can look up for yourself what these things symbolize, other than St Nicholas.

I would work on either the barrel, or an anchor. I would add to this the Fleur de Lys. A simple design would be something made like a barrel with a Fleur de Lys cut out of it. I expect you might be able to incorporate an anchor and a FdL somehow. I like the association of the anchor with hope, and of course, with security... A FdL as a background, with an anchor superimposed might work, too.

Alternatively, you could place the three balls (bezants, if my memory of Sir Hillary Bray's heraldry lesson is good) on top of the flower. It might be cool to make the flower silver with the gold balls on it.

Do let us see what you come up with, if you will...

All right, MacLowlife, your story checks out with The Oxford Dictionary of Saints.

I don't know anything about the heraldry and flowers and mixing silver and gold, though... Should probably ask an expert.

[nh_maclean]

I know a good custom jeweler who has made kilt pins in the past (but not for me). Were you looking to link to MacLean iconography and if so, which branch of MacLeans do you think is yours?

Personally, I like the pennanular pins, though perhaps they are more brooches for women's shawls, I don't know. I like them because they are circular and show the plaid in the middle.

I hadn't thought about incorporating Maclean iconography into it but it's an idea since they are Macleans. But I'm mostly interested in something that could be a reminder for me of them and a "christening" keepsake for them. (A little late but... )

A pennanular pin would be interesting - and simple. I could have one made with their birthstones or have their names engraved on either side of the circle... hmm - thanks for this - another idea tossed on the pile!