BELFAST — With wedding season just around the corner, artist Jennifer Lisa, designer of eclectic jewelry called Quench Metalworks, decided to put a new spin on the old adage “Something borrowed...”

In this new feature, we examine how an artist chose to construct a certain piece — and in this case, a necklace constructed of vintage parts. “I wanted to make something that was an heirloom-worthy necklace for a bride to wear,” she said.

In the design, (pictured), she took a an vintage mother of pearl button with a swan and clipped off the shank on the back. She then applied a piece of her own great-grandmother’s embroidered linen, and added some antique linen for fringe and four pearls.

”The fringe is to provide the illusion that the swan is swimming in water,” she said.

She didn’t make the piece for anyone in particular; she just had the inspiration and put it together. However, now that she has posted some photos from her creations, she’s starting to get calls from brides.

“If a bride has a grandmother who provides a vintage handkerchief, I can customize the piece with that, or say an old postcard sent from a grandfather to a grandmother—anything that builds on a family tradition,” Lisa said.

Lisa, who grew up in south China, Maine, decided after many years of running her own one-woman jewelry business, it was time to open a bricks and mortar store, also named Quench, in Belfast six months ago. Quench is located at 9 Beaver St. Along with her own designs, Quench represents the work of more than 25 artisans and designers from New England and beyond. And there, people can find home goods, pottery, paper and leather goods, jewelry, bags, leather and body care items — all hand crafted by artisans.

To learn more about Quench visit http://quenchmaine.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com