Maker Stories

Friday Giveaway: Wax Seal Necklace

September 17, 2010

Thanks to everyone who shared your stories about the loved ones in your lives. And congrats to Sarah Solducky, who will be sending her holiday cards with a special seal this year.

Stay tuned for more giveaways by subscribing to theGoods.


This week we’re honored to give away one of Tania Condon’s elegant sterling silver wax seal necklaces, that she will custom engrave for one lucky winner.

And this week, you have the chance to win one, custom made. Your sterling silver wax seal necklace comes with a tiny tag that you can have engraved with the initials of a loved one and a date to mark a special day in your heart. Your pendant also comes with your choice of initial and a block of wax, so you seal your letters with a personal touch.

Tania Condon’s son Julian is the main inspiration for her pieces, including the sterling silver wax seal necklace, available custom-made for $95. After the birth of her son, Tania took up metalsmithing in order to make a bracelet for her newborn baby. She learned first at classes at a college in San Diego and then with the help of other masters in the trade. Using the design of a wax fob she saw in a British Museum, she came up with the idea of the pendant.

Tania says, “I love writing letters and sending them via snail mail and I seal them with a wax seal of the letter T. Sometimes I get carried away and even use the wax seal for my bills!”

Want to win? You know what to do! Leave a comment below telling us what special event or person you might commemorate with a sterling silver wax seal necklace. Then leave a comment on our Facebook wall, and tweet @uncommongoods on Twitter to triple your chances. We’ll announce the random winner on Monday.

91 Comments

  • Reply mara September 17, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    I would love to have this. We have a wedding coming up that I would love to wear it to. Thanks.

  • Reply Kimberly Flickinger September 17, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Love it! Following and retweeting @kaflickinger74

  • Reply Diane Stokes September 17, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    I’d get the letter “A” because it would be a fun gift for my son’s 21st birthday.

  • Reply Lunachique September 17, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Wow! I’ve actually always wanted something like this! Thank you so much for the chance!

  • Reply Brandy September 17, 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Whenever I need a birthday gift, I always shop at Uncommon Goods. This necklace would be the perfect present for my best friend!

  • Reply Jen September 17, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    I would get R, so my little girl would be with me all day!

  • Reply Kirsten September 17, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    My grandson will be born in about two months. This would be a special way to celebrate his birth.

  • Reply Amanda September 17, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    My mother life. 1943-2010

  • Reply Ashlie September 17, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    As crazy as this might sound…I might do my birthday. I am working on honoring myself lately.

  • Reply Stephanie Plescia September 17, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Wow.. this is a great gift! My mother would love this…and her birthdya is right around the corner!

  • Reply Clinton September 17, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    a comment

  • Reply Julie Ferreira September 17, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    I just got married, so I would get the initial of my new last name to celebrate our marriage.

  • Reply Melissa Hernandez September 17, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    I’d get one for me & one for each of my daughter’s so that when we wrote each other by snail mail, or sent holiday/birthday cards to each other we could seal it with a “kiss” of wax! This is a great piece of jewelry with function!

  • Reply heather aday September 17, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    I would give this to my daughter for coming full circle in the last year when it comes to her schooling. she was diagnosed w/ asperger syndrome and has overcome. with the letter D for her 1st initial.

  • Reply Veronica September 17, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    I’d love to get one for myself to celebrate my life with my future husband next month!!

  • Reply Debi September 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I’d give it to myself (and my husband)! We used a waxed seal “T” on our wedding invitations, candle decorations, and memory book six years ago. But when I decided to put all of those things in a shadow box with our wedding photo, I had lost the seal. I would love this as a replacement so I could finally have the memento I have always wanted.

  • Reply Laura September 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I would love to have one of these to celebrate our new baby, due in March. We find out its sex in four weeks, but either way we’re going with a J name – Julia or Jacob (it just worked out that way!). Three years ago, when I was pregnant with my first, my husband surprised me with a glass locket from Uncommon Goods with our daughter’s ultrasound photo in it, and I would love to have a necklace for our next child as well.

  • Reply Kathryn Tomasek September 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    This would be a great 50th birthday present! (she said, thinking about her own upcoming landmark day, a mere 395+ days from now)

  • Reply chel September 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I think I’d get a “G” (for my daughter Gracie) and then give it to my mom (“G” also stands for “grandma”)

  • Reply Sarah Chatterjee September 17, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    A beautiful modern twist on such an old item!

  • Reply Dianne September 17, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    We have a new grandbaby coming in a few weeks. This would be nice for putting on the birth announcements!

  • Reply Jennifer September 17, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    I was just telling my sister today how I wanted to do this! It must be a sign that I found out about this contest. Thanks so much and good luck everyone!

  • Reply Tami Goodstein September 17, 2010 at 3:06 pm

    I would make one with my initial and use it on all the cards I send to my friends to keep in touch – my web of friendships keeps me grounded.

  • Reply Cari Reynolds September 17, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    I went through a period when I was younger when I sealed EVERYTHING with a wax seal. I would love to get back to that. I think the water company would get a kick out of receiving a payment sealed with my initial!

  • Reply Holly September 17, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    I used to have a wax seal with my old last name. But I haven’t replaced it since I married!

  • Reply Meredith September 17, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    love it! thanks for the opportunity!

  • Reply R M Shapiro September 17, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    These are exquisite. I wish I had this talent!

    Have a great weekend.

  • Reply Deanne Ross September 17, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    My husband and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, so I’d get one (with the initial of our last name)to commemorate our anniversary and celebrate having my husband in my life.

  • Reply Maria E September 17, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    I would get a “W” for my grandfather (Papa), Wilbur, who passed away 5 years ago. He moved after he retired when I was about 12, and we would always write each other about every other week to keep in touch and I often would wax seal my letters. He was my father figure in my life, so that would be a great reminder of something that we did together.

  • Reply Tracie B. September 17, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    I would get one with the letter “N” for my mother Nancy. She lost my father nearly one year ago to cancer. She took care of him through his illness and is the most caring, amazing person I know!

  • Reply pam September 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    I would get a “J” for my son who we adopted with his birthdate, which also happens to be his adoption date from Russia.

  • Reply Jill L September 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    This would be such a nice way to always have a reminder of my daughter close to me. I would have her initial put on it.

  • Reply Bonnie L. September 17, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    I would buy one for myself and wear it always with the date “05/12/10” inscribed as a reminder that I SURVIVED. Survived to know that I need to LIVE.

  • Reply Melisa Froeschle September 17, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    For my mother-in-law Victoria, she is losing her battle with Colon Cancer. One of the most powerful women I have known.

  • Reply Kathy Rycroft September 17, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    I would love to have this engraved with my deceased mother in laws initial etc., to give to one of her great granddaughters. There is a special little one that took it really hard when she passed and I think this would help her get through this year.

  • Reply Christina Huber September 17, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    Absolutely LOVE this necklace! I would want my husband Pauls initial on it, and the date we got married. It’ll be 17 years in October. We’re a military family, and right now he’s away…which makes the anniversary all the harder and more special!

  • Reply Terri Shepard September 17, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    I would have GiGi put on it for my great grandma.She turned 86 this year and shes my best friend!!

  • Reply MA September 17, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    beautiful would do this and get it for a good friend who has supported me through hell this past year

  • Reply Lindsey September 17, 2010 at 3:32 pm

    I would get a D because it is the first initial of my last name and my future hubby’s last name! I love sending snail mail, as a “thinking of you” to all of my friends and family, and the wax seal would be an adorable addition (plus its beautiful as a necklace!!!)

  • Reply Nicole Larimore September 17, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    What a wonderful idea! I’d love to have this!

  • Reply Kris McGuire September 17, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    I would get one in memory of a friend I lost six years ago and will never forget.

  • Reply Elana September 17, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    I would get one for a friend who has had a rough year, to commemorate that she can get through anything, and that she has love and friends behind her.

  • Reply julie reuter September 17, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    i’d commemorate the upcoming birth of my niece! she’s due in late dec/early jan. this would be a great baby shower gift for her mom.

  • Reply devi September 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    I think I’d have to go with my 10th anniversary, which is coming up in a couple of months!

  • Reply jennifer bentley September 17, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    J, as it is both my and my husband’s initial!

  • Reply Angela September 17, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    My 1 year sobriety date!

  • Reply michelle September 17, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    LOVE this!!!! I soooo want to start sealing my letters with a wax stamp.

  • Reply Jessica W. September 17, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    Just like the artist, Tania, I’d commemorate the birth of my son last year.

  • Reply Susannah September 17, 2010 at 4:01 pm

    What a lovely idea! I would ask for the initial J, the first letter of my husband’s name. As an Army wife, I am often alone while my husband is overseas or away on Army business and this necklace would keep him near to my heart and make me feel close to him even while he’s far away.

  • Reply Felicia September 17, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    I would get the initial F to represent both my name and the word FINISH to commemorate the line I crossed in publishing my book!

  • Reply Hilary Hoffman September 17, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    I would celebrate myself with it!! Totally selfish, but I’ve always loved wax seals and it would be fun to have an “H” people would assume I’d be for my last name, but really it would be just for me!

  • Reply Jessica Bailey September 17, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    I would celebrate myself. I am starting a small party planning business and would love to have a unique signature.

  • Reply Kristen J. September 17, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    I would celebrate my wedding day and get the initial J for my new last name. 🙂

  • Reply Heather Rodgers September 17, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    I would use this to celebrate my almost 2 year old who was born on New Years Day! He’s my life, I love the idea of celebrating him everytime I send a letter!

  • Reply Janlyn Rogers September 17, 2010 at 4:25 pm

    i would get a D for my husband and best friend for 33 years now, David.

  • Reply Carley w. September 17, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    I would celebrate my Grandma the German baker :).

  • Reply Anonymous September 17, 2010 at 4:30 pm

    I would love to have one of these with my first initial to commemorate my sobriety date!

  • Reply Joanne September 17, 2010 at 4:44 pm

    I would celebrate my family with a T.

  • Reply Stephanie September 17, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    I would celebrate the love I share with the most wonderful man in the world – I would select A to represent him and have the engraving be for our very first date 4/27/1995 <3

  • Reply Tina E. Schutz September 17, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I would get TEAM for the first initials of all the names in my little family (Tina, Abby, Elizabeth, and Michael) or 1989 – the year my husband and I began our married life together!

  • Reply Linda September 17, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    I would give this to my sister, who has always loved wax seals and taught me how to use them over 30 years ago, it’s a wonderful memory for me, I’d get an M for her.

  • Reply R M Shapiro September 17, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    This is beautiful-wish I was this talented!

  • Reply Andrea Treadwell September 17, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    I would get an A…all the girls, including my Mom, myself & my daughters, names begin with A. We could share it!

  • Reply Cindy Gifford September 17, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    I would celebrate by daughters pending birth of my second grandchild. We are planning a blessaway for her and that would be the perfect gift. I just found out this last weekend my daughter was pregnant, she lives next door our relationship has been strained but since the announcement things have improved a lot, it is amazing. Of my five kids she is 30 and the last one I ever expected to get pregnant because she was not going to have children or adopt.

  • Reply Sarah September 17, 2010 at 6:04 pm

    What a great necklace that would look great on me! 🙂

  • Reply Helen September 17, 2010 at 6:17 pm

    I would have 12. We were told we would never have children, 9 yrs later our son was born 12/12 and a following 3 yrs later our daughter arrived 12/6. So 12 is now a very special number to me.

  • Reply sue September 17, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    i just want it because i like that sort of stuff. good luck to me!

  • Reply Mary Beth Rhines September 17, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    It’s so beautiful! I would get an “R” for my married last to celebrate my husband of 14 years and my 3 beautiful children!

  • Reply Jill September 17, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    My sister–a phenomenal high school English teacher–is about to receive tenure. I am so proud of her accomplishments and passion! I know a gift of a wax seal necklace would be both the perfect gift, and greatly treasured.

  • Reply Tracey September 17, 2010 at 7:20 pm

    My sisters Taylor, Taryn and I all visibly have names that begin with the letter “T”. Above the obvious and below the surface is a deeper meaning behind that initial. I an 10 and 13 years older than both if them (respectfully) and although there have been times that our developmental phases have clashed, we have consistently worked hard to always have some common ground in order to relate to one another. Further Compounding that obstacle is the fact that I live in Northen VA and they are both still living at home with our father and my step mother in Ohio.

    One unifying character trait we have been blessed with and most likely is the reason we have successfully maintained this close bond is our empathetic, caring nature, our tendency to alwys put the needs of others before our own and our over achieving, perfectionist attitudes that prevent us from ever giving up once we have set a goal for ourselves.

    I currently work as a high school math and science teacher educating students with learning disabilities who are still responsible for meeting all of VA’s general Ed curriculum. It is exceptionally challenging to develop and differentiate instruction on the spot ti somehow find a way to explain these complex topics to a roomfull pf stidents that all process information differently. My tenacious spirit combined with my relationship with my younger sisters enable me to persevere. My sisters are the same age as my students so I am very comfortable interacting with this age group and do not encounter the classroom management issues that the majority of my colleagues do. I have bonded with each and every young adult that I have had the pleasure of teaching over the course if the past 3 years and am proud to report that my student pass rate for the Standards of Learning end of course exams is higher than most of the general education teachers within the science and math departments I work in.

    My experiences and relationships with my sisters Taylor and Taryn have given me the gift to inspire and motivate an otherwise apathetic population of students who have developed deeply rooted misconceptions of their abilities by the time they reach high school. Albeit exhausting and thankless most of the time, I love my job and could not imagine doing anything else that would prove as rewarding.

    The cherry on top: my students refer to me as Ms. T because of my difficult last name : )

  • Reply DJ September 17, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    I would give this to my daughter to celebrate the birth of her first child (my first grandchild)in March 2011.

  • Reply Karen September 17, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    Very nice!!!

  • Reply Annett September 17, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    My husband and I used wax seals on our wedding invitation so this would be a great 11-year anniversary gift to commemorate that.

  • Reply Cynthia September 17, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    I’d celebrate my wedding April 24th and get my new last initial “s”

  • Reply KC September 17, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    I’d celebrate finishing my novel!

  • Reply Lena September 18, 2010 at 12:27 am

    I’d celebrate God for saving me so many times

  • Reply jen September 18, 2010 at 1:08 am

    I would put a G on one side for my boyfriend and a J on the other side for me 🙂

  • Reply jen September 18, 2010 at 1:10 am

    oh- there’s only one side, so maybe just a G for my boyfriend’s initial

  • Reply Sabine September 18, 2010 at 4:18 am

    What a lovely idea!

  • Reply Amy Baldwin September 18, 2010 at 8:44 am

    Only pic one letter to commemorate someone or something? Wow, that would be hard! I would probably go with a “B” for our last name. That way I could pass it down to my boys someday. Could definitely be an heirloom piece!

  • Reply Sarah Solducky September 18, 2010 at 10:25 am

    It would be great for Christmas letters!

  • Reply Karly September 18, 2010 at 10:53 am

    I would get a ‘K’ because I just moved in with my best friend, whose name starts with a ‘K’ (Kenzie) as well. She’s really become like a sister to me, she is my family now – and her birthday is coming up.

  • Reply Laurie September 19, 2010 at 11:31 am

    I would get an “S” for my lovely daughter. She just started in 4th grade and although she struggles with dyslexia she worked hard and obtained a 100 on her spelling test after getting a zero on the pre-test. She is my champion!

  • Reply Kstrack September 19, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    I would get and “S” for my married last name and to celebrate that great event 11 1/2 years ago!

  • Reply ClareH September 21, 2010 at 3:17 am

    I would commemorate my wedding date or the birth of my first and only daughter.

  • Reply Robin Brixey Icahn September 21, 2010 at 4:10 am

    I would commemorate the daughter who is now 5 weeks old of my Best friend who passed away on Monday September 13, 2010. My Best friend had battled Cystic Fibrosis her entire life so at the age of 32 she adopted a daughter and in the process learned that she was pregnant. She had a good pregnancy even though it was high risk. While delivering the baby 6 weeks early, she was in the hospital and caught hospital acquired pnuemonia which spread to all 5 lobes of her already over-worked lungs. She battled over 50 days in the hospital ICU while on and off ventilators, feeding tubes, trach, ect – most of us would have only made it days, but she lasted weeks because she wanted to be here for her daughters. Her daughter, Naomi Rose, is now flourishing and healthy in honor of her mother, Katie who recently passed. It is just like Katie’s manner to leave her physical DNA of beauty, strength, and an awesome spirit here on earth to continue where her path seemed to end. “W” for Naomi Rose Wingard. Her mother was so proud her, the miracle baby and as her friend, I would commemorate this special being for being here full of love and truth in human will and strength that her mother showed us everyday until the end.

  • Reply Tiffany Havorson September 21, 2010 at 11:52 am

    I would celebrate my three babies! They are my heart. Daily I can not wait to wake up to their little faces. An “H” for my beautiful babies and my wonderful husband that blessed me with them.

  • Reply Joanne Pacicca September 22, 2010 at 12:01 am

    I would celebrate my existence. If I had a “J” it would remind me of my own value and uniqueness since I am considered the “tail of the dog” at my work.

  • Reply Evie Maurer May 17, 2011 at 8:50 am

    My former high school English teacher would love this! Or better yet she would love to receive a letter with a wax seal. She is a stickler for good grammar and spelling, and appreciates the written word. Let’s hear it for Ms. Wiley!

  • Reply Danielle August 3, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    I’m turning 21 in october, and what a better way to send invitations, then with a wax seal “D”. (Also useful in case I ever get married and change my last name.) This way, I can make it a theme party, and get everyone to dress up. Twenty-one is one of those marker birthdays, the kind that you’re supposed to remember forever. It also marks the day that you are (supposed) to be a full fledged adult.

  • Reply Chloe October 20, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    I would want to give this to my Aunt.

    My cousin battled Type 1 Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis for the last 20 years. It stole his entire life, and he passed away young, just over two months ago. I’ve lost a cousin, but my Aunt and Uncle have lost their only son. The entire family has lost someone they loved dearly.

    I think it would really mean something special for my Aunt to have this as a namesake with her. I can see her using it to seal christmas cards and letters and it would be such a wonderful way to keep a tangible reminder that he’s in our hearts.

    A “K” for kenneth
    July 26, 2011

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