Six Handshakes and a Lace Collar, or Unexpected Gifts of Fate
Hello everyone! They say that we are all connected to one another through six handshakes. But sometimes, fate finds a much shorter way.
Have you ever thought about how unexpectedly people, places, and events can become connected? Someone makes something with their own hands, someone else notices it, and then, through a chain of circumstances that no one could have planned, a small handmade object can travel much farther than anyone imagined.
This is one of those stories.
It began in Ukraine, with a handmade lace collar. And then something quite unexpected happened.
Let me tell you how this little collar began its remarkable journey.
Eight years ago, a very pleasant lady named Mindy bought this lace collar from me.
At the time, of course, I had no idea that this particular sale would remain in my memory for so many years. There was something especially warm about our correspondence, and I still remember her words when she saw the collar:
“I couldn’t resist!”
She left a lovely review, too, and that little exchange stayed with me.
Perhaps this story would have remained one of my pleasant memories. But no — it had an unexpected continuation. And that continuation caught me completely by surprise… and delighted me beyond words!
Recently, I received a message from Mindy.
After eight years, she was back — and this time, her message was about the lace collar she had bought from me so long ago.
My creations are almost like my children. I remember them, I keep their photographs, and I often know exactly where to find the pictures of a particular piece, even years after it has left my hands.
That habit turned out to be very useful this time.
Eight years had passed, but I still had photographs of that collar. So when Mindy asked me about it, I was able to look back through my archive and find what she needed.
I have to admit, I read those words more than once. Ruth Bader Ginsburg? How did my little lace collar become a gift for her?
Before I tell you how this happened, let me say a few words about the remarkable woman at the center of this unexpected story.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a landmark figure in American life — the second woman ever to serve as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and a person who remained an influential figure in American society for decades.
She was also well known for her collection of distinctive collars, which she wore over her judicial robes. For her, they were more than just accessories: different collars could reflect her mood, mark a special occasion, or even express a particular position. Over time, these collars became one of her most recognizable features.
That is why a handmade lace collar given to her as a gift seems especially symbolic to me.
If you would like to learn more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her life, and her work on the U.S. Supreme Court, you can read her biography on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg?utm_source=chatgpt.com
And then came the most wonderful part of this story.
Mindy told me that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had received the lace collar — and that she had written a thank-you note.
When I saw the letter, I could hardly believe that Fragrant Apricot, the lace collar I had made in Ukraine, had actually reached Ruth herself.
I consider this episode one of the most meaningful moments of my life, and I am truly proud of it.
And it is not simply because something I created was given to such a remarkable person — although, of course, that makes me very happy too!
What touches me most is that, quite unexpectedly, I became a small part of such a personal, intimate, and deeply moving story in the lives of people whom I had known only from a distance.
It fills me with a kind of joy that is difficult to put into words.
Mindy and I are still trying to find out whether there is any information about Fragrant Apricot in Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s collection.
Perhaps someone reading this knows something about the collar, has seen it, or knows where we might find more information about it.
If you have any information or suggestions, I would be truly grateful if you shared them in the comments. Who knows — perhaps this little lace story still has another chapter waiting to be discovered.
Sometimes, life connects people in the most unexpected ways. And perhaps that is what Six Handshakes and a Lace Collar is really about — not just a lace collar, but the remarkable connections and unexpected gifts of fate that can bring us together.
The same pattern has also inspired another version of this collar, Caribbean Sea, created in a completely different color palette. Perhaps it has a beautiful story of its own, waiting to be told. https://fairylace.kozinenko.com/product/caribbean-sea-collar-necklace/
See you soon! ❤️
What a lovely story ! So interesting.
Thank you, Lyn!
Yes, this is such an amazing story that I’m amazed myself!