A RUSSIAN jewellery designer has donated two of her stunning necklaces to be auctioned by a County Durham store in aid of Ukrainian refugees.
The colourful works were sent to Jo Soulsby of Moon jewellery and interior decor, in Durham, who has been working tirelessly coordinating efforts to get supplies to refugees in her hometown Elk, in Poland.
Mrs Soulsby said: "The designer is very popular with our customers. She makes very colourful and unusual items. They are very contemporary nylon mesh designs and are proper works of art.
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"We had another order in with her before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Originally I wasn’t sure which side she was on. It’s a very awkward situation where you don’t really know how to approach the subject."
Mrs Soulsby, moved by the plight of orphans who were taking refuge in her hometown of Elk had in the meantime begun spearheading a massive community effort to send them much-needed supplies.
She said: "Because I had this order with the designer I chased it up with her and asked when is was coming and said I hoped she and her family was well.
"I didn't mention the war and then she said she had seen what I was doing in aid of the refugees.
"She said she was fine but very stressed by what was happening saying 'we don’t want this war'.
"She said she was so sorry for the nation of Ukraine and asked if I would mind if she added two pieces to the order to auction to help Ukrainian families in my home town. It was very kind of her."
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Mrs Soulsby said she did not want to name the jeweller because she did not want her to get in trouble with the authorities in Russia, who are stamping out all dissent in the country.
Mrs Soulsby added: "A lot of people have stopped buying things relating to Russia as well.
"I didn’t even know if I would be putting her items on the shelves. But because of her gesture we all dressed ourselves up in her necklaces for the opening of our store in its new premises in Silver Street at the weekend.
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"We wanted to manifest that we cannot take it that all the Russians want this war."
Moon is taking bids for the two works, modelled by sisters Sienna and Lea Brechin, with bidding concludes at 9pm on Sunday (April 17).
To make a bid click here.
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Twitter moon_jewellery
Read more: County Durham community send aid to Ukrainian refugees
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