Okay, so we're talking about dragons...
Dragons have always had a bit of a branding problem
In some stories, they’re plainly the monster - winged beasts hoarding gold, killing anyone who tries to come near, often very spectacularly with some good old fire (looking at you, Smaug). In other stories, they’re wise, ancient beings, closer to gods than animals, keepers of knowledge and magic (or at least that's how Tairn likes to see himself, am I right?).
No matter the version, though, dragons (and wyverns, we don't discriminate, right, Abraxos?) are powerful, often ruthless and well, quite entertaining as well. They are certainly undeniably cool.
But their appeal isn’t just a modern fantasy obsession.
Dragons are everywhere in mythology - woven into folklore across cultures and centuries, each version revealing something about the people who told their stories.
Dragon lore
In European traditions, dragons were often something to be conquered. Think of the classic tale of the knight slaying the beast. In Germanic mythology, one of the most famous dragons is Fafnir, or maybe the slayer Siegfried (in Nordic mythology Sigurd) from the Nibelungensage is actually more famous. Fafnir was a dwarf who transformed into a dragon after being consumed by greed. He guards a cursed treasure hoard, embodying the idea that obsession with wealth can quite literally turn you into a monster. It’s dark, dramatic, and very on-brand for the kind of stories that stick with you.
Siegfried ends up killing Fafnir and bathes in its blood to become nearly invincible (yuk) - except for that one tiny spot on his back because what is a hero without a tragic flaw? Let's just say, it's an epic for a reason, so I won't give any spoilers here. I'll just say it is worth it and certainly a story that has inspired many many others over the centuries (the Nibelungensage was written around 1200 BCE).
But - and here's a big old 'But' with a capital B: not all dragons are villains.
In other traditions, dragons are protectors, symbols of wisdom, or forces of nature. Even within European lore, they’re not always purely evil. Sometimes they’re guardians of knowledge, thresholds, or hidden worlds. In Chinese tradition they certainly are! That duality is part of what makes them so fascinating: dragons are never just one thing.
And what can I say, modern fantasy has taken that complexity, added some banter, and ran with it.
The booklovers' guide to dragonkind
From the fierce, bond-forming dragons of romantasy to the morally ambiguous creatures in epic fantasy, dragons have evolved into something much more emotionally charged. They’re not just obstacles anymore - they’re allies (and we don't eat our allies!!), mirrors of their riders, extensions of power, freedom, and identity. They represent something raw and untamed, but also deeply personal. After all, a dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.
Which might explain why we keep coming back to them.
There’s something about dragons that feels… aspirational. The idea of flight, of fire, of ancient strength. Of guarding something precious - whether that’s treasure, knowledge, your rider/ally/mate, or your own inner world. They carry this sense of magic that feels both distant and strangely familiar.
And, if you’re anything like me, that kind of magic doesn’t stay on the page.
...and they will take over your life!
It spills over into the things you surround yourself with. Little IYKYK moments, if you know what I mean. I saw a t-shirt with Broccoli on it recently; I made a tag with 'Should I get the Wing Leader?' for an equally reading-obsessed friend; there's a tote bag that introduces The Thirteen and Manon Blackbeak like an act at a festival. A mug that asks the stars to answer dreams. PYHOTH. STFUATTDLAGG. You get it.
That’s exactly where my Tales & Treasures collection began.
My own way to find my love for dragons - and how I ran with it
It is a terribly kept secret (well, my dear reader, you might have guessed by now!) that I LOVE fantasy. Or romantasy, as fantasy written by female authors seems to be called now (a debate I won't get into right now).
This genre brought me back to reading. As many born in the late 80s/early 90s, I grew up with Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games. I was REALLY into the first, less so the other two, but I devoured books like it was nobody's business. Skip forward to uni, where I studied English Literature (among other subjects, Germany is wild) and having to read for courses didn't leave much time to read for pleasure. After uni, I got a job at a publisher for 7 years and lost all love for reading, being around books and journals for 8 hours a day already. However, in 2024 a little book called A Court of Thorns and Roses quite frankly changed my life to a point where I now have one audiobook and one paper (or digital) book on the go simultaneously and read about 50+ books a year that way. Madness.
Now, something that takes up so much of my time now will find its way into my work and art. I'm proud to make authentic jewellery that I would and do wear myself (constantly), so the passion I developed for this genre was going to feed in sooner or later. The result? My Tales & Treasures collection.
Are you my people?
If you look at this collection and think 'There you are - I've been looking for you'... If you are a reader, or you love a reader, honestly - this one's for you. You are my people and I'm your maker (not in that sense...). And I'd love it if you chose my jewellery not as your next, but as your last.
It would be. My honour.
