Let me catch you up on some of the ditties I’ve been working on out in the studio. I finished both neck pieces last week. I didn’t have plans for them when I sat down at my work bench but I had some life details that needed expressing, an urge in my metacarpals to push and pull metal and there was a voice rising up in my throat like steam from a winter river.
Born Unlucky Neck Piece
[sterling, rough apatite, pink coral, red coral, 14 carat gold, sari silk, silk]
I just wanted to work, to flow, to not adhere myself to the notion of a project, the lines of a design or any materials selected and carefully laid out on a table top. I detached my mind from my work while making this piece. I thought about everything but a design plan. I suppose this is stream of consciousness work, on my part. I expect this neck piece was destined to flow out of me on the day I sat down to form it. The general form of the metal work here suggests a horseshoe.
Luck.
I don’t really believe in luck.
I suppose that means I was born unlucky.
How about you?
Cocoon Neck Piece No.2
[sterling, copper, enamel, pink coral, silk, sari silk]
This is the second installment in the Cocoon Series. I’ve been spending hours on these neck pieces, humming and hawing over where to connect tear panels, where to hang other components from, how I want the tear cages to sit on the breast bone…I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time. I don’t rush myself. I slowly work through a piece, not finishing quickly, not quitting before the design feels finished…sometimes I simply sit and turn components over and over in my hands. I wanted this cocoon to hang from brambles, as the first did, but this time, I wanted a three dimensional bramble form. I made the three tear panels you see here, forged and formed them into curves and then connected them into the quasi-sphere that hangs the cocoon. The actual tear panels suggest, to me, wing bones — if butterflies actually had a bone structure to their wings instead of overlapping layers of chitin.
It rides high and light on the chest,
like a good secret,
like a second set of lungs in tune with all the rising and falling of the body that wears it.
There is only absence of the hatched butterfly in this piece, the hole in the cocoon where one might imagine the butterfly crawled out, the suggestion of existence reflected in the airy structure the cocoon hangs from.
Suggestions.
Suggestions.
Suggestions of freedom, flight and a second life stage.
It’s currently displayed on one of the walls in the house. It makes gorgeous small sculpture wall art.
I also made these for you:
Glitz Ring
[imperial jasper & sterling]
Glitz Ring
[Queensland agate & sterling]
I never tire of this design….not ever.
I mentioned on Flickr, the other day, that I’ve been making Glitz Rings since February 16, 2010
and I still love this design and feel like these rings are such apt reflections of my life lived and my life loved.
I’m going to keep making them until the sun permanently sets.
Good Tuesday (woah, I had to research what day it is) to you all!
Strong wings today, my sisters and brothers.
Catch the updrafts.
Let the wind do the work.
x
;o) You are so talented that each posting is another upside to my day. XXOO Sal
Good to see you Miss Plume…I don't know if I believe believe in luck but I believe in some luck, the kind that can be called upon and appears! The web of bubbles is intriguing…the horseshoe makes me think I need to fill it with something..lovely pieces, hope your neck of the world is bright and sunny! xo
FABULOUS READING!!!!
Sal: And you warm my heart, you wonderful woman. Love to you and yours in AZ. x
MLJ: Goot to see you too, lady-dee-dee! I miss your face when you aren't around. xx
WOW, i just used the words my DITTY in an email to a friend…
but
your DITTY is bigger~n~mine!
fantabulous art!
xxo
"Born Unlucky", Jillian, you are going someplace special here. I love this piece!
Just lost myself in that blog post – thanks so much for the recommendation. 🙂
McN: It's a ditty kind of day! x
B's: Oh lady! Thank you SO MUCH! xx
Kate: Shout it from the rooftops!!! I agree — it's a fantastic read….:) x
Beautiful!!!!!
love the pieces. love love LOVE.
and — POW! that article is so badass. and you are pretty darn badass as well.
xoxoxo
Whoa momma. Those pieces are incredible!
I also read that article and it was very interesting! Loved it.
really amazing new work…
You never fail to impress Ms Plume! How wonderful to get to wear a piece of sculpture around all day.
xo
Those rings simply take my breath away. And again, loved reading your tale of how you create those impossibly gorgeous pieces..
xxPiia
I am loving the Art…Fantastic work/play Plume.
Jillian, I LOVE the read after the jump. Thank you for sharing it. Brilliant!
xo
{ps. Giant gigantic Globs of Snow are falling Outside…Hot coffee steaming Inside…and I think of You…Be Well.}
You are a seriously amazing artist. Wow.
Whoaa..I just read the "How to steal like an artist" and I had to thank you immediately for sharing it! In times like this (I´m trying to sort out what to do with my life) it made me think about things I haven´t thought before and re-think the ones I´veen battling with. It kicked in a really good way!!! He´s my new hero..;)
xxPiia
I followed your twitter link to that blog post over the weekend and I cannot express how awesome it is! As you said, it is perfect for the budding artist trying to find her way…That is ME! Especially the trying to find the way part! His words are encouraging, to the point, and so inpspirational…and I love how simple the message is, really making it all seem so attainable…a life full of creative flow, of working for the sake of the work, and just diving in and creating! Such powerful words, thank you so much for sharing! I have been on a creative, self confident high all weekend from reading it…Aloha!
Love them all..especially their stories 🙂
wow.
i love horses.
i love horseshoes.
i love you!
xx
You're just blossoming in the most beautiful way!
You've hit your stride.
I so completely adore this cocoon series.
Wonderful, wonderful.
You're on the right track Plume… the "plugged in" track!
xo
I love your big rings with big stones and have been missing them!
I watched North and South over the weekend… so wonderful, thanks for suggesting it!
Oh- p.s.
Born unlucky is wonderful. Totally appreciate this piece. Another courageous piece.
xo
Hey everyone, sorry I don't have the time today to respond to each of your lovely comments but I wanted to say THANK YOU for them. Every time you take a moment to connect with me here, it means the stars to me. So thanks, as always, for being in my world.
x