Honoring Remains Neckpiece
(or in this case, exalting remains)
[sterling, 22 karat gold, chrysoprase, green quartz, Idaho mule deer antler]
It makes your face look like this when it’s hanging around your neck and over your heart.
Let me just say,
I love this piece.
I wasn’t sure of the idea while building it.
Bit by bit, it came together so beautifully, so organically…right now, it sits beside me at my office desk because I know if I let it out of my sight, it will haunt me like a gentle, long limbed ghost. So I’m staying close. Real close.
When I set the last stone in this piece, I took it to my friend Amy, because I had to show it to someone.
I put it around my neck and drove across town.
As I drove, I could feel strength and light and fleetness welling up in me.
When I strung it around my friend’s neck, she felt the same way.
I view nature as: joyful, creative, perfectly constructed, complex, intertwined, dreamed up by Light Goodness & Perfect Love, holy, beautiful, freeing, serene, quiet…
While it can be violent, snarling, biting, heaving and disastrous…this piece holds the tranquil and beautiful parts of nature. The parts of nature that are restorative, healing, kind…
This piece is built of enduring components,
but also,
of something eternal
and hopeful.
It is stalwart.
It will not be spooked.
It stands strong and affirms lightness of being.
Mercy.
The rhythm of bare feet on a dirt path…
…and this path leads home.
__________________________________________
I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time, if you are a metalsmith and you don’t know much about cold connections you need to get a copy of Susan Lenart’s book:
Not only will you support her by claiming a copy of this book (and she is so wonderful….so wonderful in person), but you’ll have the cold connection bible in your studio and it might change your craft.
I cannot recommend it enough.
It has taught me so much — pinned settings are the least of my learnings.
Truly.
_____________________________
I must add here, before this post grows old and cold,
that one of the reasons I like working with antlers is because I believe they are hugely symbolic:
Every year, a mule deer buck grows his antlers.
Each year he sheds them, simply drops them in a sage brush on the side of a mountain after they’ve been used up and bashed to bits in the rut. Then he grows a new set, a new, pristine set. He carries his new rack until it is rendered useless once more and so the cycle continues.
Antlers are about shedding, decay, regeneration, growth…
which I recently talked a bit about over here.
A bone or antler or horn carries the memory of a life (and perhaps death too) the same way a sheet of sterling carries my heartbeat due to arranged molecules and impacted crystal lattice.
Likewise, on some small scale, we’re all carrying our story and the stories of others in our own bones — the vibrations of broken hearts calling out for hope. The musical joy of a glad soul, drumming like it’s a timpani! Whether it’s a story of light or darkness, I think all the carrying we do — the shedding [the memory of our bones], the regeneration — is a beautiful thing.
Such a beautiful thing.
_____________________________
I must add here, before this post grows old and cold,
that one of the reasons I like working with antlers is because I believe they are hugely symbolic:
Every year, a mule deer buck grows his antlers.
Each year he sheds them, simply drops them in a sage brush on the side of a mountain after they’ve been used up and bashed to bits in the rut. Then he grows a new set, a new, pristine set. He carries his new rack until it is rendered useless once more and so the cycle continues.
Antlers are about shedding, decay, regeneration, growth…
which I recently talked a bit about over here.
A bone or antler or horn carries the memory of a life (and perhaps death too) the same way a sheet of sterling carries my heartbeat due to arranged molecules and impacted crystal lattice.
Likewise, on some small scale, we’re all carrying our story and the stories of others in our own bones — the vibrations of broken hearts calling out for hope. The musical joy of a glad soul, drumming like it’s a timpani! Whether it’s a story of light or darkness, I think all the carrying we do — the shedding [the memory of our bones], the regeneration — is a beautiful thing.
Such a beautiful thing.
amazing: truly. absolutely. indeed.
[of course, i feel (the way your face is smiling) every time i place
a piece of your silversmithery around my neck. or on my finger. or in my earlobes.
true that.]
xx
oh, that FACE!! you'd better make a whole bunch of these if they can make us look like that!
seriously, though? stunning. a statement piece that says so much. honoring, indeed.
I can't imagine you letting this one go. Ever.
Gosh. Just that. you're beautiful all the way through.
Unbelievable! Wow! I just haven't seen anyone else out there doing what you're doing. When I think of the leaps you've made in your work over the last few years since I've been following you, I am truly awestruck!
I can just imagine how you are feeling about this creation! Holy smokes! Love it!
A stupendous piece! It's definitely whispering all kinds of truths!
Oof, a piece about strength and adaptability amongst other things.
Love the antler, of course, and papillon. And all the rivets and set stones.
That clasp is just wow! yum.
I never know if it sounds patronizing or not… but I feel proud of you!
On a different note-
I'm always trying to figure out how to join elements- as I guess all jewelry designers do. I'm going to check out that book. It's always a pleasure to learn something new. Thanks for that note.
Love ya Mizz. J.
xoxo
p.s. You look darling in this pic. xo
I have said this a lot over the last few days when looking at your work…but it won't hurt to say it again. That piece is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G
So much love
xoxoxoxo
M
Ooooooohhhhhhhh….my.
oh. mon. coeur!
oh ma soeur.
c'est magnifique.
comme toi.
This my friend is an amazing piece! Congratulations!
That is a fascinating piece. Truly.
Fox: THANK YOU. I'm glad your face does the thing my face is doing in that picture. 🙂 Happy face. x
Calamity: HA HA! Well. You know, yesterday I realized that next year I will be halfway to 60! I think I'm starting to look wrinkly…wrinkly but happy! x
Ash: Sigh…….
Cat: Back at you, sister. x
Caitlyn: Well, if you mean literally using antlers and natural bits and bobs, there are PLENTY of artists who are using these kinds of materials. With that in mind, the only thing that truly makes this piece unique is the context it was created in. That's the simple truth. It's unique because I made it and I am unique, my life is unique, my experiences are unique, how I was feeling today when I sat down to make it was UNIQUE. The actual materials, the actual design….well, I'm sure there's plenty of similar stuff out there! 🙂 Thank you for your kind compliments here. I appreciate them very much. AND…THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME. Love you for it. x
Bonbon: Sweet woman. You're awesome like a stack of pancakes drizzled with pure, Canadian maple syrup. Thank you for being proud of me friend, it means the world to me to hear such a thing come from your heart. xx
Nialah: Thank you. THANK YOU. xx
Ketra: xx
She: You helped get me through the black of the morning, so this piece holds part of you and the healing I receive daily…just by knowing you. Always the light. x
B's: Thank you! High praise coming from you! x
M: Come back to Idaho. I'll let you wear it. 🙂 Miss you, sister. x
Hopefully that will be soon. I wish I'd been wearing that earlier today. I would have been channeling some other worldly power.
I literally gasped when I saw that piece. It's beautiful.
I am still speechless and keep scrolling back up to look again. The world is a small, small place…I met Susan many years ago when I lived in Ohio and she is a truly amazing artist and person.
M: Whattttt??? You mean my text wasn't GOOD ENOUGH for you? Harumph!
GEnie: Thank you. And that Susan….she's amazing. I'm so glad you had a chance to meet her!
Haha!! It was more than good enough dear friend 😉
This piece made me gasp.
And you look so beautiful.
<3
xxPiia
M: I was just being a tease:)
Piia: THANK YOU. xx
Gorgeous!
love love Susan….she is the Patron Goddess of tyranny from all things assumptive in the metalsmithing world…queen of cool, with huge dashes of generosity thrown in….
and
love love you… Ms Gregarious Hermita!
really beautiful. you are truly an inspiration.
thanks for the book referral. I will have to check it out.
A phenomenal work of art! And THAT is an understatement :^) Put all these comments together and it is still an understatement of your power, creativity and beauty. I lookforward to every new creation and seeing where your heart leads your hands.
i am without words…..what an amazing piece!!!
xx
realy lovely…
the piece and your writing and thought behind it.
Reading your thoughts is again a bright spot in an already bright day 🙂
xo
I felt very close to your writing today and cried a little (just a little bit).
p.s. the necklace is BEAUTIFUL!
What can I add???
That is a wondrous fine piece of work!
Yes, your work IS imbued with your expressions and laughter and tears and mind.
I love what you're doing with antlers. Do keep on honoring remains and their life eternal!
xx
I love all your antler pieces. Hopefully one will land in my hands at some point.
Each one is special. Love your tender description of cycles and meaning.
OH…
be absolutely SURE about it.
such an INCREDIBLY beautiful thing.
hee hee, modernized 70's choker…you go girl!
you don't build these these beautiful things…
you birth them!
surely you do.
XO
PS:
your BIGbeautiful smile is BIG&BEAUTIFUL.
your summer tan is GORGEOUS.
&
i wish i lived next door to you.
or upstairs from you.
or downstairs from you.
simply put…
i wish i lived close to you.
so i could BIGbearHUG you!
(& play in your studio w/you)
XO
Ok, well I don't know what well of inspiration you have been drinking from lately, but keep drinking it down, lady! The creations you have been creating lately are just…
…RAD!
I remember a lady commenting on your Flickr page that there is no-one else like you in the universe….
…she's right, you know.
B.
-xxx-
P.S. Gonna get me a copy of that book! And the Artist's Way while I'm at it 🙂
Sweet heavens. This piece reminds of a beautiful dream I once had…
xo
WOW…such a precious piece
Seriously, this is a sublime necklace!
I just ordered "Making Connections".
Looking forward to the book.
Have a great weekend! xo