[the glimmering]
[sterling, onyx, enamel, resin]
For the love of the ponderosa pine tree! Ponderosa Milk — glue of the interior West.
I really like how this piece turned out. I mean, each time I look over at it, my eyes are surprised by the textures and dimension of the pendant and then my sight sort of audibly sighs. I managed to use gems (huge, gorgeous, green onyx briolettes) in an unconventional way. I didn’t just stick them in that milky white resin, I actually had to build a tiny little wire suspension system for those stones — it’s invisible now but it was rather time consuming and nearly made me tear my hair out, to be frank. Other things that make it special? The handmade chain, the jangling jigsaw bark pieces hanging from the chain, the fact that I terribly burned my left middle finger while soldering one of the chain joints (worst burn of my metalsmithing career so far) — the flame went up and under my fingernail. Can you imagine! It hurt like heck. Blood, sweat and tears. I declare! I’ve had a chunk of aloe vera strapped to my finger all afternoon, it’s quite soothing, what a magical plant.
Stunning. I can visualize that ponderosa pine in all of its glory. I bet it jiggles and jangles too to the tune of a thousand pines.
It sings the same anthem as the old ones, that’s for sure. Thanks for being here, J. X
Lusting after that Lichen Necklace. So sorry ’bout your metal boo boo. Ouch!
I love that Lichen Necklace too — it was hard to let go of. It’s headed to Sweden! Isn’t that an adventure? 🙂 xx
Drooling over this gorgeous necklace and hoping your hand feels better.
Sending love from Oz
xoxoxoxoxo
M
Hee hee! If YOU are drooling, I know I did something right! 🙂
Lovelove,
X
i know our scraggly reaching-for-the-sun scrub pines do not compare to your magnificent ponderosa grandfathers, but this noble and august piece of metalsmithing brings to mind the bark and sparkling sap of alaska’s evergreens.
you did it again. you truly did.
I think the trees around your house are majestic, mysterious and beautiful. You forget, I grew up in boreal forest and it’s very dear to me. Very dear. I’ll love any tree, just so long as it’s a tree. Thanks for seeing the magic in this piece, dear friend.
X
I knew I wouldn’t need to cross my fingers. This piece is beautifully unique and special. (And look at how that onyx glows in the sunlight!)
So glad you’re wrapped in aloe, poor thing. No fun at all.
xxx
But you must have crossed them anyway. 🙂 Love having you in my life Ash. AND YES! The onyx glows! It’s so magical looking!
And me toes!
xx
This is stunning!! I love how you used the resin with the stones – and the chain is great, too! Really, I just love the whole piece. Also adore the deer on your new lichen necklace – beautiful silhouette!
So sorry about your burn 🙁 Hope you heal soon…
The burn feels pretty good this morning — I credit the aloe I had pressed it against it for about 6 hours. Amazing plant!
My God. What a piece of work! Literally a capturing of green essence in resinous milk…and the burn the pain one doesn’t regret when one has been up in the midst of such a tree.
x
Ooh! Just had shivers!
Exactly, my friend.
Exactly.
wow you are truly talented
And you are kind. Thank you.
with regards to your last post jillian, i know what you mean. the idea of home has always been one that both troubles and fascinates me. of whether it is a place – something physically built with rooms and windows and doors, or whether it is something less tangible – a feeling created and felt when the right conditions occur simultaneously. as an english woman having lived north of the border for the past twelve years i feel like i have homes in two countries (reminds me of the naomi shihab nye poem of the same name). i think that i am drawn to a particular kind of (geographical) landscape and believe i could find home in numerous countries around the world..an idea i love..of a wandering nomad whose home is earth, yet more and more (perhaps it is my age) i am ever curious about my family history and also long to plant my own roots. to find a place i love and say ‘here’.
Ah! I think about the same things, quite often. I wrote a poem yesterday. Somewhere in it there’s a line that says, “I belong nowhere. Everywhere is mine.” I think that’s what it’s like for nomads…for people who trail their roots around behind them as they walk. Sometimes it feels the most free, other times it’s the epitome of lonely.
Thanks for being here.
X
You and that milky pine piece are glimmering beauties! Hail to the Ponderosa!
Hail to the Ponderosa, indeed!
So dang cool!
XX
It is a masterpiece! You can tell the creator put so much thought into each part… 🙂
Hope you heal well and swiftly (and thank God for Aloe!).
The aloe did an amazing job! No pain today, or blistering, though I can tell the skin on my finger is damaged — it looks strange. I’ve burned my hands before but never have I had a flame feel like it was…BITING me… It was awful.
Thanks for being so kind!
Lovely work, lady! Love how the onyx spills out of its form.
Heal well, burns suck.
Thanks B.
X
you are quite literally out of your mind. and i love it. i miss phone conversations between hammer swings. little gnome.
Ping ping ping!!!
Love you.
I can only smile at your ponderosa milk necklace…I had been waiting for you to produce another spectacular piece…love it indeedy xx
Mona!!!
Thanks for being patient with me.
I move in these huge, widely arcing circles…sometimes it takes a while to orbit.
Thinking of you always!
X
thinking of you always too…what is she seeing i always wonder…how will it turn into silver…xx
This necklace is amazing- I love the movement and textures- and color!!! Truly eye catching!!
What a fascinating piece of jewelry! The attention to detail is, per usual, quite inspiring and enchanting.
This necklace is just so stunning, I actually exclaimed OH MY GOD!! to my self when I saw it x