Well! Let me refresh your memory!
Allison and I set out to do a collaboration project with a belt (she) and buckle (me).
This was my contribution to the waist hugging team:
A large sterling buckle with a seahorse form, barnacles, bubbbbbbbbbles, double layered leaves, a sterling banner and a raven wing pearl.
My buckle design was inspired by my trip to Hawaii and the jaunt we took, while there, to the only seahorse breeding farm in the world. I was able to watch the little critters for hours and I was the keen recipient of a chance to hold one (I’ll never forget how it felt to have a seahorse tail wrapped round my finger). Anyway. I felt so much, on that trip to Hawaii. I can still feel the sensory experiences pouring out of my head and heart and into sterling. But specifically, I decided that I wanted to swim like a seahorse, gracefully, upon a current of peace. Always.
Allison and I have been discussing a belt and buckle collaboration for some time now. I think the idea first came up when she stayed the night at Plume Gables last summer while on tour with her new album. Recently, while together in Arizona, we decided that the Hippocampus Buckle and Belt was going to be our first attempt.
When I had the buckle finished, I shipped it down to California so Allison could hold it and create a suitable piece of tooled leather, inspired and crafted from the same spirit and mood I was in while making the buckle.
This is what SHE came up with! Oh my gosh. Peeps!
The tooling on this baby is beautiful (as usual). It has depth and is wonderfully nuanced. When I run my fingers over it the texture in the relief is tangible. It’s really quite the design and the perfect partner for the Hippocampus. I mean really. Look at the face of the buckle. There’s a seahorse surrounded by bits and pieces of a coral reef garden that extends onto leather and all around the waist. It’s just a perfect pairing of leather and metal! PERFECT!
The leather belt is specifically sized to fit a 35-37 inch waist OR BELTED BODY REGION. Allison has told me that she can add ONE hole to the design if you’re a bit smaller than these measurements. The buckle can be removed from the belt and attached to other belts that have snaps instead of a riveted closure. Also, I wanted you to know that while photographing this belt around my hips and I had to pinch the back of it to have it snug for these images. More of the coral garden will show when someone who fits this belt is wearing it.
Anyway. Allison and I really really excited about this piece and everything it symbolizes. Most importantly, we feel like it’s emblematic of where we have arrived in our relationship as fellow artists, soul sisters and two individuals who 100% understand the creative process of the other. I love being with her, talking with her and being comforted by her when I’m having a rough day. I loving knowing someone who shares so strongly with me a taste for color, texture and pattern. There’s a shared aesthetic between us. I am inspired by her work and by who she is. It’s my complete delight to call her friend and sister and it’s my joy to support her in her work and life and it makes me gladder still to find myself in partnership with her in this creative work we do, full time.
Allison, thanks for doing this with me! Here’s to many more collaborations in the future and to our friendship, in general. I love you.
on Monday at 9PM MST.
Thank you for considering it
and to the wonderful woman who claims
it as her own:
You’re going to love it, babe!
This piece is a powerful combination of
Allison and I.
When the right woman wears this belt, the foundations of the
earth shall surely shake! HA!!!!! WHEEEEE!!!!!
Have a beautiful BEAUTIFUL day, everybody!
XXXXXXXXX
PLUME (and Allison in spirit)