Bloomin’ Heart

September 23, 2010 by
Well, I finished this darling little jackrabbit a few minutes ago.  Look at his bloomin’ heart!  Two carved coral roses in red and pink.  So delicate.  So fine.  We should all be so lucky to carry such beauty and growth and life in our hearts!

He perches atop a sterling hollow form platform and rolls a pearl around beneath his front feet.  He loves autumn and has been leaping through a beautiful pile of freshly fallen leaves, kicking up his heels, flicking his long ears and all that other rabbit stuff.
100% handcrafted by me!
And built with so much love.
This fellow is darn tootin’ special.
In other news, today, whilst deep conditioning in the shower, one of the orchids I keep in the bath dropped this leaf down into the tub.  KERPLUNK.  Look at those blending hues of green and red.  So gorgeous!  I’ve been carrying this leaf around in my back pocket all day long.  RW keeps grabbing it and pretending he’s going to throw it out and then I shriek and he gives it back and I tell him to kiss me.  
He’s such a brute!

Next time I enamel.  I’m going to recreate this leaf and these colors.  
And if at first I fail, I’m going to try try again
until I get it perfect.

Today everything is filled with so much life submitting to the seasons, changing colors, fading away…  I’m paying attention.  All of this shining world, flame throwing and night cool whispers is bound to give way to the stark hush of winter, soon enough.  If I keep my eyes and heart wide open every moment between now and then, surely I’ll coast on these colors and textures all the way to spring.

And you.  How does your heart bloom?  Bloomin’ hearts, each one of you…

xx
Plume
Filed Under: autumn, enamel, New Jewelry

Late To Bed Late To Rise

September 22, 2010 by
I had a rather interrupted studio day yesterday, for various reasons, and by the time 8PM rolled around I had all my metal prepared for firing but I hadn’t fired any of it.  I hopped back in the studio and started sifting and firing feathers and some other bits and pieces.  It was then that I realized I wanted to make something akin to a sea urchin skeleton so I stopped what I was doing (I’m very easily distracted by new ideas, it’s an issue, but I’m often afraid that if I don’t follow a rabbit trail I’ll forget about it and miss out on something lovely and perhaps brilliant…but I shouldn’t be so frightened.  These ideas live in my mind and they can’t ever truly be lost.) and I set out on a new project.  

I hand sawed these guys, forged them, shaped them, cleaned them, sifted opaque white enamel on them and fired them, then fired them again, then over fired them a bit so the enamel would slip off the repousse patterns and off the lip of the hole at the tops of the domes (I’m persnickity that way….).  They looked promising, hot out of the kiln, but when they cooled I felt like they were missing a bit of zip.  They were beautiful but not extraordinary.

So I returned to my enameling bench and decided to sift transparent enamels over the white enamel already in place.  I re-fired these pieces with their second enamel layers, fired them again, and then fired them once more to get the exact colors I wanted and the result is a bit stupefying.

I think they look like the skins of cosmic little fruits picked from the fecund lunar dust on a moon in orbit around Jupiter.  But that’s just me.  I reckon they also look a bit like sea urchin skeletons.  I’ve found a few of those in my lifetime.  They’re one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever found on a beach.  I’m always amazed and entranced by them.  Entirely.

When all was said and done, I came in from the studio at 2AM and crawled into bed with RW after a quick shower.  This morning, I woke up and I felt very small and pretty.  I also woke up to find all of my clothing dirty (No socks!) so I’m dealing in domestic arts for the time being and once the laundry is hanging to dry I’m going to go out and put some pieces together.  

Can you believe it’s already Wednesday?
Time has wings.
But so do I.

xx 
Plume


:::Confession:::
When I realized I was out of clean clothing, I actually went out, got a cup of coffee and then went to TJMaxx and bought a clean shirt.  It has buttons and polkadots AND pintucks.  Oh my gosh.  Ridiculous.  I can’t believe I’m confessing to such a thing…don’t tell RW…
Filed Under: enamel

The Launch of the Rumors

February 11, 2010 by
Good morning, sugar beets!

Happy Rumors of the Sea Day!
I’m so excited! I’m living on the very edge of my seat today
preparing to launch this series, photographing on black and white backgrounds, editing snapshots, stopping for snacks, gazing out the huge window I’m sitting beside and looking at the fresh blanket of white that fell silently in the night. It’s a very good day. I’m spunky and spry. There’s a feeling that has come to me out of this series, a feeling that I really do like exactly who I am as an individual and as an independent artist! I love the work of my hands and the outpouring of my heart and soul.
There’s certainly a fierce sense of accomplishment for me, wound up tight and small, with the completion of this sea series. It may not be your “thing” and the designs may not speak to you and that’s perfectly fine — not everything is for everyone! Each of these necklaces are designs that I dreamed up out of experiences and imagination. I’ve sweat over them, I’ve even cried a little over them — what would be they without quick baptism in salt water??? To see them lined up beside me, seven in a row on my desk top as I type this, is a small miracle that I’m truly proud of.
The group of seven,
without further delay:

I love each and every one.
I’m somewhat nervous to see where they fly off to.
They’re unlike anything I’ve created in the past.
Each design is complete unto itself but when partnered with the greater
whole, they seem to thrum with the concept behind the series.
Know that when you own one, when you wear one, it is unique unto you and individual in it’s character but it comes from a bold and magical family with six other members
that will be cast out into different corners of the world.
If you decide to make one yours,
you’ll be part of a small group
of seven individuals who share in the ownership of this dream of mine.
If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is!
I’ll be listing all seven in my Etsy shop this evening.
I’ll be prompt and the update will occur at 7PM MST.
Thank you for your interest in and your consideration
of the Rumors of the Sea Series!
I’m delighted to share them with you!
Warmly,
The Noisy Plume
***More images available HERE.***
:::EDIT:::
The Rumors are flying all over the world,
specifically to these places:
Florida, Hong Kong, Australia,
Vermont, New York, Australia,
Colorado
SOMEONE ASKED ME TO SHARE
THE FINAL DESTINATIONS
OF THESE PIECES!
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!
Filed Under: enamel, launch, New Jewelry, rumors of the sea, series

For Your Alabaster Bones

January 15, 2010 by

I like to pretend my bones are made of gypsum, laying stalwart and slender beneath my skin, like cattails in deep ditches alongside country roads. I imagine, when I was knit together in my mother’s womb, the hand of God carved delicate roses into my femurs, poppies on the wings of my pelvis, the profile of a horse of joy drawn carefully on my anvils, deep in my ears. Creeping up my tibias are curling and unfurling ferns and across my ribs, nasturtium; bright eyed and unfolding. It only seems right to see the alabaster bones of my body as art, created with imagination; dreamed up by divinity.


For your alabaster bones, I’ve created a necklace of organic decadence. It’s composed of sterling silver, pearls and enameled copper. The pendant is composed of a pierced and enameled cabochon, in the palest pink, that has been bezel set. Inside this bezel setting is a second bezel set pearl that peeks out through the pierced portion of the main cabochon. The pendant hangs from wire wrapped pearls that terminate at a hand crafted toggle clasp. The entire piece has been oxidized black for maximum contrast and the back of the pendant bears my maker’s mark.

Demure.
Ladylike.
The perfect accessory to your alabaster bones...
Filed Under: enamel, New Jewelry, pearls
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