Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ancient Inspiration





Everything the Power
of the World
does is done in a circle.
The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is
round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves. Our teepees were round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle, the nation’s hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children.

Black Elk
Black Elk Speaks

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Mandala Meditation


I often draw mandala designs as a type of meditation. This design, as well as the design in "Winter Whimsy", had been in my sketchbook for years until after only one PMC (Precious Metal Clay) class, I knew I had found a purpose for my designs and meditations. I redrew my sketches in black and white and sent them to a rubber stamp company. I now use the rubber stamps, as well as the rubber stamp matrix (the mold that the rubber is poured into) which I requested, to transfer my designs into the clay. If you are interested in this technique, check out this website:


The turquoise green patina on this piece was a happy accident while I was experimenting with Liver of Sulfer solution which is used to create an antique look on silver.

This pendant is also available at Pure Life and Home in Ventura, California..... a fabulous new shop on Main Street opened by my dear friend Jayme. Check it out!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Winter Whimsy


Here is an example of a happy doodle turned into wearable art with pure silver precious metal clay that was fired in my small studio kiln.... then assembled with a handmade silver precious metal clay bead and tiny vintage copper beads. This piece is currently for sale at Pure Life and Home in Ventura, California.