Much Witchery Was Had

New designs met the classic this year for a formidable season of Witchcraft!

Arise

Auto-archaeologist, digging myself up and dusting things off around here. While more than two years is hardly antiquity, a lot has certainly happened over that time away. No re-capping! Just moving forward.

Look! New designs.
The first is most certainly archaeology inspired. I look at this piece and the myths and legends about Mary Magdalene fill my mind. Believe what you will, there is mystery enough to fill a grail.

Magdalene Archaeo Assemblage Statement Necklace

Now this one is all about faerie magic. Bits and baubs of wings and things, a jangle load of enchantment.

Fairy Charm Assemblage Statement Necklace, A Fae Spell

I am a bit entranced by the whole process of making these necklaces; digging through all my treasures collected over so many years, combining images and shapes and symbols and ideas, it's deep and thoughtful work- and it takes a bloody long time til one is "done"! There will be more of these coming, and I cannot wait to see what will manifest.

Ancient Elegance

Just showing off a piece I've been working on forever, and finally completed. I've used a weighty and gorgeously patinated ancient Roman glass fragment as the focal and added a handformed precious metal clay faux bois charm, and a AA grade red spinel briolette. There are black lava stone rounds, faceted prehnite cubes, and garnet red baroque pearls. Everything is linked with sterling silver, and there is a fine bit of sterling chain which picks up where the beads leave off. This is a masterpiece in my eyes.

Fantasy Exchange!

Some of the artists in the Etsy team I belong to, Fantasy Artists of Etsy (FAEteam), have some fun with gift exchanging in the winter months. This year I received some mystical bounty from my friend Carapace, who knows me oh-so-well.

Here is a beautiful canvas with wolves circling the moon, a la Elfquest (one of my favorite old comics).

And this Oracle Card box resplendent with Persephone imagery. Magnificent.

and the other side of the box...

The gorgeous cards themselves, for to give pause and ponder upon the goings-on in your life:

As you can see, m'lady Carapace is a skilled magical vixen, and her Etsy shop is full of wonderful creations.

Remembering Ancient Rome

I have an ongoing and growing obsession with ancient Roman glass. Organic gems, these ancient fragments are found all over the ancient Roman world, and today the most plentiful sources seem to be Israel and Afghanistan. The glass has been buried for many centuries- some of it even more than 2,000 years. They've been drilled and shaped recently, but retain the gorgeous iridescence that has developed through centuries of chemical reaction to the environment. The climate in the Middle East combines hot temperatures and flash flooding; the centuries of this exposure caused chemical changes in the glass in conjunction with the minerals present in the soil. The iridescence produced is simply stunning, and these shards absolutely become jewels the way they refract the light and change colors.

Here are my latest creations...

The Streets of Rome; ancient Roman glass, hemimorphite, prehnite, citrine, labradorite at the clasp.

Vesuvius; ancient Roman glass, volcanic stone.

Antiquity; rare cobalt ancient Roman glass, pyrope garnets.

Ode To Pompeii;  ancient Roman glass, volcanic stone, pyrite.

Colors of My Heart

Black looks good on roses. It's not a singularly Gothic look, it's got a strangeling beauty to it. Deep romance. I love you darkly.
Red roses are all fairy tale. Blood stories and twining brambles. A blade, a heart, red dreams.

Rose Black

A Rose For You

Rose Red

Roses Are Black, Like My Heart

Hearts-A-Bustin'

I'm fashioning a bevy of Valentine inspired pieces to show to our hometown eco-boutique. Atomic Garden is the most gorgeous shop and I am so proud they have been carrying my work with lovely success!

Here are some new items I'm offering them next week:

Glass Jewels

I have long been obsessed with ancient Roman glass and finally have put my own hand and eye to the creation of some special designs. Sterling silver and precious metal clay accents are a gorgeous touch.


 These ancient fragments are found all over the ancient Roman world, and today the most plentiful sources seem to be Israel and Afghanistan. The glass has been buried for many centuries- some of it even more than 2,000 years. They've been drilled and shaped recently, but retain the gorgeous iridescence that has developed through centuries of chemical reaction to the environment. The climate in the Middle East combines hot temperatures and flash flooding; the centuries of this exposure caused chemical changes in the glass in conjunction with the minerals present in the soil. The iridescence produced is simply stunning, and these shards absolutely become jewels the way they refract the light and change colors.

Ancient Roman Glass and Silver Spirals

Ancient Roman Glass and Gemstones

Ancient Roman Glass and Silver Discs

A New Look

Oh I can't help but be punny sometimes.

Eye of the Dragon Necklace

Cat Eye Crystals

Medieval Hair Stick

The Victorian Seer

Out of the Cauldron

Simmering and stewing, boiling and brewing, some things wicked and wonderful have come.

Mermaid and Swan Fairytale Witch Hat

Midnight Blue Butterflies Witch Hat

Red Roses Silk Witch Hat

All these hats, and more, available at Mermaiden Creations on Etsy!

Of Plumes and Blooms

Gentle and lovely white feather encased in glass.

Iridescent ivory peacock plumes paired with airy champagne-tinged hen feathers, trailing from a sheer taupe rose.

taupe chiffon feathered rose

Graceful curving swan spirals, copper beset with labradorite feathers.

copper swan earrings

Sunlight on the Forest Floor

Goddess of the Hunt, the Forest, the Moon. Virgin of the woods and protectress of the Womb. King-maker, Queen of Witches. Diana, Artemis, tribal maiden...

dark roses in the woods

bright maidens and wreathed,catching beams of sunlight.

The Play of Light

Water Though Frozen by Mermaiden Creations

Our nature does not change by will

In the winter, 'round the ruined mill

The creek is lying, flat and still

It is water though it's frozen

~Joanna Newsom

I was drawn to the energy created by the play of light within stillness and created some earrings which capture what it was that intrigued me. 

You Remain Ageless by Mermaiden Creations

Maiden. Mother. Crone.

I am she who has no name

and a thousand names.

I am the Virgin,and the unicorn

sleeps in my lap; the crescent moon

bends to my bowstring.

This is my sacred grove,

my maiden bower.

Here I hunt the deathless quarry,

Here I run the restless race,

Here you may glimpse my foot

and dance with my shadow.

Here you may dream.

I am she who has no face
and a thousand faces.
I am the Mother, and my belly
is big with the moon, live
with the fishes of the sea.
This is my grove, my sacred grove,
my birthing bed.
Here I ride the stag into dawn,
Here I blossom to the bee,
Here  you may drench yourself in my dew
and bathe in a fountain of milk.
Here you may drink.

I am she who has no secret
and a thousand secrets.
I am the Crone, and the snake
coils round my arm; the sickle moon
lies ready to hand.
This is my grove,my sacred grove,
my burial chamber.
Here I gather my harvest,
Here I draw down the darkness,
here you may seek me or seek to escape
and still find my gates.
Here you may die.

Invocation by Elizabeth Cunningham

Adornments by Mermaiden Creations