collective unconscious

i have been neglecting my blog-- making new work for my jewelry shop and gathering new finds for my vintage shop have been taking most of my time. with the onset of autumn and kids back to school, i feel the surge coming.. the energy is building as the chill starts to set in and the sun sets earlier each day. i am moving into a faster pace again. each moment of everyday is filled with doing...

finally-- i have something to post-- this is a wonderful victorian piece from the turn of the century which serves as both a brooch and a pocket mirror--and is currently available in my vintage shop.  the lithographic image has been decoupaged to a metal base and fitted with a mirror on the back along with a "c" style pin back clasp.  a  pretty young lady gazes out at the viewer with a steady knowing look. she wears a regency style empire dress. her curled locks are tied with a flowing scarf which wraps around her neck. she's framed with gold scrollwork .

i have always been a fan of objects or designs that are multi functional.  this fair little lady gazes out at you from one side, and when you turn her over, you gaze back --at yourself! there is something about this dual purpose brooch/mirror that is both wonderfully useful and mildly entertaining.

the brooch/mirror inspired a series of photos that seemed to hint at a deeper meaning-- so i enjoyed the time putting this collage together... i kept thinking of the word "unconscious" and then titled the collage "collective unconscious".

time for new work

 i'm now officially back to the grindstone with new work on my table, waiting to be completed and listed in my etsy shop. i won't list things until i have a good handful so as to get some momentum going. wish i wasn't so slow--but some of the pieces are fairly complex to make as they incorporate a number of phases and techniques, not to mention hand made chain...

here is a sea flower pendant similar to a few i've had in my shop previously--this time a chartreuse enameled hand cut flower sits in it's darkened dome chamber that echoes its shape. hand wrought chain with delicate long links are oxidized black.

i'm also experimenting with some new stack rings and rings. keeping them simple so that i can take orders for rings is a goal... hand wrought and with some added elements with fused gold give these a great modern but organic feel ... by the way, the prop in this photo is a wonderful cast porcelain branch that alyssa from BROOKLYNrehab made--

i'm hoping to have new work listed in my shop by the beginning of september--- until then---nose to the grindstone!!

home early

home unexpectedly early from a short lived beach vacation-- so now i'm playing catch up and hooky at home. a little time to photograph and list and make a collage of some new/ old items available in my vintage shop 5gardenias. i happen to love the cartoon faced dutch girl and boy salt and pepper couple from the 1930s and the 1970s slip cast buddha-like frog settled in with some vintage tea cups--