Since I was old enough to walk I've had a fascination with all things shiny and adorning. As I got older, my attention focused in on all things shiny and adorning with a past or a story. My grandmother has always had a home FULL of all things unique, weathered, and mysterious. Even her pottery looks like something dug up out of the ground from a fantasy world long forgotten. Her and my uncles have a knack for finding the neatest antique jewelry, stones, and fossils. When I was younger... and even still now, when I visit either my grandmother or my uncles, you can bet, at some point I'll have wondered to their treasure bowls and jewelry box's.
Rust, erosion, and the imagination speak of fantastic tales... tales that inspire me to go searching... searching for the real story, and what I find is even more fantastic. To add to my obsession, years ago, I developed a strong interest in symbolism and mythology - a glorious combination of expressions that carry the secrets of Man's truths. Together, these passions fit quite nicely in with my love of metal working/jewelry making. |
Making these "ancient" artifacts really stimulated my imagination. Even after 7 hours straight working I wanted to keep going! The next day I was very excited to photograph my treasures from the night before. This photo shoot was really fun considering the selection of props I had to choose from my large collection of antique and hand crafted, jewelry boxes, vials and bottles, and found objects. I had it all planned out in my head. I grabbed some of my antique clay beads, some little eroded glass bottles I'd found, and some carved soap stone containers and organized all my goodies in one of my old antique jewelry boxes, the one that looks just like an old pirates chest.
~ BEADS ~ BAILS ~ COINS ~ CHAINS ~ CHARMS ~ MEDALLIONS ~
These treasures are not completely finished yet from what you see in the picture. I'm planing to patina some of them so that their features will stand out better. I'm think I'll use some of them in my jewelry designs, but a large part of me wants to sell some of these as is for my fellow ancient artifact enthusiast/crafters to use in their inspirations. I most certainly plan to make many more ancient artifact themed charms and trinkets.
On a side note, this has really got me wanting to make crocheted bowls and baskets, clay dishes, macrame glass bottles and other things of that nature. I might have to take a short break from my hammers and torch and pay a visit to my grandmother. ;]
These treasures are not completely finished yet from what you see in the picture. I'm planing to patina some of them so that their features will stand out better. I'm think I'll use some of them in my jewelry designs, but a large part of me wants to sell some of these as is for my fellow ancient artifact enthusiast/crafters to use in their inspirations. I most certainly plan to make many more ancient artifact themed charms and trinkets.
On a side note, this has really got me wanting to make crocheted bowls and baskets, clay dishes, macrame glass bottles and other things of that nature. I might have to take a short break from my hammers and torch and pay a visit to my grandmother. ;]