Strands of kelp...

The newest addition to the shop is a pair of earrings that are hand forged and soldered together so that they look like strands of kelp. These earrings are based on a portfolio piece that I created in 2007 entitled Nereid.



A nereid is a sea nymph according to Greek mythology. This necklace features a kelp chain of sterling silver and copper links. Her face is copper, pierced in a design that shows kelp leaves and seahorses in her hair. Her brain is cloisonné enameled copper in the shape of a brain with a wave in it. This shows that her thoughts are of the sea, her home. The copper has a green patina as a reflection of the sea-life surrounding her.

Latest Portfolio piece finished

So, I've just finished my first portfolio piece for this semester. I'm pretty satisfied with it, overall.
It's a locket, with a cloisonné enamel front and a silver wire filigree style back. It was inspired by a picture of an ancient Minoan urn that I found online, and the back is a sort of underwater shipwreck scene with Greek urns (amphora) and a trident resting on the sea floor.
It's probably my first piece that is entirely sterling silver, if you're not counting the copper base for the enameled octopus. The locket isn't really very functional, because of all the open spaces in the door, but it would work for something like a picture. I'm also particularly happy with the chain, even though it has a tendency to get tangled. Machine-made chains usually just don't seem to compliment my work very well, and I really like the aesthetic of the balled up ends of the silver wire.

These images are also the first I've taken with this camera. I think they turned out ok, but I'd like to take some more with it and see if I can do better next time.