It’s amazing how quickly Blog Carnival time rolls around every month! That said, this month’s topic is:
Out of all the pieces you’ve created, which one means the most to you and why? (i.e., in terms of technical achievement, most beautiful, personal/emotional significance, etc.)
This is another one of those difficult questions where it’s hard to give an answer that consists of just ONE thing. And since I can’t, I would say that I consider my “most meaningful” pieces to be this Ohio Flint Stone pendant/necklace
Sterling silver, Ohio Flint Stone
*and* this little thingy.
Sterling silver, Fordite, yellow and blue sapphires
*and* this woven loop-in-loop chain/mokume gane slide combo. [Pardon the crappy photo, but I have to finish it and clean it up (I work slowly...).]
Fine silver, sterling silver, mokume gane
So, why the Ohio Flint Stone piece?
Because of the stone, and the way I chose to frame it. I think I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like unnecessarily complicating my designs. Just because a piece of ocean jasper has a-million-and-one “dots” patterning it doesn’t mean that I’m going to *somehow* incorporate a-million-and-one little dots into the design. Quelle horreur! This stone was simple but really gorgeous, and I needed to find a way of playing up its beauty (those pinks and oranges/tans are phenomenal for an Ohio Flint Stone–I’ve looked and have not been able to find another since). My simple frame does that quite nicely, I think. If there was ever a piece I regret selling–it would be this one. But, I know that the woman who bought it really appreciates the stone (and my design)–and yes, I had to have an “adoption” conversation with her. ;-]
Why the Tee-Vee?
Because it rocks! ;-] It’s both a brooch and a pendant, and it attaches to a black rubber cord with a sterling clasp. How did it come about? Well, the “stone” whispered to me what it wanted to have done to it, and I did it! This was another of those unplanned, “must-work-on-now” ideas that hit me one day.
Why the Slide/Loop-in-Loop Mesh Combo?
Well, a) I LOVE mokume gane, as you’re probably already aware; b) you KNOW I love weaving chain, and c) you KNOW I love weaving chain. I *love* my woven chains. I particularly love the woven strap-like pieces that are characteristic of a lot of ancient Etruscan jewelry. Without question, the weaving process totally zens me out; but, holding a finished piece in one’s hand is an amazing experience–the weight, the feel of it in the hand, what it looks like both before it’s been burnished and afterwards…all part of the experience. And the slide–I’m just in love with it. Period. It’s a nice, heavy weight, the mokume is absolutely gorgeous (and I don’t think I’m going to do a patina after all–methinks I’m going to give it a satin finish), and it’s a really nice compliment to the mesh strap bracelet. You can wear the bracelet with or without the strap.
So, those are my picks. I originally had five. The two additional items are a pair of 14KT rose gold and sterling dangling spheres I made, and another of my cuff bracelets that I’m not quite ready to post yet.
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Check out what our other Jewelry Blog Carnival members have to say on the topic by visiting their blogs. And, don’t forget–we post every third Friday of each month, so put it on your calendar or subscribe! {We like subscribers… 
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We’re happy to welcome a few new members to the group! They are:
Our old-hat contributors are:
Tamra Gentry (that would be moi)
))) They should do a remake of the jetsons, after all the flintstones, starsky and hutck, and what else have all had their comeback ! ;o) You could have Mrs. jetson wearing the TV pendant ! Fame and fortune, there you go!
Very Cool Tamra. I really like your clean lines with your jewelry. I am a fan.
Lorrene