The Kelp + Sea Glass Hoops
For The Ocean Collection I opted to make three pairs of hoops, but while I tend to make a lot of weights, for the ocean I only made one, and then two pair of more lightweight hoops for standard ears.
These are an eye catching pair of hoops made in honor of the ocean shore lines. Tumbled sea glass shines like treasure and kelp blankets the sands. To honor them I’ve hand fabricated large hoop earrings, comprised of a fine silver crescent moons textured with giant kelp. Pieces of vibrant green pyramid shaped Seaglass, found along the beach in Seaside, CA, have been set in a 14k gold bezel. The remainder of the hoops creation into a sphere, is fabricated in 14k gold. The gold running through the piece is there as a reminder that our growth and repaired damage adds to our strength, beauty, and value. ✨
The hoops have a diameter of 2", and weigh just shy of .35oz (or roughly about 1g) each. And hang from standard sized sterling silver ear hooks.
Damaged Goods - A Collection Divided
I am beyond pleased to finally begin unveiling my new works, a full collection of one of a kinds, in four parts. Likened to, and symbolizing the four elements: earth, air, fire and water; there will be collection correlating to each: The Forest, The Swamp, The Desert, and The Ocean. The first two to be released will be The Forest, and The Ocean, on October 23rd, when the Sun enters Scorpio (a time when we learn about the balance between light and shadow). Which brings me to the title of this release, “Damaged Goods”. I started attempting to learn a new skill set three summers ago, and drew up the base of this collection then, but when I returned home to New Orleans I found myself deep in the darkest chapter of my life. Lots of intense trauma, and just a need for survival overpowered any ability to creatively focus on new directions. I had spent a long while attempting to keep all of my plates spinning, but many dropped. I’ve spent the last year and half very seriously working to properly mend those broken plates, which I’ve related on more than one occasion to the Japanese pottery technique of Kintsugi, the art of repairing cracks and damage with gold - to add to its beauty, strength, and value. Which is something I genuinely believe in: when someone actively works at healing their wounds, their trauma becomes growth, understanding, and more value. I wanted to use returning to this collection as a form of healing, so I applied these metaphors and techniques into my original drawings, and I adore the shape its taken. They maintain the integrity of being a true talisman of nature, made directly from materials I’ve found myself, be it the textures I use in the metal pieces or in the stones and shells I set, but also, each piece will contain that metaphor of gold bonds woven throughout to bring the wearer’s life more strength, growth, and value. I hope you treasure wearing these pieces as much I have making them.