The New Growth Bolo
The New Growth Bolo.
What a truly one of a kind bolo tie paying homage to The Forest. The base form of this Bolo is all hand fabricated out of sterling silver, showcasing a large diamond of Usnea and lichens collected on hikes throughout the Santa Cruz Redwoods, set under glass, in a 14k gold bezel. Underneath the stone is a fine silver branch, Memento Mori style, of Redwood new growth, with 24k gold buds. Redwood trees are one of the most resilient trees, I am enamored and inspired at their ability to put out and survive and thrive from catching on fire, watching charred trees come back brighter and new, I will do my best to honor their efforts. Hand formed fixtures hold a leather cord capped with sterling silver caps. The pendant measures 2" tall and 1 1/2" wide.
The Redwood Eclipse Earrings, I am enamored by these earrings, they will admittedly be hard to let go. Made of a rather weighty piece of fine silver, a sprig of Redwood new growth (collected in Aptos, CA), with 24k gold buds falls in an eclipse drop from the ear, with standard sterling ear findings attached to a 14k gold sphere. A reminder to the wearer that all new growth is gold. They measure 1 3/4" from the top of the golden hoop to the base of the eclipse, and 3/4" at the widest part of the eclipses base.
>>> Redwood trees are one of the most resilient trees. I am enamored and inspired at their ability to put out and survive and thrive from catching on fire, watching charred trees come back brighter and new, I will do my best to honor their efforts. <<<
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.