The Petrified Palm Wood + Cypress Necklace
The Cypress and PPW pieces. Swoon. The design for these earrings and necklace are easily some of my most favorite in these collections, much like their Forest counterparts. They make a perfect set, but will all be listed individually.
This necklace is comprised of a hand made cypress branch formed from a sprig I've collected while canoeing in the swamps of Louisiana, made out of fine silver, with 24k gold buds, and Louisiana Petrified Palm Wood ((which was locally sourced from a Mom and Pop lapidary shop in BR a couple years back, so they fit my desire for only using what comes from my surroundings naturally, even if I didn't hand dig them from the dirt)), set in a14k gold bezel. Each piece connected by a circle of 14k gold to symbolize the beauty and strength in our imperfections, and ability to grow past our life’s obstacles. 🖤
The necklace hangs from a 16" sterling silver bar and link chain with a lobster clasp. The pendant measures just shy of 2 1/2" from the top of the pendant loop to the tip of the branch, and 3/4" wide.
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. 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.