Earring Remodel

Yellow gold and Onyx pendant

A customer came to me with a pair of inherited earrings that she didn't like. She asked me to fashion them into a pendant. As it is of yellow gold, she didn't want too spend too much on extra gold so I had to keep it simple. The bars on the sides with the stepped bottom parts were the earrings... so this is was I came up with. She supplied the chain.

Originally I wanted it like this (below), but she wanted to have the chain removable so that she could use it with other pendants. And we decided to use a bigger gemstone than in the sketch.

Wacky Ring

Ring - Silver, green Tourmaline and Citrine.

I am a little lazy at times... so I designed this ring and Gary ( my partner) made this one. It's cut from a solid 6mm plate of silver and he has more patience than me.

It is really a bonus that my fiance and I are both jewellers... though we drive each other crazy... both Taurus, both stubborn, but thank God both creative. It is a special thing when couples can work together, forces communication to be open and patience to be acquired. A Godsend.

Cat's Eye

Another two rings, variations of each other, that I designed and Gary made.
Silver and Garnet at the top, Peridot below.

Pendants - Wood

Silver and wooden pendants on rubber.

I made them in a day, so easy to work with wood. Simplicity is my style and I like it that way. I prefer the Zen of clean design rather than the clutter of trying to put to much into a given space. Relaxes my mind as opposed to keeping it busy.. I'd rather read a good book to busy my mind. Jewellery to me is therapeutic, an expression of silence.

Neckpiece - Wood

I made this neckpiece of silver and wood..

I enjoy wood .. sculptural and earthy, in celebration of this magnificent planet. Thank you to the trees, you provide us with so much of what we need - from art to paper to firewood to shade and so much more.. Bless Mother Nature and her gifts.

Neckpiece - Topaz

I designed and made a neckpiece for my landlady recently... silver and blue Topaz. The money I was paid went right back to her for rent. Thank you Wendy !

Puzzled

I had to make a puzzle ring recently. Silver and black diamonds.

Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. And right at the end when it was polished and done, one of the diamonds came out and disappeared into that place where things that don't want to be found run away to. So I had to get another one and have it set again. Whew. Not one of my favourite pieces to make but certainly satisfying when the pieces spin around the ring effortlessly.

Crazy about Circles

I have a thing for circles... made these pendants recently.

An interest in symbolism plays on my mind when designing.. the circle has so many connotations and its up to the viewer if they want to identify with them or not. For me circles are about Oneness. Our interconnected reality... or as Carlos Jung puts it - 'Unus Mundus' - One World. We are all, though individual, of the same source and are, as a whole, One mind, One body, One spirit.

Unity is strength.

Tanzy Trio

This is Trio /Trinity (can never decide what to call it), of my Flow Range. All my jewellery has names.. so much is there in a Name.

I usually make this one in Silver... I finally got the chance to make it in Gold, white gold. The gemstones were supplied by the client, they are Tanzanite. Thank you God, this one paid for Christmas (:

Age of the Five

Some books just ruin it for others.
This one was about sorcery and dreaming, the gods and the immortals, falsity and truth.

It is called 'Age of the Five' by Trudi Caravan. It was perfect. Imperfect only in that it couldn't have lasted longer. I couldn't put it down. A big fat Trilogy that I finished in 3 weeks.

- Priestess of the White
- Last of the Wilds
- Voice of the Gods

I have tried to read other books since then but no other characters captivate me as much as those in this trilogy. Thank you T.Canavan for having the ability to write a beautiful story.

One that reminds us of Gifts, and Gods.

Deco

Silver and synthetic gemstone.

I made this ring with light reflection in mind. The curved plates bounce the light out and create a nice contrast of shadow and shine. Nice for those that like it bold.

O' Ring..

I made some rings using rubber O'rings, silver plates and gemstone.


They fit comfortably on the finger, and are interchangeable. The o'rings can be removed and replaced with smaller, bigger, fatter or thinner ones, which changes the size and appearance for different wearers. The top can also be changed to suit the mood of the wearer.

Africa Africa Africa

Some Africa pieces I made lately. My Beautiful Homeland...

I am so happy.
Happy to have finished my studies.

Making jewellery makes me happy.

Today I feel a lot of love and instinctively direct it at that presence called God.
God is the world, the people, the sunshine, my jewellery, myself.

Thank you God, whoever You are.

Why Symbolism and Religeon were created

I am reading Dr. Paul Brunton, "The hidden teaching beyond Yoga", written in 1941. It is timeless and belongs all generations as an offering of Truth to those who are willing to understand. He explains why symbolic objects and religeon were created.

"Such views (about Truth and Knowledge of the universe's operation) could not be brought within the reach of immature minds without first throwing them into solid and concrete form. This could be done only by converting them into popular symbols and a system of such collated symbols would constitute a historic religeon.

The symbolism would have to appear in the forms of ritual, legend, myth, pseudo-history, simple dogma and so on, but whatever shape it took it would necessarily represent a disappearance of profoundly abstract conceptions and a substitution of crudely concrete ones.

Thus philosophy (as verification of Truth) would apparently die only to be reborn in the dwarfed guise of religeon. The true psychological facts could only be imparted in its unabridged plenitude to those who had attained a stage which rendered them fully qualified to grasp it. To all others, it would be tiresomely unintelligable".

Religeon and Symbolism are therefore merely a step toward understanding what they really stand for. It is enough, however, for people to engage with these on a superficial level, for at least they are moving in the right direction.

butterfly

Butterfly pendant that I made for my laser cutters wife.
Gold and matt Silver.

It is 2 plates that move loosely, held by the antenna bale. Tried a polished background at first but the top plate scratches the bottom plate, so texture works better. Would have looked nice with a blackened background but he wanted it shiny. He gave me the design and I cut the butterfly accordingly; did my own thing with the antenna and rivet head... a bit geometric and symetrical for my liking, but sweet.

Bad photo, sorry.
~

the complication of simplicity

"..the familiar things and persons that surround us seem a simple affair, but the moment we try to view a part and also to gaze at the picture as a whole, then only do we begin to grasp how difficult and how complex an affair it really is" (Brunton 1941).


I am doing my honours jewellery study on Amulets and Talismans.
It is a most frustrating affair!
Each time I approach my first explanatory chapter of the subject, I am told by my lecturer that I am being too broad. Simplification is the hardest thing to do. Each time I take a closer (simplified) look at my subject, it opens up a whole universe of notions. As I break my subject down into its parts and try then to study a part, this part becomes a complicated whole that may be further divided into more parts. Nothing is really simple and yet it is all a reflection of certain basic principles. Within an atom exists a universe.

Zen Ring

Recently, an Indian lady saw my ZenRing at Essenwood market where I trade jewellery. Ususally I make it without a stone and then offer setting variations to the viewer. She wanted her round gemstone set in the design.

Funny as I was just engaging with ZenRing at tech, creating a splash page as a background for the piece to sit on for the Jewellex show in Joburg..

I decided to display the client's ring at Essenwood on the same Splashpage at the market, before she fetched it. It looked really nice.. and I got an order to make one for another woman!
She says she is into feng shui and the ring talks to her.
How very satisfying (:

Platinum Champagne Bubbles

I couldnt remember how to get to my blog so looked up my name.
Funny how once one is on a blog or facebook how easy it is to find oneself on the net.
I found a piece of jewellery on AngloPlat 2008 that I made.
It was a ring I did for the theme 'Celebration'.

the Word

'The Spirit of the Word'
by Jean-Bertrand Aristide

"In the beginning
there was the Word
and the Word was with God"
(John 1)

I was researching African Amulets and came across a thesis about language and the origin of words.
Jean-Bertrand Aristide compares the language of the African IsiZulu to that of the Haitian Kreyol. The two places are, as he describes them, "So close and yet so far" from each other, and yet have much in common.

Having an interest in the parallels between African and Egyptian superstion and art, I found this subject to be fascinating. Noone really knows the original source for what we know, from where it came and who influenced who. Places that exist in oblivion to the rest of the world still share, nevertheless, similar fears, wisdom and spirituality, even though they give them different names.

To those interested in the theology and spiritualism of language, you will find this article as interesting as I did. Follow the link in the title above for the original thesis by J.B.Aristide.

Feeling Free

-Drifting-
Clouds swirl below
and above,
Stars collide
and dissapate at my feet.
Worlds continue
to circle their lonely orbits
and I am
Here,
suspended somewhere in between.
-Content-
a Universe surrounds me
and I feel
Free.

Isis Arisen

The life -

it rushes into my chest
as I breathe
and bursts through my arms
- encircles me as wings -

Isis arisen

I am One
(with All)
We are One
(with All)

Humbled am I
by my own weakness,
enraptured am I
by my own greatness

Isis arisen

I Am One
One with God

Future Shock and Talismans

In Alvin Toffler's 1970's book 'Future Shock', he speaks about the shock that people would feel in the future due to the greatly accelerated rate of change in society.. It arises, he said, from the superimposition of a new culture on an old one. Toffler describes Future Shock as a disease, resulting from the "premature arrival of the future".

If I look at the book and then I listen to the news, it looks as though this sickness is making itself felt.. I am thinking about Talismans and Amulets and the need for people to have something to hold onto when times are disorientating. Like seasickness... one just has to think about something else, focus on something pleasant, say, and the seasickness may be curbed.



A talisman is something like this other thinking, or even non thinking. By thinking about something positive, the body is brought again to balance. We can facilitate this by choosing to wear things, whether garments or jewellery, that bring us to balance by visually and tangibly reminding us of comfort, health, beauty, protection and so on.


Something seems to be happening in the mind of man, though. He mass produces his needs and they fail to satisfy the hunger, and so he turns within. Objects do not seem to hold the same kind of power as they used to .. it is a matter of Mind, now. Computer aided technology and the internet have created the mass mind and man loses himself in it. And then finds and then loses himself again. Too many rabbit holes and no clear directions toward the Truth in amonsgt everybody's diferences of opinion.

What is need now is grounding.We need to remind ourselves of our roots, our origin, and our wings, our future.
We have to find a way to remain in the here and now, in such a way that the both past and the future exist now.

There are theories that the world recession is controlled by the world bankers and it's all really a manipulation of masses by the few that pull the strings. Whether one chooses to believe this or not, the recession has a positive side. It is forcing those who make an effort to regain control of themselves and their strengths so as to pay the bills.

Challenge is an oppurtunity for growing and learning. So if the world bankers thought that they could control us through money, they made a mistake. They have given us the very tool we need to rise above the challenge itself. The state of chaos that spreads around the world will offer us our greatest oppurtunity to regain belief in ourselves, because if we don't, we will not survive.

So embrace the struggle and take a deep breath.. we need to be focused and take control of our own lives. It starts with one person. Who effects another. Who effects another... and like a virus, our independance will spread and we can and will move on toward a better future. It takes effort, but we are powerfully capable human beings and we have the right to live a life of peace and prosperity. The one thing we were given, our greatest weakness and our greatest strength, is CHOICE. We have to want to change. Let us change for the better. Together.

Africa as a Talisman

mine, acrylic and silver

The earrings I did of Africa made me think more about African jewellery and what makes it uniquely African. So much diversity on one continent. What is it to be African and what is African jewellery?


mine, acrylic in silver

I am toying with the idea of Africa being a symbol... a Talismanic icon... cabable of healing and nurturing and creative expression.

All the continents have their unique energy, and Africa is an old one, considered almost primitive. A child learning to walk in a civilized world... and yet held back by some inexplicable darkness.. There are those who wish to control this land, rape her of her natural resources and keep the people flaying in the dark, searching for candles in lack of electricity as one by one, the economies of Africa deteriorate. It is preferred by the Global Powers that we be an ignorant country, an 'uncivilized' one, so that they may more easily control the potential of the land. Wise men question, fools follow the sheep.

The Powers that Be care nothing for the people, care only of power and control. They seek to globalize the world and they are succeeding at an alarming rate. We must remember who we are and what rights we have. We are a multiracial nation of many peoples and we must regain control over our lives, our minds, our finances and our heritage as human beings. Long live Africa. Long live the honest and the righteous. Begone ye Devils of the Government and those Few that silently pull your strings like a puppetmaster.

Race Ring

RACE! Ring.

I finally got this ring out! Its has taken a few months of prototypes until we got the depth of cutting and size of letters right. It is for a guy in a Motor Mechanics Company. He wanted their logo word in a ring, in grey. .

I liked the process, will do more of these, different words, different colours. The grey is a bit dull, but a good start to a new venture!

A nice change to the Acrylic Rings made by me thusfar..

Duality Joined

Silver, Ruby, Diamonds

Another Flow Ring, namely 'Duality'.

This one is set with the customer's own gemstones.
The tube around the Ruby is 18ct Gold, a nice touch of contrast as well as accentuating the warm tone of the red.

The diamonds were a bit big for the side arms so I had to solder on a plate to extend the surface area to fit them in. I love seeing the variations that gemstones make to this range of rings, they each have their own personality in spite of being cast.

Same mould, many variations - also great when worn alongside each other as their forms allow for negative spaces between the rings. Imagination is a vast playground.

Wood Engagement Ring

2 Tone, Angled Inlay. Silver, Mahogany & Beach Wood.

Engagement rings are changing in this day and age. I made this one for a British guy buying his engagement ring in South Africa. I love it when the rules of tradition are broken. Wood is organic and not as durable as metal, so in time will gain the character of wear, as will silver, being a relatively soft metal. The client is a carpenter and will be wearing this wedding ring on his thumb. Another rule broken! How very refreshing (:

See more in my Wood Range.

"The Ring Cycle" - Wagner

I found this picture.. a scene from composer Richard Wagner's 'Das Rheingold'. It is beautiful up close...

Der Ring Des Nibelungen is four operas: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods).

Wagner is my mother's great great (however many greats) grandfather. Both mom and grandmom play piano and me, well, i'm a jeweller who's never learnt how to play her guitar.

Wagner was born in 22 May 1813, my birthday is 22 April. I am glad to know I have music in my genes, though my creativity has come through in form as opposed to sound.

Artistic expression is a way of life.

Camouflage

Isn't nature amazing? The way that a creature may take on the appearance of, for example, a leaf. Perfect camouflage! See StarBlack's blog pic..

I saved this bug from my new kitten.

She came with the name Nina and so I extended this to Princess Nina Simone. Toady I let her out into the garden by herself for the first time. I have been so paranoid about her getting hurt since my neighbour drove over his kitten (Scotch) and broke his neck. Thank God I am not a real mother (yet?) as it must be so hard to let them walk away, and let them fall.

***

On the use of words

My Tech research is challenging in that simplification of subject matter requires a thorough understanding thereof. Throughout the process of writing and rewriting what I have established on my subject (Talismans), I am humbled by previous writings, as each time I know a little more. It is so true that the more we know, the more we are aware of what we don't actually know.

I have this treasure of a book called 'The hidden Teaching Beyond Yoga', written by Dr Paul Brunton, first published in 1941. It is pretty fascinating, he speaks about everything from spirituality to politics to thoughts to objects to his understanding of Truth.

On the subject of 'words' and 'verbal clarification', he quotes distinguished London professor John Macmurray from his book 'Freedom in the Modern World':


"When I undertook the task of expressing my own philosophy in non-philosophic language, I found, with considerable astonishment, how vague was my own apprehension of the real meaning of technical terms which I habitually used with considerable precision."

"Words are but servants of thought", says Brunton, "and like all servants should be kept in their proper place... It is a common mistake to assume that the meanings of most words are self evident".

I take this in quietly, and roll it over like a sweet on the tongue, tasting tentatively, hesitant to say more.

***

Mind and Man

Another day at the market.

Large black and white Africa's sold and a large pair of green and black. Price seems to be acceptable in comparison to previous silver framed ones, though admittedly the originals have that touch of class.. Got some ideas from speaking to people about possible icons to use. I have so many ideas, my impatient side wishes it be done as I think it, like magic.

I find myself moving from 'serious' jewellery to fashion accessories. Particularly silver and Acrylic... In light of my Tech Research on Talismans, I must recognize the connection between amuletic metalwork and happy acrylic icons. I take it to be the use of colour as therapy, relating to mood as expression of individuality. Individuality as well as connecting the larger body of human experience, for example spiritual, eco-friendly, trendy, hippy and so forth. Association with notions that make us feel comfortable and in control of our situation.

After trading we sat speaking about trends. About sussing out what the market needs in relation to what you want to give it. My need to improve my financial situation forces me (willingly) to observe the surrounding and extricate what I feel is necessary to inspire my work in such a way that it caters for my own as well as potential buyers' tastes.

Funny, was just talking Thursday about the initial inspiration for these acrylic pieces, being earplugs. Today, we got an order to do silver and blue agate earplugs. Timing fascinates me, the synchronicity of thought and actualization.

Silence Speaks

This is me. I am so tired of thinking (!)
Spinning in circles like a rat on a wheel.

I found some peace when looking at pictures I took at Khotso Mountain Lodge, Underberg.

I like the one above. I am photographing the brown eggs in the water and catch gary's reflection at the same time.

Luminescence

This is a ring that I made for an American exchange student. The colours shine so beautifully! The gem is Moonstone.

Below is another kind of glow.. I used clear Acrylic so as to show the glue bubbles inside. This one was for Joburgh fashion Week.

...

See HERE for my other Acrylic jewellery.

(:

Colour in Earrings in Jewellery

***
These earrings (25mm) are great for any season as they match the mood of Summer and brighten up a Winter's day... They remind me of lucky packet sweets.

My move to a new position at Essenwood Market has placed me opposite clothing, and I've found that lately most sales have been earrings. This is probably the result of clothing buyers looking for affordable accesories with which to compliment the garments that thay have spent the bulk of their money on.

See Africa & Stars

The first batch were in silver frames. I decided to make a more affordable version by making these, which are minus the frame. Polishing the Acrylic stars gives them a rounded look at the edges which makes the earrings more beadlike.
A suggestion at the market was to use that wonderfully vibrant pink, which I had to make from sample colours (they have been discontinued by the supplier from which I buy): The green is nice too, but also hard to get more of. I made the stars on white, as well as on black.
I also redid some Africa's (40mm) without the frames:

Poem: In the Desert

I love this poem, it reminds me of Golem, from Lord of the Rings..

"In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said: "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter - bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

*

Featured Fashion Designer: Donna Karan

Donna Karan Slideshow

Bruce Lee Morris and Donna Karan have had a long partnership in Fashion and Jewellery Collaboration. The garments have metallic embellishments on them, functional design features.

This is Donna's 2003 Fall Collection, timeless really.

As a jeweller interested in fashion, I find this very exciting.

I like the idea of using fabric and other materials in ways that I may draw on my jewellery skills to complete the outfit. I especially like metal and rubber in the mix of a 1920's/1930's edge on futuristic yet classical fashion.

Featured Jeweller - Robert Lee Morris Still going Strong...

Robert Lee Morris in his workshop
Below: Jewellery by Morris, New York 2006

I found a book on Robert' work a few years ago. The part I loved the most was that he was trading at a craft fair when a famous gallery owner moved him up and out into the world. (Gary and I trade at a craft market and isnt it just any artist's dream to be discovered).

My preoccupation with fashion in the last few weeks (on and off since childhood) prompted me to google Robert Lee Morris, and I find his work as exciting now as I did before.

He is incredibly versatile and his ability to work in context with other designers, inspires me.

Fashion:

Images above: There is an earthy undercurrent to his work that embraces the industrial world as inspiration for material and design. My own interest in earthy futurism and fashion draws me to Robert's work. His application of jewellery skills to the garment and body is exciting, edgy, and bold. Long body necklaces that go around the waist and chunky arm pieces, clasps that become features and iconic symbols translated into form.

"Over the years, Robert has developed his own signature shapes recognized by all. Each collection captures the strength and grace of liquid geometry that has been Robert’s signature since 1970. With each new sketch, Robert finds ways of reinventing, taking his existing shapes and making them new again."

Jellytots

Colour colour colour and Cabs.
Cabachon gemstones are the ones without the facets, and they look a bit like sweets!

My craving for colour in my jewellery had me try out both Acrylic and gemstones. I used a variety of gems, eg green and orange agate, garnet, citrine, peridot, moonstone, amethyst etc. More people have less to spend, so I made these for market trading, as 'cutie' little earrings for just a hint of colour on the ear. Like a contemporary version of those colour studs that we get when we first have our ears pierced. I call them Jellytots (:

Africa in Jewellery

Trading jewellery at the International Ship Market, I noticed many tourists zoning in on typically African products. This prompted me to use the Acrylic to capture the map outline of Africa, set in a silver frame with a backplate. This is fine, technically, for the 25mm size, but for the 40mm ones it is a mission soldering such a large plate to the back as it warps due to the flame...

I tried a few sizes and colours. At first I made matching pairs, but after considering the 'black/white' situation in South Africa, I liked the idea of having one earring black on white, and the other white on black.. this creates a nice reversed look, and breaks the symmetry of the earrings.

At Essenwood market this week, a white south african girl bought the green on black, and a black african girl bought the black on yellow. Interesting to take note on who zooms in to what.

Stars in Jewellery

Colour Calls..! Am tired of the monotone of silver, need to play with the palette, splash a little paint onto the white paper. Acrylic suits this perfectly, and laser cutting allows for lots and lots of play.
My initial interest has been stars..
***

My inspiration for these came from trading at Durban Tattoo Festival, at which I saw many people wearing earplugs and stars. Stars on earplugs. I liked the flat circular shape on the ear. Initially I made the earrings to be 'earplug lookalikes'. When a few posts broke of the back, I hung them from shephard's hooks.

Will make bigger star danglies next.

Below is a ring I tried in mirror perspex, which is nice for reflection, but not so nice as the black walls are visible through the mirror, which is simply as thin reflective layer behind transparent perspex (see edges of star). Other colours might look nice, eg white on black and vica versa.

amulets...

Essenwood was successful this Saturday, a few very nice sales just in time to pay rent.

Having traded there for a few years, people feel comfortable to talk about what they like as well as make suggestions, which I observe and often implement. This Saturday, for example, a 17yr old advised me as to what he thinks I should make... he said, "peace signs are coming back.. I'll even buy one". So I'll make a few and see what happens.

Another woman asked if I could make for her a pair of yin-yang earrings.. this was in response to seeing my various laser cut perspex designs set into silver frames. So far, I have only made stars (for the youth) and africa designs (for the tourists). Funnily enough a 5oyear old woman bought star earrings today and a rastafarian bought the African Earrings for his girlfriend. One cant always guess at who the buyer will be!

So anyway, interesting that both requests were amuletic - the peace sign to invoke harmony and the yin yang to promote balance. Seems the world is in need of a helping hand, and it is reaching out.

Men of Peace ..and war.

The Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela back in the summer of ‘96

This picture brings about a smile and sense of hope in human harmony.

The one below sends a shiver down the spine.

Chinese Government and Cyberwar .

Dalai Lama refused visa to South Africa

Pray. Let us pray for the sins of our 'leaders'.

The uproar over the South African government's decision to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa has reached Facebook.

I remember when the Dalai Lama visited Durban in 2004, he deliberately walked on the grass, next to the long red velvet carpet that had been laid out for him.. He said, "Please, do not place me above or beyond you", teaching equality to a country that has desperate need to learn to let go of a disturbing past ( and present) of intolerance.

By pandering to the demands of China, the South African government has offended the rest of the world instead. Not good with the 2010 Fifa World Cup just around the corner. South Africa has managed to kick a blessing out the door.. Perfect score.

Shocking. Selfish. Stupid. Sad. Of no conscience.

Goldfish in a bowl

I have a really crappy memory. It fails me often when I need it most. For this reason I like the symbol of the goldfish. It is said to have a very short memory span. I like the idea that this fishy swims around its little bowl, (round, like the Earth), thinking maybe, is this all there is? And then, giving in to hope, or faith, it jumps up and out into the air... And finds that it can breathe! and there is a universe of possibilty outside the fishbowl!


The fishbowl is our own headspace.

I made a little container Talisman with a fish in water...

Philosophy of the Goldfish:

The Goldfish is like a Talisman. In other words, a personal symbol to remind one to think outside the box. If we can remember to remember that we each create our own perspective of the world, then we can start to consciously create what we want that world to be like. We can think outside of the 'perceived fishbowl'. Each to their own bubble, it feels safe in there.

In the words of Catherine Mansfield:

Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself.

And in to bring to mind the spoon in the movie Matrix:

... there is no fishbowl.

(Except for the one you create for yourself).

Children of Men

I saw an interesting movie the other day. 'Chilren of Men'.
It is set in about 2027 and its subject is the fertility status of the world. There is, in the movie O% fertility. The chemicals in the air and what we consume, results in mass global infertility. The possibility of this occurring is not improbable.

This makes me think about Talismans. Some of the earliest Talismans used by humankind were believed to help a woman fall pregant and have a healthy childbirth. Fertility.

The carved figurine of mother Earth is one of the oldest objects found that is associated with fertility. It appears in many form variations and is usually a stout, curvaceous figure of a woman. It symbolizes our basic instinct - to survive.

The movie illustrates how even in futuristic times, these old figurines have their place. And having lost our connection with the earth, we are more vulnerable now than then.

More and more people are starting to question the nutrional content of their food, the presence of poisens in the water, the medication we take, the quality of the air we breathe and so on. Never mind the thoughts that we think! These factors play an important role in how we develop as a species and the type of human beings that the future will find. And if it will find any of us at all.

Ring: Family Crest

Scorr-A-Breac, the Mac Nicol Family Crest

This is a ring I made for a 21st birthday boy.
His mother works on a game lodge and wanted the silver to be set with wood. When I met her son, I saw he is real waterbaby, spending a lot of time in the sea/river. I said sorry, wood no good. Perspex would handle the water better. Considering that he wants to pass it on to his kids one day, perspex will be more durable and look better than wood after years of use, water or no water. They loved it. She cried when she saw it. Thank you God for making me a jeweller.

Painting pictures with our minds

Human beings are materialistic by nature. This is evident in every tangible manmade thing out there in the world as we know it.
The introduction of technology allowed for man to experiment with virtual imagery, a means of experimenting with 'alternative realities'. This has up until now been temporarily attainable through the use of drugs or rare mental/physical discipline practised by certain knowledgeable men through time.. for example, see Tensegrity.

At present, people partake mostly in the physical realm. but there are those who work with and in the virtual realities supported by computerized technology. (See also body swopping..)

I am wondering what the future holds and to what extent virtual experience will become a part of our daily lives. Do you think that, due to overpopulation and human tendency to avoid hardship, it is possible that one day, many people will be 'switched onto machines' so as to experience their lifetimes according to their wishes? This may seem far fetched but just look at what technology is capable of and how many people sit glued to their computers instead of taking a walk or making some thing.

We can paint pictures in our minds or with our hands. Most of us would rather manifest the object so as to be reminded thereof and able share it with others, rather than try to sustain the memory of it.
Shaun, a jewellery student like me, said he does not like to draw, keeps it all up in his head. Me, I like to draw. I understand what I need to do better when I put it to paper and can see it in front of me. I dont trust my memory and so manifest it so as to remember.

Part of human evolution is the ability to expand and extend the inner mind as well as the physical realm. In fact, this is vital for us to learn how to do. It is like exercising a muscle, the more we practise, the better we are at it.

We begin by understanding that the outer world is an expression of the inner one.
Ignorance of this is why life seems so ephemereal and unpredictable. Most people are trying to create a life in the physical realm without acknowledging the inner one.
There is a biblical phrase that speaks of building ones' house on a rock because it is strong. This refers to our physical existence in relation to the way we feel and think. It is the most basic way of explaining how to make the reality that one percieves a more satisfying experience, by creating a perfect picture in one's mind first. Thinking paints the picture and feeling makes it manifest.

The outcome of this is entirely dependant on the content of the picture and strength of desire..

There will be a time when virtual reality will be a place in which we all live, naturally, without machine or drug. In the sense that we are consciously aware of the relationship between the inner and outer worlds and aware that they coexist, there is no seperation between the two.

(Mind Picture by Mike Kury)

Objects as Affirmation

We had a customer come in today who wants her big wedding ring changed into something more contemporary, and even I was surprised at the design decided upon. Not my taste! Funny the notion of beauty and how it really is in the eye of the beholder. She said the new design was ' arty and bold ' and because she herself is very organized and orderly, she wants a ring that is random and and eccentric. Interesting that, how we can use things to express the way we are, as well as the way we would like to be. Needing affirmation of the way we feel inside by wearing it on the outside. Using objects to remind us of ourselves.

Evolution of the Cross

There are certain symbols that are embedded into our psyche. The cross is one of them.
There are many meanings of the cross, one of which represents the harmonious relationship between the spiritual and physical plane (God/Man).

Crosses are illustrated in the sky. A massive drawing board of pixels that, when the 'dots' are joined, reveals a greater reflection of what manifests on earth - as Above, so Below.




A cross inside of a circle is called the Sun Cross. It is an ancient symbol used throughout history by different religions, groups and families, eventually working its way into Christian iconography. It mavy be seen as the initial God-entity in its entirety, self contained.

The Celtic Cross is a variation of this, arms extended out of the circle. This may represent the creation of the God-entity as s/he manifests the world outside of her/himself.
It looks like the cross in the sky formed by the stars... first God created the heavens.


The Egyptian Ankh sees the cross moving out from the centre of the circle and its arms join to create a circular shape at the top. It resembles the figure of a human. And after the heavens, God created man. Man takes on a mind of his own. He is still a part of God.


Having looked at variations of the cross, it seems that the story of creation is illustrated by its various forms. It is only natural, therefore, to ask, what next? What does the next cross look like, at a time when people question religeon and the presence of God as an entity?



These are 2 variations of the On/Off icon.
The open version is more commonly used.

It looks like the basic cross combined with the ankh but broken, indicating dislodgment from the original whole. Man as a seperate entity to the whole.

The symbol means, simply, " power ".
It is a combination of 2 symbols: "0" and "1" to denote off and on in binary language.
The sign appears to be a product of symbolic evolution.

Maybe this is the new version of the cross?