wildbYdesign

Ra

2011-06-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

I have been experimenting a little with my 'Ra' ring (Flow Range). The symbol for the Eye of Horus was the inspiration for the design. It was my least favourite of this sculptural range of rings. By placing gemstones in different places, the ring takes on a new character. I am liking Ra more now (:

Cowrie (my precious)

2011-06-28T00:10:00.000-07:00

Silver, cowrie shell

A client brought me a cowrie shell from his travels. As a gift for his wife, he requested a silver frame for the shell. Cowries have traditionally been regarded by many cultures as good luck amulets. Some believed that they helped with matters of fertility (becuse of their suggestive shape), and this association with birth and health led many to use cowrie shells as lucky charms to attract wealth - abundance - money. I had one when I was little. My granny called it a 'money stone' and said I should keep in in my purse to attact money.

Because of their small and uniform shape they were actually used as 'coins' (money) by many peoples of the past. Whatever it is that attracts us to this little shell, they are simply precious.

Reticulation

2011-06-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

a
above: silver, aquamarine / below: silver, cubics

My jewellery student (Margi, 52) has been experimenting with reticulation. This is a process wereby "the metal is made to draw itself into ridges or valleys" (Tim McCreight). So I thought I'd give it a try (above).. the melting is done with a small bench torch. Unpredictable but you can kinda control where the metal moves.. .. quite fun.

Africa

2011-06-27T23:50:00.000-07:00

A lady brought me her Sapphire and Diamond pendant... she saw that I work in perpsex(acrylic) and asked me to cut out a back perspex backing and create a new bale. Came out ok.

Rendezvous

2011-06-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

Silver, Diamond, resin, perspex, rubber

I was recently commissioned to make set of jewellery for Joburg band, 'Rendezvous'.
It was, admittedly, a nightmare job! Everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong.
It bruised my little ole heart.. some items are just not very casting-friendly. But it is done. And I have learnt some valuable lessons.

Angelwings

2010-11-25T04:36:00.000-08:00

This is a pendant that I designed and made for a client. His wife has a gold winged pendant and he wanted his own, more masculine wings. Silver and black resin, strung onto rubber. I really like the way it turned out and, thank God, so did they.

Face

2010-11-25T04:26:00.000-08:00

I was thinking to make a two tone ring and found some brass...
I like to use alternative materials with silver, but I rarely mix silver with copper or brass.
Usually this is because the brass/copper discolours (oxidises) . I decided, however, that I don't mind how the brass in this ring changes, as the combination is more about having 2 tones rather than maintaing the colour of the brass. I stamped the silver stamp on the outside bottom of the ring so as not to 'call brass silver'. The garnet could have been bigger with a bolder frame, but hey, next time.

Pink

2010-11-25T04:17:00.000-08:00

I love it when a client leaves the design up to me. She wanted something bold but girly for her daughter's 21st birthday. I got a stone cut and made her this ring. Another friend saw it and wants the same, but with her triangular aquamarine.... which is going to look beautiful!

Plastic

2010-10-11T13:01:00.001-07:00

Looking back on my studies at DUT I found the beginnings of my excursions into alternative materials with silver in jewellery began when we did the 'Conceptual' stage. When the question became, "What is a ring?" Ie does it have to be round? Does it have to be metal? This is where many of the students really found their own styles.

I started experimenting with diferent ways of encircling the finger with some material or another. It soon became clear to me that I liked the idea of a flexible shank rather than a solid one. I tried leather and then plastic. I rather liked the plastic.

These ideas eventually evolved into a range that I call 'Cyber'.

Pebbles

2010-10-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

I played around with river pebbles and baby gemstones during the conceptual stage of my jewellery studies.

I had found them while on holiday.. noticed how much lovelier the pebbles are when wet. I used resin with some of these pieces to bond the pebbles as well as make them look moist.

Ah. Earth. Mountain. Sage.

Glass

2010-10-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

I made these two slumped glass bangles as an experiment into yet another medium. Very satisfying. Endless possibilities. I got bored though after a little while. Quite a tedious process. Me and my short attention span soon needed to move on. Explore new territories, conquer new horizons ...

Aqua

2010-10-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was polishing my Neckpiece Matrix and it flew out of my hands and around the polishing mop.... my heart stopped for a moment! It broke and I tried to salvage what I could... this part (above) of the piece was still fine... thank God as it is an expensive Aquamarine! I strung it onto nylon to give the appearance of floating on the chest.

Enthrone

2010-10-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

This ring is a little different from the other rings.
It does not stand alone, rather, it needs the gemstone to complete the design.

Flow

2010-10-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Flow

Rhythm and Motion,
Water and Wind..
The ebb of Emotion and
Flow of the Ocean.

This is my Flow range.
It is an expression of the joy of movement. Of grace, and poise. Of sculpture. Of balance and beauty. And love of form.

Variations of the ring 'Flow'....
Citrine
Aquamarine
Sapphire
Citrine and Diamonds

Rubber strand bangles

2010-10-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Some bangles I made using various thicknesses of rubber, with sterling silver and o'rings.

Labby

2010-10-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Silver, Labradorite, cable.

I kept this one simple, the stone is so pretty. Okay, admittedly I was feeling rather uninspired!

Matrix

2010-10-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

This is a pendant I made for a fashion show. The brief was, simply, silver, black and bold. I called it Matrix because of it futuristic, geometric design. It is made of silver, rubber, black resin, onyx and aquamarine.

Pyramid

2010-10-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Silver and rubber, with synthetic corrundum.
I called it Pyramid because it reminds me of Egypt.

Float

2010-10-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

I used a few strands of fishing nylon to give this acrylic pendant the illusion of floating on the neck. The acrylic is transparent so the skin shows through.

B- Square

2010-10-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

I like the fact that a ring does not have to be round. The most important thing is comfort, and thickness between the fingers. A square ring is surprisingly comfortable. I made this one with Mahogany inlay and a matt silver finish.

Titanium Earth

2010-10-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Titanium and ebony wood.
A ring I made for a client - so lovely the colour of the titanium.

Gaia (Crescent Moon)

2010-10-11T08:04:00.001-07:00

This pendant was a challenge. Getting the wood and the frame to marry took ages.
I love it though. I wore it for a while and then I lost it. Broke my heart! Ah, lessons in non-attachment.

Affirmation

2010-10-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a worded pendant and got confused. Looked at the letters in the mirror and saw the words the right way but when I photographed it I remembered that the eyes don't work the same as a mirror... and so my words are backwards!

To Be or not to Be

I Am

I finally got it right!

River

2010-10-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

I love Peridot. So luminous.
I used brown copper resin in the silver to create this earthy river pendant.

One Earth

2010-10-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

I found this piece of green glass cut into a gemstone shape and couldn't resist using it.
The pendant doubles up as a clasp, one that I designed.

River of Love

2010-10-11T07:43:00.001-07:00

This pendant I made is silver and rose Quartz.

Ohm

2010-10-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

A silver Ohm pendant I made for a client.
I have always loved this symbol. A manifestation of the sound AUM.

Industry

2010-10-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is a pendant I made out of silver and Haematite. Actually its probably Magnetite.

Rhythm

2010-10-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

A client asked me to make this silver pendant for him.

Lady

2010-10-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Silver Lady

Lady and the Moon

These pendants are made using the figure of a woman that I carved out of jewellery wax.

Contrast

2010-10-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Three rings I made while experimenting with surface contrast.
Some of the parts move around the finger.

Moon

2010-10-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

I was experimenting with ways of creating texture and a sense of depth and came up with this little ring. It makes me think of the surface of a planet, like the craters on the moon.

the One ring

2010-10-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

I made this as a response to my studies on Talismans.
It represents that fact that we are all One, from the same source. A simplification of all truths into the one Truth.

Spin little one

2010-10-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

A spin Ring made of silver. The little amethyst is set into a band that spins around. I used texture to compliment shape the little round gem.

Protection

2010-10-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Silver and garnet Ring.

The celtic pattern is a protection symbol. I used garnet because it is said to also aid in protecting the wearer from harm.

Crystal

2010-10-11T07:15:00.001-07:00

Two rings I made with crystal and silver.
An experimentation into different ways of holding the stone.

) (

2010-10-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Silver and Garnet. A ring I made while studying. Big and Bold, with the finger showing through the semi circles. I made a bangle version as well. The inlay is wood and the gemstones are citrine.

Ultraviolet

2010-10-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Thsi ring was quite a challenge. Its is hollo, constructed out of many walls.
Texture on the top for contrast and an offset amethyst.

Yellow

2010-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Oh so yellow - yummy Citrine set into silver.
I thought I'd keep the ring simple and let the stone speak.

Sunshine

2010-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

A ring I made using Silver and Citrine.

Liquorice Allsorts

2010-08-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

The colours of Liquorice Allsorts capture summertime so well!
I decided to make some rings that resemble these well known sweets. Yummy (:

Ice

2010-08-13T02:14:00.000-07:00

While making perspex rings, I found the light colours to be quite beautiful.
The ring below uses the transparency between white to show the finger through and create light play within the ring.

gem-at-the-heart-of-the-rock

2010-08-13T02:06:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine cut this offset amethyst and gave it to me. The offsetedness makes it look a little lopsided.

I used a faceted amythyst at the bottom to express appreciation for the precious gem that lies at the heart of the uncut rock...

Black

2010-08-13T02:02:00.000-07:00

This was a long pair of silver and perspex earrings. I had made 2 pairs so when a woman asked to buy just one (one of those refreshing people that wear 2 different earrings, obviously no issues with balance there!), I sold her one. I decided to make the other one into a simple drop pendant. On rubber, to match the black perspex.

Other Pendants
(Silver, rubber, onyx)

Zipz

2010-07-02T04:28:00.000-07:00

I have been running out of silver and this suits my creative needs - to play!
Using zips is fun. Affordable acessorizing. One can wear them open (unzipped) or closed.

Bolo Ties

2010-06-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

I used to tie my shoelaces around my neck like this as a teenager, knotted at the front. Rubber works well, sliding the silver and o'rings down to let the head through. Simple yet effective.

I made some variations to the basic bolo tie.

Easy way out ..

2010-06-29T05:38:00.000-07:00

I had great intensions for this ring.
There was supposed to be this large square around the stone, negative space and interesting angles. Oh woe is laziness. I got bored and wanted to finish so rushed it to a finish. It came out ok. One thing I miss about tech is that when you submit a design, you have to see it through. Its hard to be one's own teacher! Too tempting to look for an easy way out.

Wood Carving

2010-05-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

Working with wood is satisfyingly therapeutic. I needed a break from jewellery. Running out of silver makes me think of ways to create objects out of other materials and using silver as a highlight. I found an elephant's bum in amongst my wood (from chopping up ebony elephants for rings) and decided to carve it into a face.. used the tail as the nose..

Body jewellery

2010-03-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

I was playing around with chain and rubber. Streetware.

Engagement Ring

2010-03-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

Conventional jewellery is not usually my style. I surprised myself when I designed and made this ring recently for a lady I know. It is a silver ring set with her own diamonds. It should age nicely, being silver, with the crevices becoming darker as they react to the air.

Earring Remodel

2010-02-05T01:31:00.000-08:00

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.

Yellow gold and Onyx pendant

Wacky Ring

2010-01-25T02:03:00.000-08:00

Ring - Silver, green Tourmaline and Citrine.

Cat's Eye

2010-01-25T01:53:00.000-08:00

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

Pendants - Wood

2010-01-25T01:49:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T01:40:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T01:37:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-25T01:32:00.001-08:00

I made a puzzle ring. 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

2010-01-25T01:20:00.001-08:00

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.

Trio

2009-12-29T03:05:00.000-08:00

I originally called this ring Creepy Crawly because it wraps its arms around the finger like a little creature. I decided on Trio instead (some people don't like spiders!)

Some variations below:

Curved arms:

Garnet square:

Tanzanite:

Deco

2009-11-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

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.

Textured bangle with Garnet

2009-11-27T04:28:00.000-08:00

Rubber, Silver, Garnet

Design

This was an experiment with a new rubber material. It is has a grid texture on one side and hard sponge on the other - very comfortable on the skin. The width of rubber looked a bit boring, so I cut across it with silver and a gemstone.

Practicality

The stone is a bullet shape so sticks out and together with the rubber texture, creates more dimension and interest to the piece.
The panel of silver can be shifted to sit where the wearer prefer. Even this form of rubber has that kind of flex that makes it more rectangulr in shape than round, so forces the clasp to lay at the side of the wrist.

Variation

There are many ways to embellish the rubber that could look very interesting. Varying widths could look good. Must play.

Africa Africa Africa

2009-11-27T04:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-27T01:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-09-07T01:07:00.000-07:00

My honours study of jewellery is about Amulets and Talismans - symbolic objects used for the benefit of mankind. They are merely points of focus for the mind. It is the mind that does the work, not the crystal or the object or the symbol. By looking at the object, it serves to remind the person what it stands for and one's own mind does the work.

Dr. Paul Brunton ("The hidden teaching beyond Yoga", 1941) 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".

Both 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. In time people will understand how powerful the mind is and that they can change their picture of the world by their own will. Hence the biblical statement of being created 'in the image of God'. We are the creators of our own destiny.

butterfly

2009-08-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Butterfly pendant that I made for a client. Gold and matt Silver.

the complication of simplicity

2009-08-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

"..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.

Champagne Bubbles

2009-07-28T01:12:00.001-07:00

Bubbles on the brain...

Whilst at tech, we students had to enter a Platinum competition for AngloPlat (2008).
The brief was 'Celebration'.
I chose to make a platinum ring made of champagne bubbles in glasses.

I experimented first in brass and silver.
I made domes out of beeswax and fused them to make bubbles.. I then cast it in brass. I liked the look but the process took too long. I was too impatient. The bubbles had a rough, fingerprinted look.. organic and lovely but not enough like the smooth shiny surface of liquid.

Then I got cleverer. I used the disc cutter to cut discs of silver and soldered them together after much effort and patience getting the cutaways right (also made with disc cutter).

I soldered the bubbled plate to a base and made it into a ring.
Then I decided to try it with 2 glasses. I drew it first, to see it more clearly..

Platinum:

What a great metal to work with (:
Perfect for making bubbles because I can make the plate really thin.. and they glow when soldered, defying the shift into liquid form. A noble metal of note. It must surely vibrate at a fast frequency. Otherworldy.

Platinum is great because of its durable strength and lustre.
Silver, however, would darken in the crevices and create an added dimension of light and dark surface. These bubbles are raised from the inside of the domes to creat a sense of depth and shadow under the bubbles. Also obviously to save on metal, considering the cost of platinum !

the Word

2009-06-07T10:29:00.001-07:00

'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.

Regarding life in general, 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 may find this article as interesting as I did. Follow the link in the title above for the original thesis by J.B.Aristide.

Race Ring

2009-05-15T09:31:00.003-07:00

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

2009-05-15T09:31:00.001-07:00

I have been experimenting with Rhino, an autocad drawing program. It is quite difficult to draw the curves that make up my Flow range. Rhino is easy for more geometric designs. Plotting the points for curves takes a long time. Some things are quicker and easier to do by hand! I guess its all about learning how to use the tools..

I ended up carving the ring out of wax and then making a mould of it. Same mould, many variations - also great when worn next to each other as their forms allow for interesting negative spaces. Imagination is a vast playground.

Topaz:
Aquamarine:

Amethyst:

Ruby and Diamonds:

Wood Engagement Ring

2009-05-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

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.

On the use of words

2009-05-03T03:31:00.000-07:00

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.

***

Luminescence

2009-04-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

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. Like underwater.

Featured Fashion Designer: Donna Karan

2009-04-07T03:44:00.001-07:00

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. I like the use of fabric and jewellery type attachments together in one outfit.

Jellytots

2009-04-06T03:10:00.006-07:00

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 (:

Stars in Jewellery

2009-04-06T02:32:00.000-07:00

Colour Calls..!

I 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. I did some star designs.

amulets...

2009-04-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

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.

Goldfish in a bowl

2009-03-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

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.

Objects as Affirmation

2009-03-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-22T07:48:00.000-08:00

Certain symbols are embedded into our psyche. The cross is one of them.
There are many meanings to 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, with the joining of the dots, reveals a reflection of that 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 is said to represent the initial God-entity in its entirety, self contained.

The Celtic Cross is a variation of this, arms extended out of the circle. The God-entity as s/he manifests the world outside of her/himself.

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. And Man takes on a mind of his own.

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 outside of themselves rather than accepting God as themselves?

While sitting typing this I look at the computer hard drive, at the power button. This On/Off icon has 2 variations:

It reminds me of the cross. The arms of the cross join to become the head in the one. The other is broken, indicating dislodgment from the original whole. Man as a seperate entity to the whole.
The piece that is cut out lies at right angles to the circle, it is what is needed to comple the circle. It also suggest the male and female union.

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?

Human Vessels - On/Off

2009-02-22T05:59:00.000-08:00

Human beings are transformers. Vessels that give and receive charge.

We are the On/Off switch, channelling and transforming high frequency energy into varying degress of thereof.

"The life which you breathe in is that great magnetic life which flows through the whole Universe and is the power within the atom itself..."

"There are energies in the Universe that the physical organism cannot endure, so these energies are transformed through densities of ether to reduce their vibration..."

"We have bodies, transforming bodies in varying densities of ether, that transform the higher vibrations of Life Energy to the lower vibration of Life Energy in the physical body, known as Vital Energy".

Murdo MacDonaldBayne "Spiritual and Mental Healing" 1947, 2001

http://macdonaldbayne.homestead.com/

Binary Symbol

2009-02-22T01:17:00.001-08:00

The inspiration for this ring is the On/ Off power button on the computer hard drive.

l-O

New Kid on the Block

2009-02-05T02:29:00.000-08:00

This is my cat, Magic.

Much loved and the Master of the domain.

The neighbours have a new kitty... a new kid on the block..

She ('Scotch') spends a lot of time at our place, trying to befriend our (very nonchalant) cat.

Scotch has a habit of jumping onto my bench and trying to grab my sawframe from me when I am trying to make jewellery..

She has attitude! Full of fun though.

She bumped my whole tray of silver onto the floor today.

Thank God I wasnt working with gold..

When they are so small and cute, they cant really do anything wrong though... I think I am in love with the new kid on the block!

And it looks like finally, so is Magickat!

Wild by Design and Abigail Keats

2009-01-28T00:50:00.000-08:00

Clothing: Abigail Keats
Jewellery: Chantell and Gary Wild

Placebos - All in the Mind

2008-12-07T01:22:00.000-08:00

I was reading the other day about the use of placebos. They are tablets that are fake but they help the patient anyway because the docter tells them that the tabs are real.

A Wired UK article says that "drugs are having a difficult time beating the placebo effect, and increasingly so. In fact, they're finding the placebo effect is getting stronger in people, making it more difficult for drugs to show any improvement over it".

Having studied the placebo effect, Fabrizio Benedetti found that when someone is given a pill, the brain expects change to happen. Based on that expectation, the brain often then starts producing its own pain-relieving medicine, which can reduce pain and even regulate heart and respiratory functionality.

The problem with placebos is that they are sugar pills. And sugar has a disastrous effect on health. It would make sense if sugar pills were replaced by 'healthy tabs' - full of nutritional value while still being effective as a placebo.

But then the pharmaceutical drug companies wouldn't make their money from us, would they?
They don't want a healthy world.

2008-11-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

What a day.

Energetic Fingerprint

2008-11-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am under the impression that there exists such a thing as an energetic fingerprint.

Today at the market where I trade jewellery, the ring above was object of attention. At least 5 women picked it up and admired the amethyst for a while before putting it down.. This is'nt always the case. This ring hasn't been touched as many times before as today. It is not a particularly beautiful ring, but caught today's attention nevertheless.

My research into Talismans (magical objects) has led me to believe that the power lies not in the object, but in the interaction between the object and the observer. This may be likened to the Placebo Effect used in the medical profession, as well as Auto Suggestion used in phsychology.

If this is the case, then what is it that is happening on my table sometimes? I am referring to the fact that some objects draw the attention of most passersby on a particular day. It is almost as though there is a transferrance of energy as the holder leaves behind an invisable energetic fingerprint, that thereafter attracts another person and another.. I wonder if it just keeps attracting because of its own being, or if with each person that picks it up admiringly, its energy grows and therefore attracts more strongly (like a magnet) ?

Amethyst day: 08-11-08

the power Within us

2008-10-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

Talismans

Having explored the subject of Talismans for my jewellery honours study, I learnt many things.
I started with a broad understanding of magical objects, trying to understand how the Talisman carries power and why.

I realized of course that the magic is in the wearer and not the object. I would like to say that I always believe this, but there are times when some objects do indeed have a life of their own. I have seen this when I sell jewellery... certain pieces are frequently picked up on a given day. Or it's the object talking, or human beings leave behind an energetic fingerprint that attracts other people.

Nevertheless, it is more often than not our interaction with these objects that gives them power. By acknowledging what the objects stand for, the association activates something in our minds that helps to bring about that which the object symbolizes. The magic ultimately lies within our own selves. This is evident when considering placebos. Its all in the mind.

"To the one whom the symbols speak of their nature and of their secret, each symbol is a living manuscript in itself. Symbolism is the best way of leaving ideas behind which will keep for ages after the teacher has passed. It is speaking without speaking; it is writing without writing. The symbol is said to be an ocean in a drop."

Hasrat Inayat Khan

From Acrylic to Silver to Gold..

2008-10-24T03:43:00.001-07:00

The above ring inspired the one below...

Above is silver and acrylic, whreas below is silver, acrylic and 18ct yellow gold.

I really enjoyed the colour contrast ot the black and the gold... The ring was for Juan Carlos, who lives in Namibia. I made a Flow Ring (Duality) for his wife Maria, and this ring for him. It is black perspex in silver sidebands, with a sliver of 18ct yellow gold down the centre of the ring to 'up the value' and therefore 'preciousness' of the piece.

I call it 'Marriage' because of its purpose, as well as it being the marriage of precious and non-precios materials. Harmony.

'Marriage'
see Maria's ring: http://chantelhere.blogspot.com/2008/04/flow-duality.html

Purple Wave

2008-10-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

For who:
This was a ring order by a girl named Carryn, who loves purple and black. Her astrological sign is Pisces and she wanted a wave to cut across the acrylic. This was a challenge but it came out quite well..

We decided to use purple resin in the wave cutaway. Unfortunately the two blue pigments that I have would not mix up the right colour purple. Amazing how one has to have the right shade of blue to add to red so as to achieve an exact shade of purple.. She loved it though, so all is well!

Inspiration for her ring
This came from a previous ring I had made (below), which had stemmed from the boredom of mere layering of colours... (see http://chantelhere.blogspot.com/2008/09/colour-wheel.html)

Twinkle little Star

2008-10-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Star on the Horizen

The Star
by Jane Taylor

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is set,
And the grass with dew is wet,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see where to go
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

http://holyjoe.org/poetry/taylor.htm

AnsweRing

2008-10-15T09:19:00.001-07:00

I have been reading a book called 'African Oracles'. It is about throwing coins or shells to find answers to questions (I use humus seeds in memory of my time in Israel!).
I decided to make a ring to spin for a yes / no answer.

The top plate is spun, and where the window rests, it reveals a polished area or a darkened area. These correlate with yes and no. A old cut diamond is the 'driving force' of the piece.

Preparation of the Ring:

The shank:

When I made Peter's bangle, I cut out symbols from silver.
(see http://chantelhere.blogspot.com/2008/09/alpha-omega-god-in-between.html),
I really like the Omega. The round shape thereof lends itself to becoming a shank. I tried it out and am excited because now I have found the shank for the One Ring Range.

1. Preparation of ring and symbols:

2. A section is cut away to complete the Omega design.
It is filed, papered and polished and then soldered to the bottom plate.
The yes and no symbols are soldered under the bottom plate, to bridge the gap between plate and finger.

3. The top side of the plate is divided into half, polished and blackened, the cross (no) being positioned under the black, and the tick (yes) being under the polish.

4. A short tube soldered to the bottom plate houses another tube that allows spin for the top plate. This inner tube is flared to hold the plates together at just enough distance apart to allow for a smooth spin action. In this hole a diamond is set.

5. Window:
Omega represents 'ending'. I felt that I needed a beginning to my ending and this is Alpha.
I chose to use a triangle tipped upward to represent Alpha and this became the 'secret window' cut out of the top plate.

Finish:
The ring should have a high polish for maximum light reflection. The mirror appearance is symbolic of us as reflecting the world in our ways and wants, as well as being reminiscent of the power of light as an ally.

6: Naming:
The triangle is shaped like an A. The ring Answers questions.. this prompted the name 'AnsweRing'...

7. On the underside of the top plate I burred a spiral, to mimic the spin of the plate when turning. It wasn't really necessary, as the plates are so close together that you can barely see inside.

Alpha, Omega & God in Between.

2008-09-14T23:24:00.000-07:00

A man approached Gary and I to make up a 'sacred bangle' for him.
He wanted a bangle that would be a 'talking piece', one that would cause curiosity and questions that would allow for him to open up a conversation leading to a sharing of 'truth'.

Having an insight to Hebrew text, he brought some notes with him for us to read.. he wanted for us to have full understanding of the intention before making the bangle. It was also important to him that both my partner, Gary, and I should work on the bangle as feminine and masculine energies. I was very excited to do the piece, as I spent many years in Israel and learnt how to speak Hebrew.

The symbols had been carefully thought out so as to contain the beginning, the end, God and Eternity. The order of these symbols was important, as well as the size of the lettering (8mm high) and the width of the bangle(22mm). These numbers have special connotations. The bangle was to be flat and unobtrusive, falling to the background of the letters as the sky does for the stars.. looking aged and a bit battered. It was to represent the "Old", whereas the shiny letters would represent the "New" - a marriage of old wisdom to the modern world in which we live.

On the left is an "aleph', the A in Hebrew. This represents 'the Beginning'. The basic geomatria for Aleph is One, representing the One and only God who is the Master of the universe.
The Hebrew letters for God (Yahweh=Jehovah) sit at the centre of the bangle. These letters refer to God's name: "I Am that I Am", which captures 'the creation'.
To the right of this is the Omega symbol, representing closure.
There is an eternity symbol on either side of the bangle, representing the circle of life and its cyclical nature.

He was very happy with th result, said 'she' was dancing within his perichoresis'...

(Perichoresis in Christian theology, refers to the mutual inter-penetration and indwelling of the Father and the Son. The doctrine is based on John's Gospel that "the Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father.")

Spring Ring

2008-09-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

This is my Spring Ring.
Mahogany wood and lemon Quartz set in silver frames above the finger, held with copper coloured rubber. The ring hugs the finger, is very comfortable to wear. Called 'Spring' because of the flexibility of the rubber as well as the colours used.

The rubber shank idea was interesting but not practical long term. Heavy tugging will pull the rubber out of the tube into which it is rivetted. The nice thing about the rubber shank is that the bulky ring top remains seated in the middle above the finger, due to the elasticity of the rubber clinging to the skin.

Prototype:

This was the first rubber shank ring I made.
Problem:
I messed up and had to pull the rivets out, so I had to 'MacGyver it' (make a plan).. I made use of a tap and dye set and made two long screws to replace the original rivets. This worked alright but looked shabby.
Gem:
The rectangle was not a perfect one, slightly off, and so I set a garnet cab into the longer side to accentuate the asymmetry. It didn't really work, it still just looks 'a little off'.
Placement:
This rings look fabulous as a pinkie ring, the straight edge of the frame follows the side line of the hand.

Blommi in a Box

2008-09-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

'Blommi'

" the Tapered frame protests against the 90degree angle, stretching the confines of the perfect Rectangle. A new shape is Born"

This ring wasn't intended to look like a coffin, but it does!
It is a silver twisted shank with Sneezewood inlaid on top. After polishing, the wood looked a little dark and plain in the frame.. so I used a flower earring with no partner to 'break the brown' on the wider side.

Blommi is afrikaans for flower, also a term of endearment.

Shapes

2008-09-08T05:55:00.000-07:00

Playing with shapes..

I enjoy this method of snadwiching the wood between silver so as to create a block fro which to sculpt. Files and sawblades led into a final polish by means of paper stick smoothing out the creases. I often 'switch off' and let the piece dictate what it wants to look like.

Basic ingredients

2008-09-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

These ring are what I call 'basic ingrediants'.
They are the types of designs that belong to nobody and done by many.
The simple yet effective flared ring with an inner - other material.
These rings I did in love of simplicity and the geometry parallel lines.

The leanover ring is with Beech wood and Natal Mahogany in silver.
The ring on the right is divided at an angle (in protest against symmetry again?)

What a day for a daydream !

2008-09-08T05:44:00.001-07:00

These two rings were in response to the glorious day (:

Winters day in London
With this ring I wanted to create a cool feel, like on an icy day.
Clouds reflected against the sea, all grey and white and hazy looking.

I wanted to have a wide ring. As perspex is not available in thicknesses over 3mm, I was forced to look elsewhere for my material. I found PVC piping, which allows for any width in a ring due to the fact that I can cut it off wherever I want. The old piping is specifically an 'off white', a cream colour similar to that of Ivory. The new piping is white, does not have the same 'glow'. The slight amount of yellow in the old piping adds a warmth to the colour that has a richer hue, more friendly on the eye. It polishes up beautifully, like horn.

I sandwiched the PVC between silver sidebands and set it off with a London -Blue Topaz.
The result does somewhat remind me of an icy day in London, or snow capped mountains in Switzerland. Still beautiful, such days. Still good to breathe in the crisp cool air.

Summers day in Africa
This ring had the notion 'Perfect Day' in mind.
A gloriously warm day with bright yellow sun beating down on the face of earth.. a clear sky reflected off of the surface of a calm blue sea, mirror on mirror as it reflects the peace in me.

This transparent blue is the only one that Perspex does thicker than 3mm. It was the perfect blue to use for my perfect sky. The stone is a yellow garnet, deeper and richer than most citrines available. It reminded me of a summers sun and it set the blue of very nicely, with just the right amount of warmth against the cool blue.

What sold this ring to a journalist named Glynis?
Her teenage daughter suffered a car accident that rendered her paralysed. This really touched me as I had suffered my own accident around this time, but I had been luckier than her daughter. When I explained to Glynis that the ring was called, 'Perfect Day', she told me that for this very reason, she must buy the ring for her child.

'I would do anything to give my child a perfect day,' she said.