Showing posts with label songs and stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label songs and stories. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Elphaba, a necklace of Oz

Elphaba
[for sale here on Etsy]


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A magnifying glass hangs from a long lariat necklace of vintage style pale yellow cathedral beads, matte onyx, swarovski pearls, and olive green goldstone.

The necklace is 25.5 inches long, and does not include a clasp.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Bleached Bones necklace

Bleached Bones
[for sale here on Etsy]


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A Djebah coin, from Catherynne Valente's 'The Orphan's Tales' books, with a deep red Swarovski crystal, hangs from a length of white agate, shell, mother of pearl, and coral woven through with white ribbon.

Necklace is 18 inches long, and includes a clasp of silver plated copper. Djebah pendant is polymer clay, and about 1.5 inches long.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

House Targaryen, a Game of Thrones necklace

House Targaryen
[for sale here on Etsy]


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A necklace worthy of the true rulers of Westeros. Black agate nuggets wrapped in silver plated wire with dark red garnets and black onyx.

This necklace is 18 inches long, and includes a sterling silver toggle clasp.



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Slytherin Formal necklace

LinkSlytherin Formal
[For sale here on Etsy!]


Black ribbon weaves around rich dark onyx, black lava, and wire wrapped green goldstone, with dark green Czech crystals and a carved horn pendant. Includes a sterling silver toggle clasp and silver plated wire.

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Onyx is a stone of grounding and balance, relating to the first Chakra and balanced Yin and Yang energies. It can encourage and attract happiness, good fortune, and higher inspiration, as well as reduce stress and encourage self control.

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While some cultures associate the color black with death and decay, it was also associated with fertility and potential by the Ancient Egyptians, because of the fertile black silt left on their lands by the ebb and tide of the Nile River.

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Green is often associated with wealth, good luck, tranquility, money, growth, and ecology. In flags and heraldry, green is often used to represent the health and abundance of a nation's own land. However, it often appears in Celtic folklore to represent, attract, or warn about the presence of faerie in human territory. In the case of Slytherin House, it probably also mirrors ambition-fueled jealousies and a desire for wealth and abundance, in addition to magical forces.

Go forth, be geeky ;-)

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Star of the Evening - Blue Goldstone Necklace

I've all but stopped purchasing new blue goldstone because it turned out to be really hard to sell. Online or in person. Photos can't quite capture the glitter, and neither can the lighting at cons, clubs, or craft fairs. I do like the subtlety, but subtle doesn't always come across well. Like the piece Pearl Wings [on Etsy!] which I still can't quite *get* in photos.

Of course I still use it in my own jewelry ;-)

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Blue goldstone, beads and a carved rose. So sparkly! Not directly inspired by Kushiel's Dart, but when I had both book and necklace completed they were a clear match :-)

This stone is man made, technically a sort of art glass. But glass is useful in amulets and talismans depending on its colors and shapes.

Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The mirror crack'd from side to side...

What I'm wearing to Wicked Faire this weekend!

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Decided to Steampunk (It should be a verb by now, right?) a poem called The Lady of Shalott for one of my costumes. As per usual, I started with jewelry and props will come later ;-)

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Crackled glass shards, small glass cabs, copper wire, and silver plated copper wire.

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I'm not sure that I really like these glass shards. The package was correct and they are not sharp, but they do make a crunching noise when I work with them that worries me. Very fragile materials. I might use the rest in personal pieces, but not for the Etsy store. Although if anyone has alternative products I'd be happy to hear :-)


Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

House Stark

House Stark
[For sale here on Etsy.]


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Inspired by the book A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

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Heavy black stone, wrapped in cold silver colored wire, hangs from a chain of white agate, zebra jasper, faceted black onyx, and sharply cut black glass beads.

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This necklace is 24 inches long with a clasp, and the pendant adds 2 inches. All wire wrapping done by hand.


*I'm afraid I don't know what kind of stone the pendant is made of (yay for finding mysterious boxes in the back of my closet). I suspect it is either an onyx or an agate.


Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

April (Rabbit!) Moon

April Moon

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Coral, Czech crystals, Chinese wood pendant, sterling silver findings. A basket of bunnies hanging amidst the branches of an early April night. Wood dark with mist and frost, budding with the first pale colors of early spring. 18 inches long at the collar.

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Based on the song April Fools Day by S.J. Tucker!

Carrot casts the circle round
and Rabbit rules the afternoon.
Keep your leaping summer fires--
We revel 'neath an April moon!

If you aren't buying anything from my shop today, please go to S.J. Tucker's website and purchase some fantastic music ;-)
http://www.skinnywhitechick.com/


And have a happy Chinese New Year! Today starts Year of the Rabbit, or Year of the Cat depending on your tradition ;-)

Also... I really wish it was April already. Even though we sometimes get April snow in NYC.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

House Dayne

House Dayne

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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Inspired by the book A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin.

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Amethysts rest in delicate cages of silver wire, set among brilliantly faceted quartz crystals, on a chain of more amethyst and quartz beads.

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This 18 inch necklace is finished with a sterling silver clasp. All wire wrapping is done by hand.

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After all, "Winter is Coming" ;-) Actually, winter is here. Whups. Happy Winter Solstice!

Also, as you can tell I've started reading these books, too. Very fun so far! I'm looking forward to the series this year :-)


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Opera Dress

Opera Dress

[For sale here on Etsy]


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Inspired by the novel Palimpsest, by Catherynne M. Valente.

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"Casimira's eyes move appraisingly over November, who feels very much like a child in her lavish clothes.
'The dress will do, I think. Next time I will know better what suits you.'
'Do for what?'
'I am taking you to the opera. How else shall we get to know one another? That is why you needed a dress. I do not care much for fashion, but a dress is like a sail, it must be held before one, colossal and dazzling, if one is to get anywhere at all.' "


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Onyx, cobalt blue and golden glass crystals, bees and black cinnabar pendants shine and glitter amid royal blue ribbon. The necklace is 20.5 inches long, with a sterling silver toggle clasp and findings.


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Auction for BARCC!

This week I have a piece up in a Blogathon Auction for BARCC!

Some very awesome people put together a combo auction & blogathon every year. This summer they've asked for pieces themed around violence against women. At the same time I finished reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin, and was inspired by similar themes in her wonderful novel. Introducing,


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And then I heard a voice, except it wasn't a voice, and he asked, "Do you love me?"
And I said, "Come and I will show you," and opened my arms. He came to me and pulled me hard against him, and I did not see the knife in his hand. No, no, there was no knife; we had no need of such things. No, there was a knife, later, and the taste of blood was bright and strange in my mouth as I looked up to see his terrible, terrible gaze...
But what did it mean that he made love to me first?


-The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin.


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Snowflake obsidian, frosted quartz, white agate, labradorite, garnet, sterling silver knife charm. Metal bending all done by hand, and the bead chain necklace is 20 inches long.

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It's been up for a day and a half by now and there have been no bids at all. So sad! Hopefully it picks up soon.


From the auction website's intro page:
The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is the second oldest rape crisis center in the country, and one of the biggest, with a staff of 20 and a volunteer corps of 120+ who put in hours equivalent to 19 additional staff members. We have a 24-hour hotline and medical advocacy program (medical advocates go to the hospital with survivors for evidence collection), a community awareness/public education/outreach program (which is really unique and ever-expanding), legal advocacy, legislative advocacy (we helped change the law on restraining orders recently so you can get one if you're not in an intimate relationship with your stalker, go us!), case management, and counseling (up to twelve sessions). BARCC provides all of this and more completely free of charge, and we are able to do so partly because of you.

Every penny of this auction goes directly to BARCC so they can continue to provide these services for survivors and their families and communities throughout the Boston area. Buy wonderfu things for a good cause!



Queen of the Cat People, Class with a cult following.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Ravens in the Library!

Last week my friend's new album Mischief came out! Yay! It is wonderful and magically delicious!!!! S.J. Tucker is super awesome at everything she does :-D

And most especially, it includes a recording of her song "Ravens in the Library" which is one of my favorites. I've been waiting for it to be available in MP3 format for at least a year. Squee!

<a href="http://music.skinnywhitechick.com/track/ravens-in-the-library">Ravens in the Library by SJ Tucker</a>

And why is their music on a jewelry blog? Well, first it's Friday. Second, I'm in a library. Third, I made a shiny tribute to this song a few months ago ;-)



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Song inspired, artist approved! :-D

Part of the "Summer Reading Sale!" Marked down from the original price for a 15% discount.

Black agate, reconstituted onyx, frosted quartz, sterling silver, and OODLES of Swarovski crystals! 17 inches long.

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Hours of study flying by,
Words soaked up by beady eyes,
Long debates into the night,
Pages flying everywhere.
Seek the language word by word,
Like the black and clever bird,
never let it bring you down,
All the things we haven't figured out.

My friend bids me come and see
The ravens in the library,
setting quiet pages free!

If you're not buying anything from my shop today, please go to her website and purchase some of her amazing music!
http://www.skinnywhitechick.com


Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Lady and the Tiger

The Lady and the Tiger

[For sale here on Etsy!]

P1150766 - Tiger Collar

This stunning piece of tigereye, onyx, and sterling adds glamour and refinement to any low-necked outfit or costume. The necklace is 20.5 inches long. You'll feel like the belle of the ball... with just a hint of a wild side ;-)

Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Authors Seeking Artists

I hang out with a wide variety of people in NYC. One social scene in particular is full of genre/SF writers who are all very awesome.

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Star of the Evening, inspired by Jaqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart.

A few months ago I went to the launch party for a friend's new SF novel, and she signed my copy "You owe me a necklace ;-D!"

Later she apologized for being so forward, and clarified that I didn't owe her a necklace, but that she really REALLY wanted to see some jewelry based on her book posted up around the interwebs. Because I do that for a lot of literature that I read, and I guess I've accidentally made a reputation for myself ;-).

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Miss Spink, inspired by Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

And from what I've seen, writers love it when a world they've built from words inspires others to create more art based on that world. Folk art indicates that they've truly created a myth cycle that is tying a whole community of artists together.

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Rosie, inspired by Ellen Kushner's Privilege of the Sword.


I'm not inspired to make jewelry for every book I read, but if you are a writer that wants in on this happy little branch of fandom here are some suggestions:

  • Include jewels and jewelry in your stories.

If there's jewelry in text, that's the most automatic thing for a jewelry artist to hone in on.

  • Write strong characters with vibrant physical descriptions.

I know I think very visually, so the stronger an image is in my mind's eye while reading a story, the more likely I am to be inspired.

  • Trade books to artists for their artwork.

I've been at some conventions where I didn't mind trading finished jewelry for new books. That doesn't work for everybody (mine is more hobby than business so I have more financial flexibility), but it is a way to ingratiate yourself to artists ahead of time.

  • If you see art inspired by your written work, properly credited to you of course, flaunt it on your blog.

Like everybody else artists like to feel appreciated, and big online displays of appreciation usually make artists pretty happy. It will also encourage other artists to read the works of an art-friendly writer and post their own pieces to the public.


Now go forth and write new worlds! Inspire the rest of the universe ;-)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Sub Rosa

Sub Rosa

[For sale here on Etsy!]


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And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one.


T.S. Eliot, from Four Quartets


The perfect companion for delving into mysteries both internal and external.

A magnifying glass, mounted in a finely detailed copper colored setting, hangs from a necklace of Czech crystals, onyx, and black vintage pearl beads, on a copper colored chain with two large black onyx roses.

This lariat necklace is 26 inches long, with no clasp, and the pendant is two inches long.

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Ludmilla's past lives.

Ludmilla [for sale here on Etsy], was the sort of piece that took a few tries to get right. Originally it was constructed by bead stringing, and I wanted to add bits of scraggly black coral branches but couldn't find any at my usual bead shops. I tried to substitute bits of black ribbon, but I wasn't happy with the outcome (or the picture, but its the only one I have):

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After putting it aside for a few months, I got pretty good at making my own beaded chain, so I tried again with Ludmilla. I think the extra metal in the piece really helps tie it together with the key ring. It's not drowning in frosted quartz anymore. I gave up on the look of imitation bracken all together. I like it much better this way :-)

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Queen of the Cat People, class with a cult following.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Gilded Cage, IAF Auction.

I'm involved in a group called the Interstitial Arts Foundation. A few months ago they put out an anthology of short stories called Interfictions 2 and invited artists to make small, portable, and wearable art inspired by the stories. These pieces were put up for auction to raise funds for more IAF projects. And I volunteered to do the photography, of any piece that the artist hadn't already photographed themselves. So much fun :-)

I also made a piece for it, and got it in right under the wire. Here 'tis!

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Gilded Cage by Cris Fisher

Inspired by:
To Set Before the King by Genevieve Valentine [read it here!]

Onyx, obsidian, Czech crystal, & gold toned brass.

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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Ludmilla, The Locksmith's Ghost

Ludmilla

[Click here to see the Etsy listing!]


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The river is milky and thick as before, the cream in it a long golden ribbon. Ludmila sits primly at the head of their craft and it drifts tranquilly downsteam. She neither steers nor rows, but they keep their course. She gives him a smile like a present wrapped in red.

"I will take you anywhere you wish to go," she says brightly.

Oleg touches her foot with his foot. Her color is high in the honey-sweet wind, he has never seen her like this. She is beautiful, he realizes, she grew up to be beautiful.

Red dress, crimson lips, snow and frost woven into her red hair. The locksmith's secret sister, ghost, and muse. Inspired by characters in the book Palimspest by Catherynne M. Valente.

A key ring dangles from a chain of frosted quartz, and Czech glass in rich red, gold, and iron. From the ring hangs a blackened key and a bright gold colored lock, seemingly mismatched and yet still calling for each other, as if paired by Oleg himself.

The chain is 24 inches long, lariat style without a clasp, and the keyring and pendants hang 2.5 inches down.


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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Leopard of Little Breezes

The Leopard of Little Breezes

[Here on Etsy!]


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Inspired by The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente. Entirely crowd funded, now partially available to read online while we wait for it to be published ;-)

"I’m not dull or anything, I know about geography and chess and I can fix the boiler when my mother has to work, but what I mean to say is: maybe you meant to go to another girl’s house and let her ride on the Leopard. Maybe you didn’t mean me at all, because I’m not like storybook girls, I’m short and my father ran away with the army and I wouldn’t even be able to keep a dog from eating a bird."

The Leopard turned her prodigious, spotted head and looked at September with large, solemn, yellow eyes.

"We came for you," she growled. "Just you."

The big cat licked the child’s cheek roughly. September smiled, just a little. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of the green jacket.

The undeniable affection of the Leopard of Little Breezes. A crystal heart hangs from 19 inches of deep green agate and frosted white quartz beads, woven through with leopard spotted ribbon. Includes a heart shaped sterling toggle clasp.